South-East Queensland-based production company Flickchicks are making an Ipswich-centric drag queen documentary entitled Bowled Over.
Bowled Over follows Taboo, a group of drag performers
with an unlikely following in Ipswich, that have been keeping the local lawn
bowls club afloat with their packed-out live shows.
The group and bowls club face an uncertain future with the impending
retirement of one of Taboo’s stars, the ‘biggest wig’, at the upcoming 10thanniversary show.
Writer and director Mandy Lake has passionately pursued documenting this
diverse and uniting story for more than four years.
“What drove me to keep pursuing this project was the unwavering
conviction that it was one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ stories that, as a
filmmaker, you just know has to be told and would help effect societal change,”
said Ms Lake.
“For all its apparent fun, frocks and frivolity, it’ll give me a cunning
platform to tackle some deeper, topical issues such as the current suicide epidemic
within the LGTBQI+ community.”
Kylie Munnich, Screen Queensland CEO said stories like Bowled Over
help foster diversity and inclusion in regional communities.
“This documentary has the potential to help marginalised communities
find common ground with everyday Queenslanders,” said Ms Munnich.
“It’s fantastic to see Queensland production companies focus on local
stories with commercial appeal both here and abroad, that also have positive social
impact.
“Heart-warming tales, like Bowled Over, help nurture community
connection, particularly in regional communities which can sometimes feel
isolating for members of the LGTBQI+ community.”
The one-hour documentary is being commissioned as part of SBS’s Untold
Australia with principal production investment from Screen Australia in
association with SBS, and production and development investment from Screen
Queensland.
In the spirit of helping those from diverse backgrounds, the production team is offering a training opportunity for an Assistant Editor for an early-career filmmaker from an underrepresented group in the screen industry. Applications for this position are now open until Tuesday, 3 December 2019 and regionally-based Queensland practitioners are strongly encouraged to apply.
