Written and Directed by H Lawrence Sumner
This project was filmed over six weeks with 1 camera and a zero budget. Running at 80 minutes and featuring professional and emerging actors, BLOOD LAW represents a paradigm shift in the processes and thinking that surround feature film making in South Australia. BLOOD LAW began life as an attempt at a feature film, titled 49.
The title was controversial at the time. I make no apologies for using it. I changed the title to BLOOD LAW as a marketable name for a web series.
The feature had an initial modest budget and was to be filmed with an interstate assistant director who had promised multiple cameras and equipment ... and a local actor cast as Jack.
Unfortunately, the lead actor decided to leave and the assistant director with all the 'gear' had no intention of helping us in the first place. So began my first lesson in the screen industry. Put everything in writing.
I was left with one small camera, a floodlight, a cast and small crew who remained enthusiastic about the project.
With no money, one camera, two sound guys and a floodlight - we powered on.
After writing, directing, shooting and editing the project on Final Cut...I had a movie.
So - years later I've cut it up and offer it now as a web series. BLOOD LAW has arrived.
SYNOPSIS
Jack and Marilyn Stevens have everything. He is an Aboriginal tracker and park ranger, she is his devoted wife. Along with their two teenage children, Claire and Thomas, their idyllic family life is surpassed only by the beauty of the remote wilderness that Jack has been given care of. They rarely have visitors. When they do it is usually Marilyns’ sister Erica and her husband Les, an ex cop.
A month before her 50th birthday Marilyn and the two children take a day drip to the city for Thomas’ birthday to see a movie. Jack remains on the property to entertain a group of tourists. After the cinema Marilyn and the two teens are mugged by a street gang.
One of the gang members produce a gun and Marilyn instinctively protects her son. She is shot and killed. A few days later, Jack carries her ashes into the wilderness to grieve.
The gang is found and arrested. A hearing takes place. Les and Jack attend the hearing while Thomas and Claire wait at Ericas’ home. Due to a technicality in search and seizure laws, the gang is allowed to go free until the next court date when Thomas and Claire will appear as witnesses.
The ruthless gang leader, Crewcut, decides that he cannot afford to return to prison and convinces his twelve members to find Jack and the two teens. They find his tourist operation on the internet easily enough and show up at the house. The two teens are not there. But Jack is waiting for them. Jack escapes from the house and heads to the thick cover of the bush with the gang hot on his trail.
Night falls and freezing weather descends on the bush.
One by one the group is picked off as they panic, turn on each other and try to avoid being the next victim. Realizing they have become the hunted, Crewcut is determined to kill Jack.
The title was controversial at the time. I make no apologies for using it. I changed the title to BLOOD LAW as a marketable name for a web series.
The feature had an initial modest budget and was to be filmed with an interstate assistant director who had promised multiple cameras and equipment ... and a local actor cast as Jack.
Unfortunately, the lead actor decided to leave and the assistant director with all the 'gear' had no intention of helping us in the first place. So began my first lesson in the screen industry. Put everything in writing.
I was left with one small camera, a floodlight, a cast and small crew who remained enthusiastic about the project.
With no money, one camera, two sound guys and a floodlight - we powered on.
After writing, directing, shooting and editing the project on Final Cut...I had a movie.
So - years later I've cut it up and offer it now as a web series. BLOOD LAW has arrived.
SYNOPSIS
Jack and Marilyn Stevens have everything. He is an Aboriginal tracker and park ranger, she is his devoted wife. Along with their two teenage children, Claire and Thomas, their idyllic family life is surpassed only by the beauty of the remote wilderness that Jack has been given care of. They rarely have visitors. When they do it is usually Marilyns’ sister Erica and her husband Les, an ex cop.
A month before her 50th birthday Marilyn and the two children take a day drip to the city for Thomas’ birthday to see a movie. Jack remains on the property to entertain a group of tourists. After the cinema Marilyn and the two teens are mugged by a street gang.
One of the gang members produce a gun and Marilyn instinctively protects her son. She is shot and killed. A few days later, Jack carries her ashes into the wilderness to grieve.
The gang is found and arrested. A hearing takes place. Les and Jack attend the hearing while Thomas and Claire wait at Ericas’ home. Due to a technicality in search and seizure laws, the gang is allowed to go free until the next court date when Thomas and Claire will appear as witnesses.
The ruthless gang leader, Crewcut, decides that he cannot afford to return to prison and convinces his twelve members to find Jack and the two teens. They find his tourist operation on the internet easily enough and show up at the house. The two teens are not there. But Jack is waiting for them. Jack escapes from the house and heads to the thick cover of the bush with the gang hot on his trail.
Night falls and freezing weather descends on the bush.
One by one the group is picked off as they panic, turn on each other and try to avoid being the next victim. Realizing they have become the hunted, Crewcut is determined to kill Jack.
