An Illawarra teenager's parody of a beloved horror film - shot entirely on an iPhone - will be screened as part of a prestigious festival.
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The Diet, a short film by Beau Ritchie, has been selected to be screened in the 2021 Flickerfest film festival.
Beau, 14, of Mount Warrigal, attends Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts.
Encouraged by his grandfather Robert, the teenager created his short film for the Wollongong Short Film Festival 2020.
He came first in the 13-19 year category.
Beau wrote, directed, shot and produced the seven-minute film on his iPhone. It stars a number of family members.
He said he had more time at home to think about the film due to the pandemic.
"It took about three weeks to film, two weeks to edit and writing it took about two weeks," he said.
"I made a couple of short films when I was 10 and 11, and then I stopped for a while.
"(When making films) I like just forgetting about life and not worrying, and then you've got something to watch afterwards, and you've got memories of the film."
Filmed entirely at home during COVID-19 lockdown, the story was inspired after watching his parents start a diet and exercise regime at the beginning of the year.
Also influenced by one of his favourite films, 1980's The Shining, Beau created a parody of the Stanley Kubrick movie that's based on the Stephen King novel.
"I like the filming in The Shining - how it's done, and the look of it," he said.
"It was my favourite movie at the time, I love it.
"I thought, 'hey, I could make a spin on The Shining, in my own kind of way'.
"In the film, Jack, the father, he loves junk food, and his wife puts him on a diet and locks up all the food. He doesn't like it, and goes crazy basically."
The film was shortlisted and will be screened as part of the 30th annual Flickerfest festival at Bondi Beach in January 2021.
Beau entered the short film into Flickerfest's under-18 category 'FlickerUp.'
One of Australia's premier short film festivals, Flickerfest is an Academy Accredited Short Film Festival and BAFTA recognised film festival.
"I'm very excited about it," Beau said.
FlickerUp showcases the finalists of the national competition for primary and secondary school aged students or individuals under the age of 18.
Flickerfest will run from January 22-31. The FlickerUp screenings will be on January 31.
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