For two years, Orange-based filmmaker Samuel Rodwell has been tinkering away to finish off his short experimental action film Inferno.
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The film features frontline firefighters battling the largest bushfire to have ravaged the extinct volcano Mount Canobolas in 2018.
"I have been filming, editing and directing the short film by myself and have been working on it since my final year of university," he said.
"Initially, I didn't intend on making a firefighting film, but I have nearly 20 hours of footage that I'm cutting it down to maximum of 15 minutes.
"I saw quite a few missed opportunities for other story lines for the film but I'm excited to put it to bed once it's released to the public."
Mr Rodwell said when he was filming the work he had to be wary of the equipment he would use when in the firetruck, aircraft and on the ground.
"There were a few logistics and risk management considerations needed for the film to go ahead," he said.
"I had to make sure the functionality of the camera equipment was not compromised because I was taking up one seat on the truck and I didn't want it to interfere with the firefighter's work."
Having experienced the fire in real life, Mr Rodwell said it was a destructive yet a positive experience.
"Considering how huge the fire was on Mount Canobolas and there was a lot of damage, everything was saved in the operation," he said.
"There's so many different thoughts that run through your head when you're on the ground.
"It was a surreal and informative experience to watch the RFS, airbase crew and aircraft work together to achieve one specific goal."
The film was going to have its silver screen moment on July 31 as part of the Winter Fire Festival but was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Mr Rodwell said the cancellation is a silver lining and was a responsible decision.
"This is just part of the film and events industry at the moment because nothing is guaranteed until it happens," he said.
"The event has been postponed but we're not too sure when it will happen, until then I'll be taking the opportunity to continue to tweak the film.
"I don't want the coronavirus to be a distraction for the audience and the potential dangers that come along with it."
Mr Rodwell added he has plans to take his work to future film festivals.
"I will be submitting the work to major film festivals in Sydney and Melbourne and to underground festivals," he said.
"You just don't know how well it will go if you don't apply."
Mr Rodwell was the Orange Regional Arts Foundation Grant Recipient in association with NSW Rural Fire Service in 2019.
To view the trailer, head to: www.samuelrodwell.com/
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