Jason Stringer

It was just six months ago that I sat in the same cinema amongst peers and professionals, its red seats and tall red curtains holding the group of onlookers tight. On this occasion I found myself less anxious, yet equally excited.

Previously I had been in attendance with my family on my graduation night, waiting to receive my Advanced Diploma in Screen.  This time I sat as support for fellow filmmaker Danny Clark as he accepted his graduating certificate in the same course. I felt great pride for him and shook his hand when his name was called. We’ve talked about it so much. Now we’re here, making it happen.

Afterward we gathered in the main hall of FTI and enjoyed (average) beer and (awesome) food. Joining us was Keagan Teare, another fellow old-school mining town original who has moved to Western Australia and undertaken the FTI Diploma in Screen studies. Also with us was Ross Gluyas, whom I remember best as the guy who served me at that outback Blockbuster store when hiring VHS tapes almost a decade ago (my early gains in film knowledge – watch everything.) It was a very surreal moment between the four of us. There we stood, thousands of kilometers from our origins, standing amongst the filmmaking community in Fremantle on a stormy Friday evening.

I look forward to being back here in 30 weeks to watch Keagan accept his graduating certificate – the third consecutive Roxby resident in successive classes to do so.

Danny and I introduce ourselves as filmmakers – and it feels damn good to confidently do so.