University of South Australia tutor and filmmaker Anthony Frith is premiering two films at this year's Adelaide Film Festival, turning a low-budget challenge into a showcase of South Australian ingenuity.
Tasked with creating a lost-world dinosaur film in suburban Adelaide on a six-day shoot and a shoestring budget, Frith turned the project into an opportunity by producing not one, but two films featured in the 2025 Adelaide Film Festival program: The Land That Time Forgot and Mockbuster.
With dreams of becoming a celebrated director, Frith landed his big break with Hollywood production house The Asylum, the studio behind cult hits like Sharknado, after a simple email pitch.
"It turns out that the key to actually getting to direct a movie is to just ask," Frith says.
"It quickly became pretty clear what I was getting myself into after I had emailed The Asylum, all it took was a brief video call with David Latt until I was offered a film deal."
That deal became The Land That Time Forgot. Anticipating a whirlwind production, Frith chose to simultaneously direct a behind-the-scenes documentary, Mockbuster, turning the camera on himself to capture the chaos and compromise of exploitation filmmaking.
"At its core, Mockbuster isn't just about creative compromise, but what it means to face the fact that your dreams might not come true in the way you expect them to," Frith says.
"What started as a way for me to get that elusive feature directing credit I always wanted, evolved into something bigger. A self-portrait of a compromised artist as they settle for much less than what they thought they deserved. This film is a deeply personal look into what it costs to want to be successful, and redefining the very definition of what it means when a dream doesn't go to plan."
Mockbuster was co-written by Frith and UniSA lecturer in film and television Sandy Cameron. Together, they brought a team of former students and recent graduates into the production, including Alexandra Short as production assistant and sound studio coordinator, Drew Downing as production assistant and Roisin Gleeson as sound assistant.
Mockbuster was produced by David Elliot-Jones, Cameron and Naomi Ball, and supported by Screen Australia, with the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, in association with Giant Pictures and VicScreen. Cameron says the project reflects the seamless connection between UniSA's creative ecosystem and the professional screen industry.
"Being an active creative practitioner allows me to connect my teaching with the real demands of the screen industry," Cameron says.
"Mockbuster brought those worlds together organically, with several former students joining the crew across production and post-production. It highlights UniSA's focus on industry readiness and creative collaboration."
Short says being involved in the team was a memorable experience and a unique opportunity to learn from the professionals.
"Witnessing the production and post-production process of this film was really special," she says.
"It was really interesting to be on my first professional film set and observe how everyone carries out their roles and responsibilities. Even getting to meet some of the actors and understanding how they prepare for their roles was exciting."
A year after production wrapped, Frith reflects on the intensity of the experience and credits his crew for their commitment and support.
"Directing two films at once was no easy feat. It took a lot of planning beforehand as well as a lot of whispering into my radio mic while shooting," Frith says.
"The most important thing was to hire a crew who I trust, who were on board with the idea and are happy to make me look like a fool. It was completely all consuming, overwhelming and potentially the stupidest thing I will ever do in my life."
The team hopes audiences walk away with both appreciation and amusement.
"I really hope that audiences can see how fun it can be to make movies," he says.
"Sure, there's a lot of hiccups and mistakes and ridiculous plot points, but at the end of the day it's just so fun and rewarding. And I hope they can see that making movies is hard, even bad ones."
"Mockbuster is a one-of-a-kind documentary - offbeat, chaotic and ultimately full of heart," says Richard Huddleston, Screen Australia Head of Documentary.
"Following director Anthony Frith, the team's singular vision to create the next B Grader gives audiences an entirely original, access-all-areas ticket into the film industry."
Both films will premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival. See Mockbuster with a Pink Carpet Screening at The Piccadilly on Friday 24 October and The Land That Time Forgot at The Mercury on Sunday 26 October.
MOCKBUSTER is produced by Mostly True Media and Walking Fish Productions. Major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival, Giant Pictures and VicScreen. Financed with support from KOJO Studios, Green Marble Productions and Time Horse Productions. Local distribution by Umbrella. US distribution by Giant Pictures.
Find out more and secure tickets for Mockbuster and The Land That Time Forgot on the Adelaide Film festival website.
