Five Minutes with Jessica Grace Smith, actor and judge of Get Reel Short Film Festival

It’s all about the story. Write a good story, and then it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the best equipment or most famous actors – the film will connect.

What can you tell us about the charity cause behind the festival?

The main charity behind the festival is Suicide Prevention Australia, which facilitates leadership for the meaningful reduction of suicide. This issue is very close to my heart – we don’t talk about it nearly enough. There is such a stigma surrounding suicide and yet there is an epidemic in this country and New Zealand. Being from New Zealand and seeing the threat that Lifeline is under with this disastrous National government, I also want to promote that charity and the fantastic work they do on a daily basis. Events like this are a fantastic way to start the discussion around mental illness.

How difficult was it to narrow down 1,650 entries to ten finalists?

I imagine it was a huge amount of work. I didn’t have to watch all 1,650 entries – when I got the films they had already been narrowed down somewhat and then myself alongside the other judges voted for our favourites. I found it really tough because they were all so different! Some were more documentary-style, others more abstract with beat poetry or a film noir edge, and there was even an animation. It was really tough, but I tried to look for story first, and then connection – my gut feeling – was I hooked or not? After that I looked for the unique edge, which films really stood out for being different, and which films really spoke to a particular group or demographic different than my own.

Your own acting career has taken you from Home And Away to Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena. What’s next?

I recently finished working on a thriller in New Zealand (as an actor) which will come out next year. I am also in the very final stages of post-production on my directorial debut, Everybody Else Is Taken, so once that is all done I will be entering it into festivals around the world.

Do you have aspirations to move into filmmaking full-time?

I really do. I had the best experience shooting that film. I have since written another short that I intend to shoot here in New South Wales, and I am currently writing a television series that I hope to pitch once I am done. I also pitched recently to direct a web series here in Sydney, so I definitely see myself moving more and more into the creation and filmmaking side of things. I still love acting though – always see myself continuing on that path!

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