TASTY is about a queer teenager finding pride in their newly discovered gender and sexual identity during the midst of a drug raid in a Melbourne gay nightclub in 1994.

Based on a true event…

SHOOTING: July 22-31

LOCATIONS: Melbourne and the Surf Coast

Synopsis:

August, 1994 in Melbourne. Ben (17) lives on the surf coast with his mum and hangs out with his goofy best friend Lolly. Ben tries to fit in, but he feels outside of the world as he is questioning his gender and sexual identity. He wants to lose his virginity in a hurry to find out who he is, but he has difficulty with being naked in front of others. One morning after his surf, Ben meets cute guy Dane (23) by the beach, who tells him about the cool gay nightclub in the city called Tasty. It’s full of all kinds of people and no judgement. Ben tries to get into Tasty with Lolly but he is knocked back due to being underage. After a very awkward first-time sexual experience being interrupted by his mother, Ben finds the courage to dress as Poppy, a girl. As Poppy, Ben gains entrance into Tasty, along with Lolly, using his mum’s nearly expired drivers license. Unfortunately for Ben and Lolly, this is the night of the Victorian Police’s brutal and illegal six hour drug raid on Tasty nightclub, where the 460%20 patrons were publicly stripped, cavity searched with dirty gloves and denied access to toilets, water and their rights. Even worse, Dane is one of the cops who is faced with the dilemma of coming out or selling his people out. Poppy will have to choose whether her newly discovered identity is worth suffering such injustice and prejudice for.

The Team:

Meaghan Palmer: Writer / Director

Meaghan is currenty completing her Master of Film and Television (Directing Narrative) at the Victorian College of the Arts (The Univeristy of Melbourne). She has previously studied an Advanced Diploma Screenwriting and Bachelor Creative Writing, both at RMIT, with her previous films being selected to screen at festivals such as Toronto Inside out, MQFF and BQFF, plus a soon to be released webseries. By day (night), Meaghan is one of the organisers and DJs of various queer parties that have taken place in Melbourne over the past nine years (Thursgay, Yass Qween, Healthy, Homo Fomo, Danceteria). 

Varun Swaminathan: Co-Producer

Varun Swaminthan is currently studying the Master of Producing at VCA and already holds an MBA, he's a total Master. Previously, Varun has worked on television commercials and as a journalist and he is currently works in marketing at Samsung. Varun hails from India and was drawn to the project because of India's recent reversal of a law that decriminalised homosexuality. He is strongly drawn to projects that highlight injustice towards minorities.

David Morris: Cinematographer / Co-Producer

David Shane Morris is an award-winning filmmaker, who has experience across the many aspects of film production. As a Writer and Director he has a handful of short-films and a soon to be released web-series under his belt. His academic resume consists of a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Monash University and  Masters of Film & Television Directing at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he was the recipient of two Arts Victoria scholarships; the Scholarship for Outstanding Graduate (2014) and the Global Atelier Travel Scholarship (2014). He was also selected to represent the school of Film and Television in Suzhou, China on a 17 day documentary making intensive (Looking China 2014).  David and Meaghan continue their creative partnership after the success of their previous short-film, Bush Slayer.

All money raised will go towards the filming and post production of TASTY. Meaghan has invested every last dime of her own money however it isn't enough to complete the project to a level that is worthy of major festivals. It will take six days to shoot TASTY, some of it in the ocean when Ben is surfing with Dane, plus a large club scene has at least fifty extras so we can make the raid look believeable on screen.  Here is an example of some of the costs: Catering for cast and crew: $2000 • Camera hire: $3400 • Lights: $1500 • Retro 1994 Costumes: $1500 • Transport: $1000 • Production Design (props, sets etc): $3000 • Sound Recording and Design: $2500 . . . plus so much more. Every donation is guaranteed to be used for the completion of this film and is greatly appreciated.

The challenges faced by this production are many! Just for example . . .

We are shooting a very large club scene where we are recreating the night of the raid. This included over 460 patrons plus staff, so we need to get plenty of extras and also provide them with catering and retro costumes. It's set in 1994 so as fun as the fashun will be, it will have to be sourced not to mention paid for.

We are trying to achieve a predominantly minority crew. If anyone has read or heard about the recent Gender Matters study by Screen Australia, you will know that representation of women in top films is very low. We aim to acheive a high level of representation from women, queer, transgender and people of colour in both the cast and crew. 

Oh and we are shooting on the beach in winter! Rain, wind and not enough daylight hours. Whose brilliant idea was that? Oh yeah, it was mine. Aaaaand also because the VCA shooting period falls now so. . . not really a whole lot of choice!  . . . she shakes her fist into the icy winter wind.

Meaghan's Mission Statement: "I was drawn to this story as I am just old enough to remember the raid happening and I recall being horrified that it could happen in 1994. I wasn't 'out' yet, and this event wasn't much encouragement, however the way the queer community in Melbourne rallied together was. I want to tell a story that highlights the injustice, but also the solidarity that can exist in this minority community. I have chosen a gender questioning protagonist as all reports of the event and people I spoke to state that being stripped publicly was particularly harrowing for the transgender people in attendance and that they were most ridiculed and shamed by the police.  I also believe it is an important time for the white cisgendered members of the queer community (who are starting to experience more acceptance in society) remember that the fight is still much bigger for our poc and trans friends and we need to work together to ensure their rights are on the agenda and that they are safe. I feel public awareness thoughout entertainment media is one of the keys to this."