Bushranger bucks: Council pledges film funding

To bring Ben Hall’s story to life in a 30-minute film documenting the infamous bushranger’s final days, the production team are hoping to raise $75,000 by Monday, July 7.

The film’s writer, director and producer Matthew Holmes is ecstatic that Forbes Shire Council is so willing to back the project.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Forbes Shire Council has jumped on board,” he said.

“That’s what I wanted from the very beginning and to be able to get it is just fantastic.”

With Forbes Shire Council’s generous pledge, Mr Holmes said they are nearly halfway to meeting their goal of $75,000, with a total so far of $35,191 from 166 backers.

“We’ve got about $1,500 to go before we’re at the halfway point,” he said.

“We’re almost there – hopefully the next day or two we’ll see more come in and we’ll be working pretty hard to get there.”

Mr Holmes said Forbes will reap the rewards if the film goes ahead.

“If we can raise the rest of the money it’s going to be a really good asset for Forbes to have this film,” he said.

“We can finally bring this story and characters and history to life.

“People seeing it beyond Forbes will hopefully get really interested in this history and story and start discovering it for themselves and when they do Forbes will be a place that people will go to find out more and visit his grave and see where he was killed.

“I’m hoping this will bring Ben Hall back into the limelight and spring tourism interests.”

Forbes Shire Council’s general manager Brian Steffen said council are more than happy to support the project.

“Ben Hall is such a big part of our culture and history and it’s great to represent that in a modern movie,” he said.

“There are so many benefits to being involved at the start.”

Forbes mayor Ron Penny agreed.

“This will put Forbes centre of stage,” Cr Penny said.

“Ben Hall is quite unique – he is the only outlaw that went from being a grazier to an outlaw.

“To have a story on Ben Hall, who is buried in Forbes and grew up here, will only benefit the town and anything that helps Forbes is a good thing.”

Council’s director of tourism, community and cultural development, Richard Morgan said it is an interesting story which should be told and it is great council are behind it.

“This is a very exciting support for what is going to become an iconic film for the region and a real benefit for Forbes’ tourism, particularly the huge number of people that are interested in bushrangers,” he said.

By making a $10,000 pledge to the film, council have come on board as producers of the movie and will have a credit on screen at the start of the film directly after the director’s credit, as well as a number of other benefits.

“Forbes council will have rights to the film and documentaries that we make for it as well, as we also plan to make a one hour documentary suitable for schools,” Mr Holmes said.

“They’ll also have free access to use the film and documentary for tourism and promotion, to screen the film publicly to promote tourism in the region and boost community events.

“They’ll receive copies to sell in museums and tourist centres with the profits going back to council.

“Any images that we produce, council will have free reign to use in the press, publicity, tourist brochures and more. We also want to host the world premiere in Forbes which would put a spotlight on the town.”

To make the film become a reality, Mr Holmes is calling on individuals to pledge their support through Kickstarter, an online fundraiser for independent creative projects.

“The next week will be a big turning point and we just want to urge people to jump online and pledge $10 or $20 because that’s what we need most now and that’s what will get us there,” he said

“We’ve had lots of big pledges but we’ve depleted most of our options for big pledges now – we’ve had over 160 backers and to have raised over $35,000 with that many supporters is really good. It’s now up to individuals – anybody who wants to see this film should pledge.”

If the production team doesn’t make the $75,000, the film won’t go ahead. To pledge a donation, go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legendofbenhall/the-legend-of-ben-hall-an-australian-western-30-mi