Trial Run

Rosemary (Annie Whittle) is a photographer, mum and middle-distance runner. Based in a remote Otago cottage, photographing yellow-eyed penguins for a book project, she faces menacing events. But she refuses to be intimidated. Then things escalate, sending her running for help in the race of her life. Bird-watching, stranger danger and feminist film theory line up for a time trial in Melanie Rodriga's first feature. Twenty of the 29-strong production crew were women. In this excerpt, Rosemary encounters hostile neighbours, and is comforted by a friend (Judith Gibson). Marathoner Allison Roe trained Whittle, and had a cameo role.

Stranger things have happened at that cottage than women's lib. Now you get off my property.

– Alan West (Martyn Sanderson) to Rosemary (Annie Whittle)

Key Cast & Crew

Judith Gibson

As: Frances Hunt

Jan Preston

Composer

Martyn Sanderson

As: Alan West

Don Reynolds

Producer

Annie Whittle

As: Rosemary Edmonds

Melanie Rodriga (née Read)

Director, Writer, Original Idea