Louise Alston​

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In 2006 to 2008 writer Stephen Vagg was living in Brisbane. He worked as a temp secretary and then as a paralegal to keep money rolling in while he was writing a book. During this time, he became very good at photocopying.

At the Brisbane Department of Public Prosecutions he was the only one who could actually make the photocopier work. He knew it took a gentle touch to get photocopy love in return. In the lonely hum of the print room, his imagination began to wander... at least I think it was imagination... because he wrote this short film.

This film comes off the back of a romantic comedy play I directed called Sidekicks. It played to critical success in Sydney, Adelaide and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in early 2013. My collaboration with actor Emily Rose Brennan hit a purple patch and we were able to spring from success on stage to production of this short film, also written by Stephen Vagg.

I met Tom Stokes at a party where I blurted out how much I loved his performance in “I Want to Sleep With Tom Stoppard” and asked would he consider the short film script. Happily he agreed to play the role. 

Photocopier was an opportunity to again explore themes of neurotic love on screen as I have done several times before in my work. This time with tragi-comic results. 

Photocopier was a chance to work again with collaborators (writer) Stephen Vagg, (editor) Andrew Soo, (composer) Caitlin Yeo and (sound designer) Adrian Bilinski. It was also an opportunity to work with DOP Nicola Daley and producer Eva Di Blasio for the first time. This proved to be an inspiring team.

The performances of Tom Stokes and Emily Rose Brennan prove why they are a couple of Australia's rising stars. I fell in love with both of them in the theatre it was a joy to translate the vibrancy of their stage performances onto the screen.

Photocopier is about the sadness and silliness of impossible love. It is also about understanding. Because in the end, if true love is impossible, is compassion and empathy is a reasonable alternative?