Given that author and screenwriter Craig Silvey is from Western Australia and has described himself as a ‘parochial Western Australian storyteller’, Runt was always destined to be filmed within the state.   

The small inland town of York offered the perfect backdrop for the story with its grand heritage architecture, rural vistas and distinctive character. And so, a giant Ram was erected in the main street of York for the shoot, with the townsfolk embracing the production for four weeks in November 2023.   

“York is effortlessly cinematic. The main street feels like a movie lot – it's extraordinary,” says Silvey.  “The architecture is unspoiled. And the community itself, with its idiosyncrasies and quirkiness, befits the tone of the people of Upson Downs. There is a special Aussie charm – a special tranquillity that you can’t quite put your finger on – that will appeal to audiences all over the world,” he elaborates.  

Share the above information with students, asking them to reflect on the visuals from the Runt feature film. Next, challenge students to think of their own community as a potential film setting. Working individually or in pairs, have students reflect on the landscapes, weather, places and people unique to their local area. What makes their community special? Which vistas might help to engage audiences? 

After recording their thoughts in writing or drawing, ask students to generate ideas for one or more fictional screen stories that could be set in these places. Students’ hypothetical films could span all genres. After sufficient writing time, invite volunteers to share their ideas with the wider class and discuss the diversity of ideas generated.