Short Film in production
Log Line
After a nine year old boy witnesses three teens smash a Magpie egg, killing the chick inside, he struggles with what it might take to be accepted by them.
Director’s Statement
Magpie is a film that holds a lot of truths for me. The isolation and desperation that comes with being an only child. The impossibility of transitioning a shielded childhood into a social existence where love is not a given. Confronting the bitter reality outside your door and ultimately deciding where you end and others begin. Magpie really is a story about the children of the working class in any Australian suburbia and how people with shared trauma bond and detach.
This world is violent and people are capricious but when presented with the illusion of control, the notion of acceptance is intoxicating.
Crew
Frank
Piripitsi
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Writer Director
With a 22 year career spanning the arts, Frank is a eminent and multidisciplinary story teller. After a battle with Lymphoma, Frank has returned to his life’s passion, filmmaking. A VCA graduate and mentor, Frank is elated to have the opportunity to create and envision Magpie through his fresh perspective.
Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn
Sophia is a vibrant actress who brings fresh energy and dynamic storytelling to every project. With a background in screen and theatre acting since childhood, she knows how to make characters feel real and performances truly engaging. She lights up the screen with her unhinged performance in the new screamer, Penny Lane Is Dead.
Monty Newton Welsh
Monty’s natural screen presence and confidence have already seen him appear in major productions including the feature film Magic Beach and the upcoming Goolagong. The grandson of beloved television icon Bert Newton and son of Olympian Matt Welsh, Monty is forging his own path with charm, whit, and an instinctive talent for character and performance.
Elisha Villa
At only 14, Elisha Villa is a stand out talent in the musical theatre scene. She made her professional stage debut as Judah in the Melbourne season of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and later joined the cast of Midnight, demonstrating a maturity and confidence well beyond her years. Recognised for her versatility and dedication, Elisha was selected as a Top 50 finalist in the AACTA Young Stars National Youth Casting Call. Without a doubt, Elisha is emerging as one of Australia's most promising young performers.
Michael Logo
Michael Logo is a proud Samoan actor working across stage and screent. He has performed in Western Edge’s productions The Retreat, The Watching, Lele, Butterfly, and worked on the script for Hamlet, translating sections into Samoan language. He was a key creative working on the expanded Lele, Butterfly creative development. Michael has performed in Playlist Live (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre), First Stage (Melbourne Theatre Company), and David Wood’s production of This (RISING). He was featured in short film Eli the Invincible (SBS). Michael’s recent screen credits include Paper Champions (Netflix), Why Are You Like This, Love Me, and Colin from Accounts (Binge).
Amy Dellar
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DOP
www.amydellar.com
Amy Dellar is an award-winning cinematographer with an insatiable love for the craft of storytelling. She has shot four feature films, over 20 short films. Her work has screened internationally at major festivals including MIFF, IFFR and Marrakech, and spans music videos and commercial content. In 2019, she won Best Cinematography at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival for the short film Jupiter, and in 2021 received a Silver ACS Award for Unsettled. She was recently named one of IF Magazine’s 2025 Rising Talent cinematographers.
Elizabeth Reeder - Production
A backbone of the Australian Film and TV industry, Liz has been dedicated to bringing many great works to Aussie screens for over 10 years. With a master’s from VCA, Liz is a creative and steadfast part of the team focused on bringing the vision of Magpie to life. When not on a film set, Liz is an internationally recognized and award-winning street photographer.
Northside Casting
We are beyond honored to be casting Magpie with Northside Casting.
”Northside Casting is a Melbourne based Casting Agency for all things creative!
We take a contemporary approach to casting and love to work with like minded creatives on all projects big and small.”
Chiara Costanza - Composer
Chiara recently composed the score for Netflix’s global hit Heartbreak High, as well as Silenced, which premiered at Sundance 2026. Her additional film work includes Australia’s Open (MIFF/ABC), Long Story Short, and the Palme d’Or–winning short All These Creatures (Cannes, 2018).
We are beyond honored to have Chiara create the score for Magpie. Just wait till you hear it!
Wendy Olsen Art - Creature SFX
www.etsy.com/shop/WendyOlsenArt
Wendy is the creator of worlds filled to the brim with fleshy enigmatism. We are blessed to watch her bring our baby magpie to life!