indie filmmakers – FORTY-FOUR CLOVERS.

Kenny Waterson is a Sunshine Coast based filmmaker and stand-up comedian. Recently, his film Unsung Heroes was selected into the Sunshine Coast Film Festival. The documentary follows three volunteers at a community football club in regional Queensland. The short explores themes of purpose and passion as it makes the audience question why we do what love. It deeply affected me as I looked at the people in my own life and questioned why they devote so much time to things I once considered “pointless.” Read on for my conversation with Kenny.

Talking Unsung Heroes

What grabbed you about this story?

“I was initially intrigued by Rick Bastian (Kenny’s coach). He is this eccentric Dutch guy that takes social football seriously. I had watched the All or Nothing documentaries and Ted Lasso and I thought it could be funny to follow the reserves of a local football club. When I got into it, I realised it was a shallow story but overtime I started focusing on this question about why these volunteers give their time for a club.”

How long it took to shoot this documentary?

“I started filming in March of 2022 with Rick. I stopped filming at the end of the season in October.”

What each day of shooting looked like?

“I work full time so I knew playing at the club that I would be their two nights a week. It fit in around then. I would finish work on Friday afternoon and do an interview with the talent in the evening. Then the following day I would be shooting the football games with another camera operator.”

How do you keep focused on the documentary when you don’t know where the story will end up?

“I focus on documenting what I am interested in. I have played football all my life and it’s been a big part of my family life.”

How do you balance full time work with making a documentary and doing standup?

“I work as a full-time editor for a production company 5 minutes from home. Having a job that’s in the industry has taken a massive weight off my shoulders and helped blossom my creativity. It takes the financial pressure off everything so I can focus on the creative side.”

Talking Standup

Your process writing jokes for stand-up?

“I try to be aware of my surroundings and my life. Things will come to me and there will be a specific feeling and I write it down in my notes. I set aside about half an hour to an hour to write. Most of these ideas are trash but it just revolves around cycling through them all constantly.”

Where do you want to move for stand-up comedy?

“A lot of my favourite shows are mockumentaries like the Office and Chris Lilley shows. I would love to get to a point where I can produce, write or perform in or for a show like that.”

Talking Films

Favourite documentaries that inspired you?

“A film I love is called Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog. It inspired me to seek out characters like that because they are out there, you have to just be open to being interested in others.”

Four of your favourite films?

“Grizzly Man. I loved animation growing up so Toy Story was my favourite childhood film. Comedy wise definitely Superbad. My favourite drama film is Slumdog Millionaire.”

What is next for you / what are you working on?

“My immediate future is trying to get as many people watching Unsung Heroes. I am also moving overseas to London. That is kind of in pursuit of other projects. I really just want to build upon what I learnt from this project.”

Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane are two filmmakers based in Brisbane, Australia. For over 14 years, they have been making sketch comedy shorts with heavy VFX. Now they both work tirelessly on their TikTok and YouTube Chanel – racking up millions of views and even starting viral trends. Read on for more.

You both have been making short films and content for over 10 years, what created this attitude to just make stuff and get it done?

“I started making films just for the fun of doing them when I was like 10. It was just doing things for the fun of it. By the time I got to the end of school it was even more of an incentive to make videos. Also, when you’re at Uni you only make 7-8 things and I feel you want to finish with more than that.” – Lachlan

“I started getting into editing because I was making Marvel trailers. The reason I got into VFX was because I wanted to make Doctor Who intros. It harkens back to us being kids and having lightsabre fights and thinking “wouldn’t it be cool if we could make actual lightsabre fights.” – Austin

Across your careers, you can see how much your VFX has improved. Is this from school, University or just teaching yourself?

“I would say both but mainly self-taught.” – Lachie

“In year 8 and 9, every lunch time I would do a VFX shot. I would shoot it on my laptop, and I would do stuff like shooting a door and it would explode. Another day, my friend punched me and turned into a lunchbox.” – Austin

What’s your process in making these insane TikTok’s and reels you create?

“We will write, shoot, direct, star in, all ourselves. We split up the post tasks because we each have our own strengths. I will usually do the VFX while Lachlan will do the editing.” – Austin

“We will try to film as much as we can on the weekend and then work on it through the week and then get started on the next one straight away. It’s ultimately just about maintaining that repetition.” – Lachlan

“We both have so many ideas but unless it’s something we instantly jump at, we don’t even film it. Our sister is a good judge…. If we show it to her and she laughs it’s probably going to be good…” – Austin

Looking back on film school are you glad you did it or do you wish you did your own thing?

“There are way more people saying don’t do film school than there are saying do it. I would say it depends… When I went to film school, I found it hard to stand out from everyone else. It was difficult, I think at my school you needed a big personality and to be different from everyone. But ultimately it got kind of easier as you get to know people and I found it worthwhile in the end as I got heaps of connections who later got me a job.” – Lachlan

“I think for Uni you get out what you put into it ultimately. I work full time now as a junior online editor and I wouldn’t have got that job if I didn’t go to Uni, and the programs I use at work I learnt from uni.” – Austin

Can you explain the whole Michael Buble story?

“We love him and have loved his Christmas album since we were kids. We made this TikTok where we take him out of the ice for Christmas. I opened my phone the next morning and he had sent us a message on TikTok and commented it. I will ride that high until I die and we are very chuffed about that” – Austin

What filmmakers really inspire you.

“The Daniels definitely. It was very inspiring seeing how they went from small little sketch stuff to features. They are a team of two guys and we have taken a lot of inspiration from their style and we took on that comedic black comedy tone. Also, Edgar Wright and how he shifts your focus so well and so uniquely.” – Lachlan

What are some of your favourite films?

“The World’s End is one of my favourite Edgar Wright films because it has that emotional side. Also, any of Alfred Hitchcock’s films are incredible. Ours are both the same basically as well.” – Lachlan

“Swiss Army Man is my all-time favourite. Parasite, Psycho and the 400 Blows. I love Belfast, Little Women, Whiplash and Star Wars.” – Austin

Where do you want the Australian film scene to move?

“I would like there to be more. I am very new to the industry, but I would love the public to be more into it and proud of it. Also, shows that it doesn’t have to be about Australia.” – Lachlan

“I love how many productions are happening on the Gold Coast.” – Austin

What is next for you guys?

“We are going to make bigger short films. But for now, we are just doing TikTok and YouTube. Next year we are going to try for the Screen Queensland Skip Ahead program.” – Lachlan