Arts / Film
Brunswick-made film bids for Tropfest screening
Popular vote will determine whether One For the Money makes the cut
Mark Phillips
A SHORT film entirely shot in the Brunswick Brickworks housing estate is in the running to be shown at Tropfest this month.
One For the Money is among 10 entries vying for the coveted final spot in the world’s largest short film competition.
The 16th film to be screened at Centennial Park in Sydney on February 22 will be chosen by popular vote and Coburg-based filmmakers Jimmy Eaton and Maddy Tyers are urging the people of the inner north to get behind their production.
The five-minute comedy, directed by Eaton and produced by Tyers, is a homage to the couple’s favourite movies from the 1990s, in particular the German cult classic Run Lola Run.
Shot on an iPhone last year, One For the Money stars Tyers as Aurora, a young woman who is desperate to get money to a mystery man waiting outside her apartment building as the hourglass winds down.
As in Run Lola Run, the scenes are replayed several times with different results each time.
On Thursday, the couple learnt that the film, which is the first they have made together apart from some sketches for Instagram, had been chosen as one of 10 wildcard entries which have a chance of being screened at Tropfest, which is returning after a six year hiatus.
The other 15 finalists were also announced on Thursday. They have been chosen from more than 700 entries.
“We’re very proud of it,” said Tyers.
“We did it on a shoestring budget of $2000 and had four hours to shoot it in the apartment block with our mates. It’s eight of us and we all do multiple things.”
Added Eaton: “We feel very humbled to make it into the top 10 [wildcard entries] because the other films that made it into the top 10 are all by established film makers with big budgets and film companies behind them.”
Founded by actor and director John Polson in 1993, Tropfest is billed as the world’s largest short film festival and has been the launching pad for several directors, writers and actors who have gone onto national and global fame.
This year, $100,000 in prizemoney is up for grabs.
This is the first time either Tyers or Eaton, who are married with a two-year-old daughter, have entered Tropfest.
Eaton said the story was based on an idea “bubbling in my head for about four years”. When Tropfest 2026 was announced in August, he spent a weekend writing the script, drawing heavily on the films that were formative in his younger days.
“The movie is definitely a love letter to the films and electronic dance music of the mid- to late-90s that we grew up with and inspired me to become a film maker.
“It’s very much a homage to my favourite movie of all time, Run Lola Run.”
Within the short film there are also references to Trainspotting, Fight Club and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Filming took place on the Brickworks estate, where Tyers and Eaton lived for more than a dozen years until recently, in a single day in October, but post-production was a painstaking process meaning the final cut wasn’t completed until December.
As well as direct, Eaton performs in the film and was the director of photography, editor and in charge of production design and visual effects.
“I’m wearing the producer’s hat and learning as we go,” said Tyers.
“It was really quick turnaround but it was so much fun to make.
“We drew on all of our amazing friends and family to help with this little film. My dad is even in it … He’s 69 and a film buff and he’s been in a few things we’ve done.
“He was also our runner which is funny because he’s got a bung hip.
“We’re so proud and happy that people are watching and enjoying our little film and whether we get to be the 16th [film shown at Tropfest] or not, we’re just happy to get this far.”
Friends also helped with sound editing and composing and recording the film’s original soundtrack.
Eaton said he hoped the film’s DIY background “sends a message to young filmmakers out that that you don’t need all these assets to make a film, just go for it”. 
Eaton and Tyers first met when they were both working for the children’s charity The Starlight Foundation, where Eaton still works.
The couple also featured in the first series of Lego Masters in 2019, which Eaton jokes test the strength of their relationship.
To make One For the Money, Tyers and Eaton established an ongoing film production company, Win Win, named for their daughter Winnie. They have just completed shooting a new short film that will be entered into the Melbourne Comedy Festival film competition this year. A web series is also in the works.
But for now, the focus is fully on Tropfest.
“We’re told the film that gets the most engagement, likes, views, shares from your grandmother, will be lucky enough to get the 16th spot,” Eaton said.
“From the amount of response from everyone already we are almost the frontrunner but we’re just so grateful to have the exposure and for everyone to ge be able to see our work.”
“We’re going to give it a red hot go!” added Tyers.
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