Press release from Michelle Shepherd
Working as a cleaner, Jennifer Ross had often experienced the panic of being locked in a lift, or an empty stairwell in a deserted office building but she never thought it would lead to her standing on stage in New York with Hugh Jackman.
The South Yarra based Mum was Australia’s only finalist in the 2012 Tropfest, New York in July. Selected for her short film titled ‘Elevator’, Jennifer recreated the anxiety she felt when imagining her small son was locked on a deserted office floor without her. “What if he was upstairs and I couldn’t reach him? What would I do? How would he feel?”
As ‘Jenny’, actress Eliza D’Souza plays the role of both carer and provider, cleaning offices after hours and taking Cody with her. D’Souza’s excellent portrayal of the working Mum in the suspense filled short film, won her best actress.
A creative at heart, Jennifer had only learnt how to make films on her Mac 18 months before she entered her short film. “It had always been in the back of my mind to make a film for Tropfest, even before I owned a camera! Tropfest is now an Australian Institution and I think it provides an opportunity for people across the board to have a go at film making. When I met John Polson (Tropfest founder) in New York he very much had that ‘give it a go’ approach to things.”
On her return from New York, Jenny has moved straight on to her next two projects. One based in the Yarra Valley, a project she has been working on for over 12 months, and the other is a documentary on the history of Punk Rock in Melbourne and Sydney. “As a teenager growing up in the 80’s I was lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing musicians and talented artists. I ended up living in squats and share houses around Melbourne, giving anyone who would let me, a Mohawk. I just wish I had of been carrying a Super8 with me!”
ELEVATOR can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28nwQKOfpPk