Hunter-based and family owned production company, Rollingball has added large metro-based clients BP Australia New Zealand (BP ANZ) and Uniting AgeWell to their client roster, boosting the local film industry and the region’s economy.

The Newcastle business was approached to deliver a campaign for the Victoria and Tasmania based aged care service after seeing City of Newcastle’s On Your Bike campaign produced by Rollingball last year.

Rollingball Producer and Co-Managing Director, April Howard said working with Uniting AgeWell was fantastic.

“We were lucky that Uniting AgeWell allowed us to complete all of the production in the Newcastle region with local crew and locations supporting what is a growing, and vital industry to the region,” April said.

“The project allowed all our departments to sink their teeth into some high-end production with quirky but meaningful storylines.

“Our Script Writer and Director, Paul Donnelly cast talent in their 70’s and 80’s from across Australia and our Art Director, Lainey Donnelly built amazing sets and scenes for our lovable characters.

“Newcastle has always been a creative hub, but it seems to be gaining momentum and we’re proud to be an active part of that.”

The most recent and final Uniting AgeWell television commercial, the fourth in the series, was filmed in a residential garden in Lambton on Kings Road. The staring actress was local Brenda Lockwood, an 80 something-year-old who was making her debut performance for the screen, although she had a string of theatre experience to her credits. Other talent came from Canberra, the Central Coast and Sydney, however the Director, Producer, Art Department, Sound Technician and Runner were all from Newcastle. Props, costumes and film equipment were all sourced locally.

BP Australia New Zealand (BP ANZ) was also attracted by the company’s past work and agreed to partner with the local company to produce a recruitment campaign with production taking place in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand. Rollingball is now pitching for a national recruitment campaign with the retailer.

April said the win has led to opportunities for further work with BP, its sparked new interest in the Newcastle based company and it’s seen the crew within Rollingball itself expand. The business has grown steadily since it was founded in 2009 and is proud of the work it’s being able to produce.

“Collaboration is what we do best. Being able to find creative ways to deliver a story, a message or create an impact is why we do what we do, and we’re lucky to call Newcastle home,” April said.

“Here we have access to all kinds of locations, talented crew, equipment and an airport which means we can easily work with clients across Australia and keep our Post-Production local.”

Their creative work was rewarded this year when they won two national awards and placed twice at the Australian Video Producers Awards for work produced for Brokenwood Wines, Ravensworth Operations and Newcastle City Council. They are also finalists in two categories of the coveted NEWi Award and two ATOM Awards, which will be announced later in the year.

IMAGE | Rollingball Productions filming in Whitebridge, Adamstown and Lambton for Victoria and Tasmania based client Uniting AgeWell.