Canberra filmmaker transforms landmarks in a story of love and duty

At a time when many of us were spending our days with friends and family, Will Scott filled a Christmas season working on something special: making a movie.

“A lot of us were fresh out of year 12, some people went off to do Schoolies, but we thought we would make a feature film,” the Canberra filmmaker said.

The result was The Little Spinster, which tells the story of Lauren Wainwright.

When her family faces tragedy and financial hardship, Lauren is told to marry into wealth – however, she quickly falls for the new seamstress in town.

“The film centres around a young woman who falls in love with a younger woman in a historical context,” he said.

“It explores gender expectations and social class, as well.”

Filmed during the 2017/18 summer, Mr Ryan was director, writer and producer.

“I’ve watched historical films where the woman is torn between two suitors and has to choose to marry into wealth or something like that,” he said.

“I started thinking, ‘What would the story look like if she was actually a lesbian?’

“We’d just come out of the big marriage equality plebiscite, so it had that extra gravity to it.”

Mr Scott had been interested in filmmaking from a young age. The Little Spinster is his first feature film, though.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone involved in the production,” he said.

“We had actors and extras, of course, but also other people doing stuff behind the scenes.”

While the film isn’t explicitly set in Canberra, there is a strong connection to the ACT.

“I deliberately kept the location and exact time period kind of ambiguous, but it was filmed in the area. Because it was a historical drama, we had to look for settings that could pass.

“We shot at Lanyon Homestead, the Hall School Museum, Orroral Homestead out in Namadgi National Park, the Fitters’ Workshop in Kingston and Cooleman Ridge in the Weston Creek area.

“I had to do a lot of research to find all these locations, but we were quite lucky to film in Canberra.”

The film will premiere in a showing in Canberra on Saturday (13 January).

“I’m pretty nervous,” Mr Scott said.

“We had a private showing for some of the cast and crew – but for those that couldn’t make it, this is a chance for them to see the product of their hard work.”

“We’d love to get some members of the public who are willing to come with an outside perspective and some feedback.”

While filming The Little Spinster was several years ago, Mr Scott had been working on other projects and was an entrant in the Far South Film Festival in 2022.

“I think I need a bit of time before I embark on another feature film!

“I’ve done a couple of short films since we made this one, and I just recently shot a music video in Canberra.”

The Little Spinster will premiere on 13 January from 2 pm to 4 pm at Cinema 7 at Dendy Cinemas, Bunda Street in Civic.

Tickets cost $9 and are available via Humanitix.