Centrespread

Story

Set in a not too distant future resembling Mad Max, the world is a totalitarian society where sex is linked with violence and women are presented for male entertainment through a magazine run by a computer called Central. Gerard, a hot photographer working for Central, specializes in images of violent sexuality, comparing his work to old Roman games and quoting Plato about making man-made dreams. His first photo session involves a Droog threatening a nude Bald Lady with machetes, but she disappears into the fog.

Next, a leather-clad Rapist attacks a Motorbike Girl, who cuts him with a knife, but he revives and rapes her. Gerard is then told to find a new girl with a fresh look for the new century. He meets Niki, a nice girl working in an antique shop who values history and belonging. After further shoots involving aluminium foil wrapped models and shattered glass, Niki converts Gerard to the notion of love through her feminine underwear.

At story's end, Gerard is demoted to D sector to photograph animals, and the young lovers stand together at Light's Vision in Adelaide, devoted to each other.

Production

The script was written by Michael Ralph and Robert Fogden, both of whom were art directors on the film. Producer Wayne Groom stated they wanted to find an unknown girl for the lead and make her a star. The movie was shot in Adelaide at the South Australian Film Corporation's studios, with filming beginning in September 1980. Centrespread claimed to be the first Australian feature film shot on super 16mm and blown up to 35mm for theatrical release.

This format later became popular in Australia for low budget features, as the additional frame area improved picture quality and avoided the stigma of being labelled 16mm. Fred Harden, in a Cinema Papers article, described how the Aaton camera could be converted to Super 16, and noted that Atlab had recently produced a high quality blow-up of Centrespread. Tony Paterson was exceptionally pleased with the results of the new format.