On the momentous night of Friday 22 March 2024, Principal Darnelle Pretorius, teachers and staff of Swan Christian College and the Swan Christian Education Association along with 1,600 distinguished guests gathered at Reading Cinema in Belmont to see the world premiere of Before Dawn, an eagerly awaited independent Australian film. Created by Swan graduate, Jordon Prince-Wright and his team at Prince-Wright Productions, the event marked a significant milestone in Australian cinema. The glamorous black tie affair was guarded by a security team as some attempted to enter without tickets.
Utilizing $1.4 million worth of explosives and meticulously crafted sets built to scale, Before Dawn immerses viewers into the trenches of World War I. This attention to detail was achieved through two years of dedicated effort, although the production faced many setbacks due to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Jordon reflected on the challenges faced during production, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in storytelling, “One of the biggest challenges was getting the story right. It was making sure that we had the moments where a sergeant might be breaking down and then two seconds later he’s hiding it with humour. So whilst we had a massive scale and big set, it was actually being able to tell the story and to do it justice because this is based on diary entries and we made sure that we were as close as we could be to the source material.”
Swan Christian College played a vital role as one of the film’s sponsors, a fact not lost on Jordon, who expressed pride in his high school’s support. This support, coupled with corporate sponsorship and local government backing, allowed Before Dawn to transcend traditional funding avenues and set a new standard for independent filmmaking in Australia.
The film’s premiere drew a record-breaking crowd of 1,600 attendees, affirming its impact and resonance with audiences. Defence Force personnel and critics alike praised Before Dawn for its raw portrayal of wartime experiences and its tribute to the sacrifices made by those who served. Jordon shared a poignant moment from the premiere, stating, “I had some of the Defence Force personnel coming up in tears and I was thinking ‘oh, what have I done wrong?’ But they were in tears because they didn’t expect it to be so realistic and hit home. For others, it reminded them what the men and women of those times sacrificed. I think for me, the fact that we’re getting that sort of reaction confirms that we have done a good job.”
Before Dawn stands as more than a war movie; it’s a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of creativity. As audiences emerge from cinemas moved by its realism, the film serves as a poignant reminder of the power of storytelling to honour the past and inspire the future.
Photo Credit of top image: Manny Tamayo
