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Darry Fraser on filming her book trailer for The Landlady of the Resolution Hotel

Ever since Elsa Goody Bushranger came out in 2020, Dion and Paul, (Four Point Films, South Australia) and their team, credited in the video, have produced a trailer for me. This one for  Landlady of The Resolution Hotel is the eighth – you can see the others on my website darryfraser.com It’s a great fun day, a long and slow one with lots of ‘takes’ at a location or locations they choose, generally on the River Murray and always dependant on good weather. You can see we all glam up for it. Author no doubt giving directions to the weather gods while stand-by talent back her up. As with previous trailers, the team hired the star. The lovely Gabi became Biddy for a while – shots like this one were taken numerous times at all angles up and down the track. It wasn’t too hot on the day, but the mozzies were as big as helicopters in this spot, so it was a bit of a challenge at times. Dion, and Paul (with the camera) discussing the finesse of the shot or the video. Sometimes, to keep costs down, these two are the talent too – Dion is usually the baddie, while Paul has played a hero role. On screen, it’s seconds only though. In a few other videos, production assistant Britt is the star. And her mum Lee-Anne has had a few roles (she takes a fall as Aunty Dot in this one). I should do a cameo, they say – not going to happen! One of us had a birthday on the day (not the author) so Author made lemon curd and ANZAC bikkies. What a combo. All good for energy levels on a day’s shoot. Author trying to focus on whatever Dion and Paul were checking. I’m used to seeing huge cameras on sets (only in movie docos), but this was a tiny tot of a screen. So Author left the team to it - my directorial efforts would debut another day. Biddy checking she was depicted well on the cover. We think so! By the way, Dion’s mum usually recreates the cover outfit if production assistant Britt can’t find similar online. If you’ve attended one of my library talks, the mannequin I bring along wears the outfit. In this shot, Dion was running alongside Biddy. In the trailer she’s got some speed up, huffing and puffing. So was Dion … Once the day is done, the next step is the editing, the adding or discarding bits, checking on the credits and acknowledgments etc. The last to be added to the file is the soundtrack. (There’s a small licence fee involved.) The team always finds something to stir the blood and that polishes the whole thing. The team won the 2024 Rhode Island International Film Festival for Best Feature Film: Within the Pines. Grateful thanks they find the time to do this for me annually. These women have been through hell - but it isn't over yet. Bestselling Australian author Darry Fraser's latest historical novel will have you on the edge of your seat. In 1894, at the loneliest pub on the Murray River, four women are hiding from the truth - and it's threatening to find them. Biddy's the publican at the Resolution Hotel, taking the reins from her fierce aunt Dot. Biddy's finally starting to feel like herself again - like who she was before she lost everything. But now she's accused of a crime she didn't commit, and the constable is hinting her aunt isn't innocent either. When a man arrives offering Biddy an alibi, her surprise turns to shock when she realises who it is, someone she never expected to see again. In the chaos, new guests arrive: Freya and Clara, both seeking refuge, and both desperate to conceal what they're running from. There are plenty of secrets and past traumas among the women - and men - at the Resolution Hotel, but their ordeals aren't over yet. A cold-blooded murderer is in the area, and he's taken an interest in the isolated hotel. Hunted by a killer, haunted by their pasts, they will need all their strength, courage and resilience to survive. But one of them will go too far ... Get the book here