It’s tough poolside at The Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley’s swish James Street precinct. I mean, you risk getting stalked by your own sun lounge after lolling by the pool sipping a libation.
Or at least this happens to Jack Chettra, star of the cute short film Poolside Attraction, which you can see now on the hotel’s website. (“We know you love our pool chairs but did you know that they love you too?” asks the hotel)
And when I say short film, I mean really short, bless them. It’s just 92 seconds. Is it just an ad? Well, yes and no, because it is done so beautifully and so stylishly that it’s more a cinematic emblem of the coolest hotel in Brisbane.
To produce the film the hotel collaborated with international film director, the Los Angeles-based Scottie Cameron. The Australian-born director created Poolside Attraction, inspired by the urban resort’s poolside setting and bringing his characteristic playfulness to the work.
As the name implies, the 92-second short is about desire – taking a perceived problem for holidaymakers and presenting an alternative narrative. The director inverts the universal challenge faced by resort hotels with popular poolside destinations, where guests vie for highly coveted sun lounges.
Cameron’s perspective is a humorous yet whimsical story about desire, rendered in the vibrant visual style that the filmmaker has become known for.
This unique vision and style has made Cameron the go-to guy for short films, with collaborations spanning leading fashion, hospitality and tech brands. His films for Jacquemus and Speedo (Going Full Speedo) are his most recent, however he has also worked on global campaigns for Apple, New Balance, Vogue, Bulgari, Nike, Levi’s and Vans. A director, writer and photographer, Cameron creates work and stories that intrigue and engage. He says he is drawn to techniques that enable the story to be the hero.
“I am drawn to older films and an older style of making films where it was all a bit slowed down,” Cameron says. “No gimbals or drones, or crazy use of VFX (visual effects) … I don’t like to let a certain technique or camera move overpower what the story is trying to tell. All the camera things should fall away, so you do not really even notice them.”
Known for blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, Poolside Attraction was inspired by The Calile’s highly sought after pool experience.
“The inspiration mostly came from the hotel itself, and what makes The Calile, The Calile,” Cameron says.
An unexpected mini romance, Poolside Attraction inverts the love story narrative, with Cameron taking a guest’s desire for a poolside sun lounge and turning it into a love story with a twist.
In the film world, Cameron has garnered attention at film festivals internationally. Previous short films include Welcome to prom, Backyard Legends (for New Balance) and a series of vignettes for Vogue magazine called Everything Else Changes. Short film El Portafolio, an original screenplay written and directed by Cameron, has also been shown at festivals worldwide.
Cameron’s short film Officer Stanley was recently selected from thousands of applicants for inclusion in the Tribeca Film Festival, where the film received positive reviews. The film also featured at the Palm Springs Short Film Festival. Another of Cameron’s works is expected to be presented at a major festival in Australia in the year ahead.
Poolside Attraction reflects The Calile’s ongoing commitment to the arts, collaboration and storytelling. It is the latest in a suite of partnerships undertaken by The Calile as it continues to champion creative collaborations to encourage the community and guests to discover and celebrate a diverse line-up of local and global artists and creators.
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The Calile Culture talks have been very popular with the next one, featuring Virginia Trioli, at the hotel on October 10. A two-time Walkley-winning journalist, Trioli will discuss her book A Bit on the Side, in conversation with Griffith Review editor Carody Culver. The event will be presented in partnership with Riverbend Books and tickets will be available through the hotel’s website from September 6.
thecalilehotel.com
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