FEATURE FILM, Theatrical Release
Dark Noise
Some sounds are not meant to be heard.
Synopsis
A young foley artist receives mysterious audio recordings from her frog-biologist father after he goes missing deep in a remote national park. Following the sonic trail he left behind, she travels to the isolated mountain town of Birra – only to uncover a dangerous organised-crime operation hidden deep in the forest. In a small town, out of season, everyone is a suspect.
Production Approach
Dark Noise was conciceved as a “sonic noir” – an atmospheric thriller where sound drives suspense. The idea originated with Ben Allan’s vision of “a young woman alone in the forest, listening for frogs, when she hears something she shouldn’t have”.
The ensemble blends industry veterans with rising talent, contributing to the film’s grounded, contemporary Australian tone. The cast includes London-trained Shakespearean stage actor Imogen Sage, NIDA-trained Callan Colley, the three time Olivier Award winner Philip Quast AM (Les Misérables, Hacksaw Ridge, The Devil’s Double) AM and one of Australia’s most respected character actors Steve Le Marquand (Vertical Limit, Two Hands, Last Train to Freo, Christmess).
Filmed in 2020 during the first COVID-19 lockdowns, it became one of the first features in the world – and the first to begin filming in Australia – under pandemic protocols. Cast and crew formed a bubble, working in short blocks over 12 weeks with strict safety measures. These constraints shaped new models for independent filmmaking, pushing innovation in scheduling, intimacy, and performance.
Innovation & Craft
• Developed as a character-driven thriller, blending thriller conventions with naturalistic cinematography.
• Shot across diverse NSW landscapes – the Hawkesbury, Northern Rivers, Armidale, Blue Mountains – using landscape as a “character” in itself.
• Sound as a character. ie is not background, but the engine of the plot.
• Post production was completely entirely inside DaVinci Resolve Studio.
• Innovated post-production workflows by combining color and sound finishing inside one Resolve project, allowing sound design and grading to be refined together. ie. a flagship example of single-suite postproduction for feature films.
• Integrated sound design and score: Carlo Giacco’s music was interwoven with foley to highlight the theme of listening as survival.
• Pioneered diverse representation both on-screen and off: debut feature from Clara Chong, an Asian female director, with a cast reflecting modern Australia.
Impact & Recognition
• 17-month theatrical run (May 2022 – October 2023). Dark Noise achieved an exceptionally long independent theatrical life, beginning with its first advance screenings in Port Macquarie in May 2022 and concluding with its final screening at The Ritz Cinema in Sydney in October 2023. This grassroots run included multiple regional cinema engagements, Q&A evens with cast and crew, and repeat screenings due to word-of-mouth support.
• Dark Noise was selected for a special screening at Australia’s prestigious National Film & Sound Archive (NFSA) – a mark of cultural and archival significance for Australian cinema.
• International Screenings & Festival Recognition including the Little Venice Film Festival in London. Dark Noise screens as part of the Little Venice Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Feature Film. Feature Film Semi-Finalist in the BAFTA & Academy Award Affiliated, Rhode Island International Film Festival and Honorable Mention at the Paris International Film Festival.
• Lauded for its originality as a COVID-era independent film proving resilience in filmmaking under crisis conditions.
• Recognition for its diverse creative leadership, positioning Clara Chong among the few Asian women directing international feature films.
Why Dark Noise Matters
• A landmark pandemic production showing how indie films could lead the recovery
• A diverse, culturally rich Australian thriller mystery without cliché.
• A technical showcase for Blackmagic Design camera and post-tools used end-to-end.
• A story where sound becomes the protagonist.
• A film that achieved rare longevity, prestigious institutional recognition, and international festival presence.
Press/Media
The media coverage for Dark Noise is a unique blend of global industry recognition and technical acclaim. Dark Noise was covered by major international industry outlets (Variety), trusted filmmaking publications (Broadcast Beat, Creative COW, No Film School), Australia’s top film industry magazine (IF), and regional news outlets celebrating community connection.
This has given Dark Noise an unusually broad cross-section of press, with the film regularly described as “a pioneering pandemic production, a sonic-driven thriller, and a technical showcase for modern indie filmmaking.”
“One of the first films in Australia to start production after nationwide lockdowns…an example of streamlined filmmaking can keep crew safe.”
Variety, Patrick Frater
“A high-concept, low-budget thriller that will thrill, shock and entertain”
If Magazine
“Among the first pandemic feature shoots…created under rigorous scientific COVID protocols”
If Magazine
“Philip Quast and Steve Le Marquand join a standout cast.”
If Magazine
“Dark Noise shows filmmakers how to push sound, image, and story with an indie budget. A true technical achievement.”
No Film School
“A cohesive production-to-post pipeline…Dark Noise could not have been made without Blackmagic Design”
Broadcast Beat
“An exemplary case study in end-to-end postproduction using Resolve and Fairlight”
Creative Cow
“A new thriller crafted with Blackmagic Design technology….shot in the wolds of Australia during the early days of the pandemic.”
Filmink
“A premiere that delighted the community involved in its making”
Hawkesbury Gazette
“Selected for special presentation at Australia’s premier film heritage institution”
National Film & Sound Archive
• A technical showcase for Blackmagic Design camera and post-tools used end-to-end.
• A story where sound becomes the protagonist.
• A film that achieved rare longevity, prestigious institutional recognition, and international festival presence.