Friendly Fire
Year: 2025
Duration: 15 minutes
Genre: Action/Drama
Short Synopsis: When a muslim family move next door to Gary Edwards, a racist Paraplegic . His misguided efforts to protect his home and family have disastrous consequences which force Gary onto a journey of enlightenment.
Vimeo Link: this film is still in preproduction.
More about this film: http://www.gregmoran.com.au/friendly-fire.html
Year: 2025
Duration: 15 minutes
Genre: Action/Drama
Short Synopsis: When a muslim family move next door to Gary Edwards, a racist Paraplegic . His misguided efforts to protect his home and family have disastrous consequences which force Gary onto a journey of enlightenment.
Vimeo Link: this film is still in preproduction.
More about this film: http://www.gregmoran.com.au/friendly-fire.html
Long Synopsis
When a Muslim family move next door to a recently radicalised, Islamophobic Anglo-Australian paraplegic, Garry Edwards, he wants them to stay away from his family. He rejects their initial offers of friendship and views all their actions with fear and contempt. Consequently he also discourages his son’s attempts to form a friendship with his neighbour’s son. Garry’s increasing paranoia leads to him fortifying his home with an electric fence. During a storm, when his wife is at work, the house TV aerial topples onto the electric fence and sparks a house fire. Garry and his son are rescued from the ensuing blaze by his neighbours and later they consequently become friends.
Director’s Statement
Friendly Fire aims to show the naivety and peril of simply judging people by their appearance and letting your unfounded fears and prejudices guide your actions. Islamophobia like many prejudices and discriminatory belief systems is often based on ignorance and fear. Friendly Fire aims to show the often unwarranted and potentially destructive nature of giving into those fears without firstly, testing their efficacy.
Friendly Fire is a very personal story to me. Although I’m not Islamic, as a person with a disability I’m well aware of the negative impact of discrimination and how people often makes simplistic and negative judgements about others based purely on their appearance.
I have also long been sympathetic to the challenges faced by minorities particularly refugees in Australia. I have been increasingly distressed by their use as political footballs by governments and others preying on people’s underlying fear of the unknown, racism and xenophobia. As a quadriplegic, I’m also keen to tell stories featuring people with disabilities in dynamic and active roles and I’m passionate about authentic storytelling and casting.
As the ‘Seeing Ourselves 2’ 2023 report by Screen Australia shows minorities in Australia are still underrepresented on screens. Even though people with a disability represent approximately 18% of the population, they remain very underrepresented on Australian screens representing only around 6.6% of major television characters. Other minorities such as non Europeans are also underrepresented as they make up 25% of the population but currently only represent 16% of screen characters.
Consequently, films like Friendly Fire are an essential step in bridging this gap and providing more representation for non European Australians and people with disability.
Greg Moran.
Friendly Fire is a very personal story to me. Although I’m not Islamic, as a person with a disability I’m well aware of the negative impact of discrimination and how people often makes simplistic and negative judgements about others based purely on their appearance.
I have also long been sympathetic to the challenges faced by minorities particularly refugees in Australia. I have been increasingly distressed by their use as political footballs by governments and others preying on people’s underlying fear of the unknown, racism and xenophobia. As a quadriplegic, I’m also keen to tell stories featuring people with disabilities in dynamic and active roles and I’m passionate about authentic storytelling and casting.
As the ‘Seeing Ourselves 2’ 2023 report by Screen Australia shows minorities in Australia are still underrepresented on screens. Even though people with a disability represent approximately 18% of the population, they remain very underrepresented on Australian screens representing only around 6.6% of major television characters. Other minorities such as non Europeans are also underrepresented as they make up 25% of the population but currently only represent 16% of screen characters.
Consequently, films like Friendly Fire are an essential step in bridging this gap and providing more representation for non European Australians and people with disability.
Greg Moran.
Film Casting
We are currently casting for the lead role of Gary Edwards. If you are a person with a disability, preferably low level quadriplegic, paraplegic or amputee and feel you could perform in the role below please contact us and we will send you the details on how to apply.
Experience preferred but not essential.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Experience preferred but not essential.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Friendly Fire Casting Call character discriptions
Left-field productions
‘Friendly Fire’ (Short Film)
Premise:
When a Muslim family move into the house next door of an Australian racist paraplegic his worst fears are realised. His bigoted views result in him implementing increased security measures which ultimately backfire and become life threatening.
Character:
Garry Edwards - 30 to 40 year Caucasian Male paraplegic actor [lead]
Garry Edwards is an caucasian Australian paraplegic as a result of a motorbike accident. Recently enraged and radicalised by online propaganda his growing feelings of powerlessness has led to becoming increasingly racist, nationalistic, and xenophobic He is fiercely protective of his family and any perceived threat to them will be treated with the utmost seriousness. He loves spending time with his family but he’s frustrated by his condition. He has been in the wheelchair for seven years.
Production title: Friendly Fire
Producer: Left Field Productions
Film Duration: 15 minutes
Auditions:
Location: Sydney
Date: TBC
Other Major Roles to be cast.
Rachel Edwards
30 to 40 year old Caucasian female. Generally easy-going and not strongly opinionated. Works as a nurse at a local hospital and is married to Gary Edwards who is a paraplegic. They have a seven-year-old son Justin. She is compassionate towards others. She doesn’t share her husbands racist opinions or beliefs but is tolerant of his attitudes as she understands his circumstances and the physical and emotional trauma he has endured. They have been married for 10 years. (Supporting actor, wife of lead actor)
Justin Edwards (7)
Easy-going and inquisitive caucasian child who idolises his father. Loves playing video games, reading and watching rugby union with his father. Loves outdoor activities like basketball and handball. Plays soccer. Always happy to make new friends and is accepting of others despite his fathers racist attitudes. (Supporting actor, son of lead actor)
BAHIRI LOHANI (34)
30 to 40-year-old middle eastern male. Bahiri was born in Afghanistan but migrated to Australia when he was five with his parents. Bahiri is a firefighter with the New South Wales Fire Department and also works as a handyman for extra cash. Loves living in Australia and wants to give back to the community whenever possible.
He is a Devout Muslin it’s strictly adhere to his religious practices whenever possible. He is married to Hunoon Lohani and they have a seven-year-old son Asadi. Despite growing up in Australia he still has a strong Afghan accent.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)
HUNOON LOHANI (30)
30 to 40-year-old Middle Eastern female.
Easy-going mother. Very devoted to her son. Feminine but a bit of a tomboy. Strictly adheres to her Muslim religious practices although she is open to other faiths and believes. Dresses conservatively and wears the hijab and other traditional Afghan garments. Was born in Australia to first generation Australian Afghan refugees. Is married to Bahiri and they have a seven-year-old son Asadi. Will need to know how to use an axe to chop wood.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)
ASADI LOHANI(7)
Seven-year-old middle eastern male.
Easy-going and fun loving boy. Loves soccer. Idolises his father. Inquisitive about the world and always happy to make new friends.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)
Left-field productions
‘Friendly Fire’ (Short Film)
Premise:
When a Muslim family move into the house next door of an Australian racist paraplegic his worst fears are realised. His bigoted views result in him implementing increased security measures which ultimately backfire and become life threatening.
Character:
Garry Edwards - 30 to 40 year Caucasian Male paraplegic actor [lead]
Garry Edwards is an caucasian Australian paraplegic as a result of a motorbike accident. Recently enraged and radicalised by online propaganda his growing feelings of powerlessness has led to becoming increasingly racist, nationalistic, and xenophobic He is fiercely protective of his family and any perceived threat to them will be treated with the utmost seriousness. He loves spending time with his family but he’s frustrated by his condition. He has been in the wheelchair for seven years.
Production title: Friendly Fire
Producer: Left Field Productions
Film Duration: 15 minutes
Auditions:
Location: Sydney
Date: TBC
Other Major Roles to be cast.
Rachel Edwards
30 to 40 year old Caucasian female. Generally easy-going and not strongly opinionated. Works as a nurse at a local hospital and is married to Gary Edwards who is a paraplegic. They have a seven-year-old son Justin. She is compassionate towards others. She doesn’t share her husbands racist opinions or beliefs but is tolerant of his attitudes as she understands his circumstances and the physical and emotional trauma he has endured. They have been married for 10 years. (Supporting actor, wife of lead actor)
Justin Edwards (7)
Easy-going and inquisitive caucasian child who idolises his father. Loves playing video games, reading and watching rugby union with his father. Loves outdoor activities like basketball and handball. Plays soccer. Always happy to make new friends and is accepting of others despite his fathers racist attitudes. (Supporting actor, son of lead actor)
BAHIRI LOHANI (34)
30 to 40-year-old middle eastern male. Bahiri was born in Afghanistan but migrated to Australia when he was five with his parents. Bahiri is a firefighter with the New South Wales Fire Department and also works as a handyman for extra cash. Loves living in Australia and wants to give back to the community whenever possible.
He is a Devout Muslin it’s strictly adhere to his religious practices whenever possible. He is married to Hunoon Lohani and they have a seven-year-old son Asadi. Despite growing up in Australia he still has a strong Afghan accent.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)
HUNOON LOHANI (30)
30 to 40-year-old Middle Eastern female.
Easy-going mother. Very devoted to her son. Feminine but a bit of a tomboy. Strictly adheres to her Muslim religious practices although she is open to other faiths and believes. Dresses conservatively and wears the hijab and other traditional Afghan garments. Was born in Australia to first generation Australian Afghan refugees. Is married to Bahiri and they have a seven-year-old son Asadi. Will need to know how to use an axe to chop wood.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)
ASADI LOHANI(7)
Seven-year-old middle eastern male.
Easy-going and fun loving boy. Loves soccer. Idolises his father. Inquisitive about the world and always happy to make new friends.
(Supporting actor, lives next door to lead actor)