PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL
Summer Rides Like A Girl
Year 4 student Summer North recently had the experience of a
lifetime when she was chosen to play the role of a young Michelle
Payne in the upcoming film Ride like a Girl, the story of the first
female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. We interviewed Summer to
find out more about her time on a movie set!
Summer, how did this opportunity come about?
Our former nanny saw a casting ad on Facebook for the role and
thought that I looked like a young Teresa Palmer (she plays the role
of the older Michelle Payne). She showed the ad to my mum and we
contacted the casting agency. They asked for some photos first up
then they asked mum and dad to take a video of me reading some
lines from a section of the script. After going backwards and forwards
a few times the casting director flew over from Sydney to meet me. A
week after that my mum was asked to fly me to Melbourne to meet
Rachel Griffiths and Teresa Palmer. After that I was offered the role!
Summer with Director,
Rachel Griffiths.
How many days were you on set?
We were in Melbourne for five and a half weeks, which included a
week of horse riding training and four weeks of filming in a couple of
locations around rural Victoria.
Did you have to do homework while you were away?
Yes I did. I did my spelling, reading and some of my STRETCH work.
Oh, and some Mathletics!
What did you know about Michelle Payne before this role
came up, compared to what you know about her now?
I knew she was the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.
Now I know more about her family upbringing and the way she felt
growing up within a family of ten siblings and a sole parent, her dad,
raising her.
How long have you been riding horses?
Around four years in total.
department took a long time to set everything up and I actually fell
asleep waiting for them to start filming! Rachel said it was perfect
method acting!
Is acting something you were planning for your future?
What was your most memorable day on set?
I loved the day we filmed at night in a certain scene that involves
me sleeping in the hay in a horse stable. The lighting crew and prop
I hadn’t really thought about it too much but now that I’ve worked on
a film I can’t want to start another one if I’m lucky enough to be cast
for another role!
Orlando starring in The Heights
Year 4 student Orlando Borg is about
to embark on an exciting project, as a
supporting cast member in a new 30
episode ABC TV drama series, The Heights,
currently being filmed in Perth and due for
release early in 2019.
Orlando is a supporting cast member,
playing the character of Noah Davies,
the 8-year-old son of two of the main
characters, Dan Paris (Neighbours), and
Saskia Hampele (Neighbours, A Few Less
Men).
The Heights stars Marcus Graham (Secret
City, Cleverman) and Shari Sebbens (The
Sapphires, Thor: Ragnarok) and centres
on the inner-city neighbourhood of
Arcadia Heights. The series presents a
medley of characters, cultures, classes and
backgrounds from the ‘tower’ community,
exploring their relationships, work lives and
everyday challenges faced by its characters.
As well as providing opportunities for
industry newcomers, The Heights will
provide a huge boost to the WA television
industry, with the production engaging
nearly 100 local crew and casting 93
speaking and extras roles locally.
We look forward to hearing from Orlando
about his experiences on set and of course
watching the series when it hits our TV
screens in 2019!
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