'We can inspire everyone': homegrown film traces highs and lows of those who dare to dream

Jane Larkin brings all her life experience and passion for writing and film to her latest project, The Edge.

CAITLIN ZERAFA 16 MARCH 2022

A new film is set to drive important conversations about the world of competitive sport as it puts three inspirational female athletes – and the Sunshine Coast – in the spotlight.

Written, filmed and produced on the Sunshine Coast, The Edge is about pushing the boundaries of social norms, bringing to life the highs and lows of these athletes who dare to dream.

With a majority of local cast and crew, the fictional film will also place significance on Indigenous and para-athletes.

The Edge is in post-production after filming across January and February and will be pitched to streaming services for release.

It features picture-postcard locations, including the Glass House Mountains, as well as sports facilities at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and is the culmination of a project by Jane Larkin.

Writer Jane Larkin has taken on a starring role in her film The Edge.

Jane believes film has the power to change the world, and hopes to inspire the next generation of athletes.

The Sippy Downs woman and former Immanuel Lutheran College student is an elite sprinter and actor who has represented Australia in 100 and 200m sprints.

At age 15, Jane was selected to compete in the junior Australian team and later gained a sports scholarship to the United States where she spent time living and competing overseas. But she always held on to her other lifelong passions: writing and film.

After trials for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she decided to focus on film and recently completed studies at Ivana Chubbuck Studio in California.

Jane has since landed notable roles in Netflix’s Escape from Spiderhead, Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives, season 2 of Young Rock and a role in the Australian road trip mystery series Darby and Joan.

Jane Larkin (left), Mei Ichinose (centre) and Lily Riley in The Edge, partly shot in the USC pool.

She told Sunshine Coast News she wanted the power of film to start a conversation about women in sport and break perceptions of categorising female athletes as being “good for a girl”.

“I’ve always wanted to see a female-driven story about athletes.

“This is an inspiring story but it’s also starting a conversation about really important themes around women.

“We understand the power entertainment has on a subconscious level, but to bring these issues to the forefront of people’s mind is going to start a dialogue that I think is really necessary to have.

“It will challenge people to question the social norm and their own exceptions and see women as incredible athletes instead of being ‘good for a girl’.

“It’s going to make people realise that comments that are made offhand can really impact people.”

Having based the fictional film off several real-life experiences, Jane hopes to inspire women from all walks of life and show insight on what it takes to be an athlete – on and off the track, in and out of the pool.

Indigenous powerlifter and Australian recordholder Lily Riley is one of the film’s stars.

The film also features guest appearances by hurdler and Olympic gold medallist, Sally Pearson, and Olympic 200m sprinter Riley Day.

“We can inspire everyone, but particularly competitive athletes, women, athletes with a disability, those with Indigenous backgrounds, LGBTQ+ athletes and those who want the ‘Aussie Battler’ dream to stay alive,” she said.

Jane plays the role of track and field athlete Annie Murphy, while local actors and athletes Mei Ichinose and Lily Riley also feature.

“Mei Ichinose is playing Yui: a Japanese Paralympic swimmer, who trains at USC’s pool.

“Our third female lead, Lily Riley, is a powerlifter, of the Wiradjuri mob, a cancer survivor, and the Australian recordholder for the 75kg weight class with a squat of 235kg.”

Some of The Edge cast and crew on location in the Glass House Mountains.

Jane, who is undertaking a doctorate in creative arts and philosophy at USC, said this study and her own experience as a young athlete were what had shaped the year-long process of writing The Edge.

“We are working with Pluggas Film Studio in Warana and we will spend six to 12 months in post-production,” she said.

“Essentially, what we do after post is we have a rough cut which we present to streaming services, like Stan and Netflix, and hope they love it as much as we do.”

Jane said that with a recent filming boom in Queensland in the wake of the pandemic, she hoped The Edge would set the stage for more local productions in the future.