Daydreamers is being developed by Jim and Lynnette Lounsbury of Cubic Films, with Third Place Studio as consulting producer embedded in rural NSW. Emerging from the Ollie & Viv Creative Residency and inspired by the lived experiences of our teens, who navigate life with invisible disabilities, Daydreamers connects creativity, community, and social dialogue – amplifying rural voices and shaping shared cultural identity.

In response to Creative Australia’s Making Art Work (2017) findings that artists with disability remain underrepresented (9%), earn 42% less than peers, and face significant barriers to funding and employment, Daydreamers centres characters who confront universal teenage challenges alongside experiences of invisible disability and diversity in rural Australia. The project offers both entertainment and an empathetic platform for representation and understanding.

Process
The project integrates a Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) approach, embedding co-design and collaboration at every stage. Rooted in Harden-Murrumburrah’s creative community, Daydreamers brings together local residents, professional filmmakers – including one from Harden-Murrumburrah – and emerging creatives through a shared process of story-building, location-based production, and creative mentoring.

Community members will be invited to participate as actors, crew, and support teams, receiving training and mentorship designed to strengthen local skills, enhance creative confidence, and build regional film capacity. Through this participatory model, Daydreamers fosters shared ownership, pride, and creative agency across the community.

Outcomes
As a cultural economy initiative, Daydreamers builds regional creative capacity and generates employment and professional development opportunities for rural artists and technicians. By positioning Harden-Murrumburrah as both a filming location and a site of co-creation, the project reinforces the potential of arts-led regional revitalisation – showcasing the town’s landscape, people, and stories on a broader platform.

The project is supported by Create NSW Early Stage Development funding, ensuring its continued growth as a regionally embedded, community-engaged creative production.

Ongoing
Daydreamers has directly informed the next phase of the Ollie & Viv Creative Residency, reopening in June 2026 to include support for emerging filmmakers. The residency will offer accommodation, location support, and mentorship for students from AFTRS and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, providing space for practice-led learning and community exchange on Wiradjuri Land.

Continuing the residency’s CACD and placemaking ethos, this expansion will deepen collaboration between professional creatives, students, and local residents – sustaining creative activity, strengthening regional cultural infrastructure, and fostering lasting relationships between Harden-Murrumburrah and the wider creative network.