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AUSSIE HORROR HITTING HOLLYWOOD

DIE BULLY DIE on TODAY EXTRA

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Die Bully Die: Queer Horror Comedy Earns AACTA Nomination Amid National Focus on School Bullying

The queer horror comedy Die Bully Die has earned a Best Short Film nomination at the AACTA Awards, a milestone that comes during a national reckoning with the impact of school bullying.

Die Bully Die stands out as a queer genre piece among the six nominees being a deeply personal story for co-writer, producer and actor, Matthew Backer, who drew from his experience of being bullied for being gay at his all-boys, Catholic high-school in Brisbane during the late ’90s and early 2000s.

The film depicts a high-school bully and his victim catching up years later in a fancy restaurant where the victim’s grudge against his former bully begins to manifest in darkly comedic and horrific ways.

“It’s not only an exploration of how homophobic bullying affected my youth and adulthood, but also an exploration of how people in general overcome any type of trauma. I think that’s why such varied audiences worldwide are relating to it,” Backer said.

“Whilst an AACTA Award nomination is bloody brilliant, the fact our film is screening around the world and delivering such a strong anti-bullying message to audiences is what I’m most proud of.”

That message feels timely amid national headlines on the devastating impact of school bullying, which recently led Australia’s Parliament to ban social media for anyone under 16—a bold step to combat cyberbullying. Backer fully supports the move.

“When I was being bullied, it ended at the school gates,” he said. “Today, cyberbullying happens 24/7 and that absolutely needs to be stopped. School bullying warps your sense of self at such a delicate age and our film highlights that damage whilst also showing that there is always hope.”

Die Bully Die’s AACTA Awards nomination is the latest accolade in a year of international triumphs. The film has screened at 14 film festivals worldwide, including Screamfest in Hollywood and Iris Prize in the UK, and has won multiple awards, including Best Short Film at Sydney Film Festival and Catchlight Film Festival, and Audience Choice Awards at Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Florida’s OUTshine Film Festival, and Atlanta’s Out On Film.

Directed and produced by brothers Nathan and Nick Lacey, and written and produced by Matthew Backer and Drew Weston, alongside producer Nicole Thorn, Die Bully Die blends razor-sharp humour, biting social commentary, and moments of gasp-inducing horror.

“Guiding Die Bully Die to the screen has been an amazing journey,” Thorn said. “What makes it so special is seeing how it comes alive in front of an audience—whether on the big screen or small, the energy it brings to the room is tangible. That magic is something I’m incredibly proud to have helped create.”

Die Bully Die’s success has also shone a spotlight on queer voices in Australian cinema and the nomination is a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation. Weston said that he and Backer wanted to write something “unapologetically queer, entertaining, and meaningful”.

“Such a nomination proves that stories centering queer experiences can resonate with mainstream audiences and industry professionals alike.”

Directors Nathan and Nick Lacey said they were both “thrilled that this queer comedy horror has struck a chord with audiences”.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the making of this film and the importance of continuing the conversation around the impact of bullying,” Nathan Lacey said.

AACTA members can now view and vote for Die Bully Die at tv.aacta.org. Winners of the 2025 AACTA Awards will be announced in February

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‘Die Bully Die’, ‘DAD’ triumph at Sony Catchlight Film Festival Awards

Nick and Nathan Lacey’s Die Bully Die and Jones Riley Eli’s DAD have won the fiction and non-fiction prizes at the Sony Catchlight Film Festival awards on Saturday.

The former follows Max, a man whose grudge against his high school bully begins to manifest in horrific ways when the pair reunite in a fancy restaurant 17 years later. In DAD, three children talk about a family tragedy – when their dad was diagnosed with brain cancer.

The short films were among five winners crowned at Sydney’s White Bay Power Station alongside Cameron Zayec’s Queen of Sin (Music Video), Ormsby Taniora’s The Great South (Student Fiction), and Elliott Sauvage’s Japan – Lost (Cinematic Social).

Now in their fourth year, the awards are designed to recognise filmmakers from Australia and New Zealand that have chosen to tell their stories with a Sony camera. Judging the 2024 entries were Mark Wareham (Fiction), Rachel Landers (Non-Fiction), Simeon Bryan (Student Fiction) and Sony Music (Cinematic Social and Music Video).

Sony Digital Imaging ANZ head Jun Yoon said this year’s Catchlight Film Festival had once again uncovered “amazing new talent who are so gifted in telling stories that move people”.

We are very lucky this year to celebrate all our finalists and winners at the the iconic White Bay Power Station in Sydney,” he said.

“Through a takeover of this incredibly unique location, we have also celebrated our 9th annual Alpha Awards, and to top it off, we will also have our inaugural open-to-the-public Tradeshow for our community to enjoy workshops and panel talks from over 30 creators and get hands-on with products at live demonstrations and experiences.”

Fiction Winner Die Bully Die by Nick and Nathan Lacey Shot on: Sony CineAlta VENICE and Sony CineAlta BURANO

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Die Bully Die Q&A with Editor Nathan Lacey

Editor Nathan Lacey talks with Assistant Editor Annie Zhang.

Q. What is Die Bully Die about?

Die Bully Die is about the lasting effects bullying can have on you as an adult. The film revolves around the character Max, who catches up with this high school bully Adam, who bullied Max for being gay in high school. Although serious in subject matter, the film is largely comedic in nature and an ode to anyone has overcome the trauma of being bullied.

Q. As well as editing Die Bully Die, you also directed it with your brother Nick. How did you find jumping between those two roles? Did being the co-director help with the editing side of things?

I think it helps a lot. Being an Editor helps to inform your choices as a Director and being a Director means you’ve already got some form of the movie living in your head, so you go into the edit with a very clear idea of what you are trying to achieve with each scene. The role of the Director is most synonymous with style and vision but there is so much of that the Editor injects into the film too, and I think having a directing background opens my mind to more possibilities as an Editor.

Q. What was your process for editing Die Bully Die?

I like to start assembling the movie straight after we’ve finished the shoot while the footage is still fresh in my mind. I’ve also still got a post-shoot adrenaline high going so I find it beneficial to keep this momentum rolling through into post. I use Resolve to create proxies, and once those are done I plough through the sync and group as fast as possible because at this point I’m itching to start cutting.

Myself and Nick usually shoot with two cameras, and on Die Bully Die we shot with anamorphic lenses on the Sony Venice and Sony Burano cameras, in a mix of 4K and 6K resolutions. We knew we wanted to master in 4K so we did various tests in pre-production with our DP Patrick Coe to decide on the aspect ratio, bitrate and resolution prior to the shoot.

I cut Die Bully Die in Premiere Pro, mainly because I knew I’d be doing some work in Photoshop and After Effects along the way so it would make life a bit easier. Once I have everything prepped I’ll start cutting. Usually by this stage my head is full of ideas which have carried over from the shoot so I tend to jump between scenes a lot, trying out ideas and experimenting as much as possible. Even though we’ve planned every scene very carefully during the shoot I try and leave myself open to the process of discovery in the edit and ideas that arise organically as I’m cutting. My timelines are a mess at this stage, but slowly and surely I’ll work towards an assembly of the whole film. I tend to work in a timeline for each scene and will combine them all into a full assembly once I have something watchable for each one. Watchable being a very loose term.

At this point the film is full of imperfections and still very much a work in progress but for me it’s an important milestone to hit as it’s a very tangible indication of progress in the edit and that’s very motivating. From here I also find the film much easier to dissect - the problematic areas become clearer when viewed as a whole, likewise the areas that are starting to shine. At this point myself and Nick are the only two people to have watched the film so we’ll begin to share it with close friends and colleagues to test on an impartial audience. From there I’ll go back and refine, rinse and repeat. The film will quickly begin to take on its true form from here, each iteration bringing us closer and closer to the day in which I can whisper those two magic words: “it’s locked.”

Q. Was there anything you learned (can be a technical skill) and/or something you found particularly tricky that you had to overcome in the edit?

For this film in particular, we knew our first cut was too long. Short film audiences are pretty unforgiving so every second on screen needs to count and this is something myself and Nick are very aware of as directors. The biggest challenge I had in the edit was deciding which parts of the film we could lose without sacrificing the integrity of the story. There was a lot of trial and error involved to get to the final result but it was a rewarding challenge and I’m very happy where we landed with it in the end. The finished film was just over 16 minutes long - about six minutes shorter than the first cut.

Q. Was there a particular scene or moment in the film that you found the most fun editing?

The scene I enjoyed cutting the most was the bathroom scene which takes place in the middle of the film. The scene depicts a flashback of Max being bullied by Adam in their high-school bathroom. We wanted to push the horror and surrealism of this scene to really make the audience experience the fear and anxiety that Max felt in high-school at the hands of Adam. The pacing of this scene was paramount in achieving this, as was the sound design, which was the most involved of any scene in the film. I enjoyed editing every scene in Die Bully Die but that one was particularly fun.

Q. What is a major upside and a major downside of being a Director/Editor? And do you try to make up for that downside in any way?

I don’t think there are many downsides! I guess there’s always a risk that you can get tunnel vision as you become so hyper-focused on the project without time away from it, but the major positive is that you are always considering the edit when directing, and I think this can save a lot of time in knowing what is essential to the story and to your vision. Ultimately it helps you become a more efficient storyteller, and for a director I think that is a huge advantage.

Q. How did it feel winning Best Short Film at the Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards?

It was a very special moment. Being able to premiere the film in Sydney was fantastic in itself but to come away with that award was very surreal. Short films in particular are a labour of love for everyone involved so to have the film receive industry recognition like that was a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone who worked on the film.

Q. What’s next for Die Bully Die?

Die Bully Die will be playing at Screamfest and also Iris Prize Film Festival this coming October which we’re super excited about.

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The Making of DIE BULLY DIE Podcast

This is a limited series podcast about the making of DIE BULLY DIE, a comedy horror short that won the 2024 Sydney Film Festival Dendy Award for Best Live Action Short. Hosted by producer Nicole Thorn and Annie Zhang, this series will give you all the gory details about short film making, from pre-production to post production!

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Die Bully Die, A Queer Horror Comedy Triumph, Wins Prestigious Dendy Award at 71st Sydney Film Festival

In a rare and thrilling turn for the Australian film industry, a queer horror comedy called DIE BULLY DIE took out a top film prize, winning the coveted Dendy Award for Best Live Action Australian Short Film at the 71st Sydney Film Festival.

This victory marked a milestone for directors and producers The Lacey Brothers, Nathan and Nick Lacey, and producer Nicole Thorn who are no strangers to the Sydney Film Festival, with DIE BULLY DIE being their second short film to be featured in the awards. This was their first win.

The film’s screenwriters, producers and stars, Matthew Backer and Drew Weston, said they were “shocked bully shocked” to win such an award for their first ever screenplay and producing effort, which has consequently earned their film eligibility for the Academy Awards.

Based on the true-life experience of current Play School presenter Matthew Backer, DIE BULLY DIE resonated deeply with Sydney Film Festival audiences where it drew comparisons to the global Netflix hit, Baby Reindeer, for its raw and impactful storytelling.

The film delves into Matthew’s experience of being ruthlessly bullied for being gay at his all-boys, Catholic high-school in Brisbane in the late 90s and early 2000s and looks at the lasting damage bullying inflicts upon its victims, while also celebrating forgiveness and self acceptance.

Sydney Film Festival described DIE BULLY DIE as “a poignant and yet entertaining story of bullying and revenge done with great style, fun and wit”.

In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Nathan Lacey said “being a filmmaker is an insane thing to choose as a career. It’s hard to quantify, it’s hard to get by, and sometimes, it’s even hard to justify.”

“Everyone in this room tonight is here because they believe in the power of storytelling and the power of cinema. Being a part of this event is a reminder of why myself and my brother Nick chose to be filmmakers in the first place and this award means the world to us.”

Matthew Backer used the awards podium to highlight the importance of queer representation in film. “We wanted to write something showing queer characters as lead characters and queer actors as lead actors, because we are!”

This moment underscored the film’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, making it a landmark win for queer representation in Australian cinema.

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TeamM8: Laugh, Cry, Revenge? - M8s of June

Posted by Tommy Laurens on June 12, 2024

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. Umm, FALSE. In fact our M8’s of the month, Matthew Backer and Drew Weston have collaborated on this short film to bring you the story of being bullied at school for being gay and the lasting, damaging effect it can have in your adult life.

Both accomplished and celebrated actors, Matthew and Drew wrote the screenplay based on Matthews own real-life experience and the wash of emotions he felt when he came face to face with his bully years later, who was now openly gay himself. The result, a roller coaster ride of emotions as they navigate the storytelling of a delicate topic while wrapping it up in a comedy/horror genre.

DIE BULLY DIE is the film, directed by brothers Nick and Nathan Lacey, carefully crafting the LGBTQI+ narrative and superbly portrayed by Matthew and Drew. It premiers in the 2024 Sydney Film Festival, running in competition as part of the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films.

Check out our chat with the talented duo!

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Cinema Australia: Interview with Nick and Nathan Lacey

Nick and Nathan Lacey’s excellent short film, Die Bully Die, has won the $7,000 Dendy Live Action Short Award at the 71st Sydney Film Festival.

Die Bully Die follows Max (Matthew Backer), who encounters his high-school bully, Adam (Drew Weston), 17 years later in a fancy restaurant, where Max’s grudge against Adam manifests in horrific ways. This LGBTQ+ comedy horror film explores the lasting effects of queerphobic bullying and the broader theme of overcoming trauma.

The film draws from screenwriter, producer, and actor Matthew Backer’s personal experiences of being bullied for being gay at his all-boys Catholic high school in Brisbane. The story gains depth from Matt’s real-life encounter with one of his bullies, now an openly gay man, which inspired the film. Matt collaborated with his best friend, Drew Weston, to write Die Bully Die, capturing the raw emotion and lasting impact of their experiences.

The film is directed by Nick and Nathan Lacey, who previously collaborated with Matt on the award-winning short film Ghosted, which you can read more about here. Produced by the Lacey Brothers, Matthew Backer, Drew Weston, and Nicole Thorn, Die Bully Die continues the team’s tradition of creating impactful films.

Nick Lacey has produced and directed for major Australian television networks and production companies, while Nathan Lacey has extensive experience in post-production for major studios. Their short films have been selected for numerous film festivals, with Ghosted receiving multiple awards and nominations.

Die Bully Die not only highlights the personal struggles of its creators but also resonates universally with audiences facing similar challenges.

Cinema Australia caught up with Nick and Nathan following their award win at the Sydney Film Festival.

Matthew Backer in Die Bully Die.

“Anyone who has been bullied before knows how nightmarish that experience can be and we wanted to depict that in a very visceral way.”

Interview by Matthew Eeles

What drew you to Matthew Backer and Drew Weston’s Die Bully Die script?

Nathan: The script appealed to us for a number of reasons. We thought it was a really interesting way to explore the effects of childhood trauma and the impact that has on you as an adult. We thought this was a very relatable theme and knowing it was based on Matt’s own experiences growing up made it even more important to us. We also really appreciated that although the film depicts a very serious subject, the script didn’t take itself too seriously. We thought the blend of horror and comedic elements throughout gave the script an original tone and we were really drawn to that as directors.

Nick: It was very exciting to read the script through the first time. I remember thinking there were so many areas where we as directors could expand creatively on and develop a strong visual and artistic through line to encompass the film, and even now a year on I still get excited thinking about the script. We felt the thematic elements and melding of genres really played to our strengths as filmmakers and was a great opportunity to put together a really exciting and thought-provoking piece.

Not only do Matthew Becker and Drew Weston star in the film, they also co-wrote and co-produced as well. As directors, what is it like to work with two other people who have so much creative investment in a film?

Nathan: We were fortunate to work with Matt on our previous film Ghosted, so there was already a good foundation there going into this film. Matt and Drew approached us with this script because they trusted our vision and we really appreciated that. We encouraged both of them to come on as producers early on and working with them from an early stage was very helpful as it meant we could spend a lot of time workshopping the script with them in pre-production which really paid off when we got on set.

Nick: We were delighted when Matt and Drew agreed to come on board to produce. We felt especially with the story being so personal to Matt, it was imperative to have them stay on in a producing aspect also. For first-time producers, they took to the challenge and were great at fitting into our working process alongside our other producer Nicole Thorn. Myself and Nathan believe the best way of getting great onscreen content is having a great atmosphere on set, and Matt and Drew really embodied this which made the on set experience very enjoyable.

Matthew Backer and Drew Weston on the set of Die Bully Die.

While Die Bully Die is not a direct horror film, you seem to enjoy injecting horror into real life situations. Why is that so important to you?

Nick: Horror as a genre is such a captivating and encompassing medium to work with as filmmakers. It is hardwired into us as creatures to be cautious, aware and prioritise self-preservation – thematically and tonally, horror is so relatable. Our minds are the best creatives when it comes to our fears and terrors – be it a bump in the night, or something seemingly normal that terrifies us on an individual level, to us it’s about how to engage that primal voice in your head that spells out WARNING. How fantastic is it to get to play with that notion, bend reality a little and dip into the dark recesses of the mind when dreaming up scenarios or scenes – What if this happened? What if that stranger is some kind of deranged psycho? How can we bring an audience on a journey here, inject a little of those emotions of terror into a seemingly normal environment or situation – the more normal or mundane, the more contrast for a horrific event or situation to move an audience.

Nathan: We both love horror, so integrating it into our work seems to come pretty naturally. For this film specifically, we saw opportunities to lean into this, particularly when we see young Max bullied in the school bathroom. We wanted this scene to feel like a nightmare so the audience would understand the sheer terror that Max experienced at school. Anyone who has been bullied before knows how nightmarish that experience can be and we wanted to depict that in a very visceral way.

I love the use of mirrors to reflect the past in Die Bully Die. Can you talk us through that creative choice, and the challenges of filming with so many reflections?

Nathan: The mirrors were definitely challenging! The restaurant and bathroom locations we used in the film were both lined with mirrors. We never originally planned to integrate mirrors so prominently in the film but once we saw these two locations we knew we could utilise them to great effect. It was something we spent a lot of time discussing and we felt helped to visually reinforce the power Max’s past has over him throughout the film. Our DP, Patrick Coe, and gaffer, Josh Lafou, did a great job to ensure switching setups was seamless and all lighting and camera gear was hidden from any reflections in shot.

Nick: I think that’s one big takeaway from making short films in the past, with independent films you are more often than not at the mercy of the factors and environments you’re working in, and often, with limited resources you need to decide which challenges to focus on and what to accept and move on with. I feel sometimes constraints can be massively helpful in forcing you to think creatively and differently in your approach to filmmaking – turning constraints into advantages. Rather than try and shy away from reflections, we embraced them and made them a focal point. It was a fun challenge to work out how to shoot everything in the way we desired in a very reflective location – myself and Nathan spent two weeks just discussing where best to seat our two leads. We decided to embrace the mirrors as a focal point to suit the story that focuses so much on the past and looking back on past events – with everything revolving around the decision from there we shotlisted the entire film in an afternoon.

Die Bully Die.

The visual effects in Die Bully Die are seriously impressive, and the film is all the better for it. It would be an injustice to talk about Die Bully Die without mentioning its visual effects artists Kyan Woodpower and Scott Brice who have worked on films like Monkey Man, Alien Covenant and Three Thousand Years of Longing respectively. What do these two bring to a project like this?

Nathan: We’re very fortunate to have worked with a team of amazingly talented individuals on this film and Kyan and Scott were a big part of that. Complex visual effects require a lot of careful planning to pull off successfully so we relied on their input early on in order to ensure the visual effects looked as realistic as possible. Their input was invaluable in how we approached filming certain shots. There were quite a few visual effects shots in this film, many of which you wouldn’t even realise.

Nick: We’ve worked with Kyan on every film we’ve made so far and he is probably the most likeable and easy-going person you’ll ever meet, alongside being extremely talented. A cohesive team coming together with a shared mindset requires so many intangible and unspoken factors happen to be successful, and aside from just being brilliant – he makes that creative and collaborative process so much easier by just being a joy to be around. Scott’s work is incredible, and he came with such a depth of experience and creativity. We live in a strange world with this film where you get excited over things like gore and blood being convincing and shocking, and the flair he brought to the film with little touches really adds to making the world feel real.

You both obviously share an incredibly creative synergy. What do you enjoy the most about working with each other?

Nathan: Being brothers, we already have such a shorthand with one another so that helps a lot when we’re working on a film, as there is usually a lot going on. We’re very aligned from a creative standpoint but we do try and challenge each other creatively and I think through that process we bring the best out in each other. Ultimately having that level of trust with a creative partner ensures we are united and focused on our goal of making the best film we can.

Nick: Our relationship has sustained every high and low you can imagine through just knowing each other for our entire lives, but being siblings is an unbreakable bond which helps when it comes to the practicalities of creating films. We share the high points and embrace the difficulties of filmmaking, which is important in the creative process. We’re not afraid of offending or trampling one another if we think an idea or angle may not work, and when a great idea is poised usually the other builds on that and we are able to elevate the idea into a fluid construct of a film. With each project we do together there is a greater understanding and synergy, which almost becomes like two bodies one brain at times – which is a really wonderful feeling, when you’re in your groove creatively and firing on all cylinders and your creative partner is in the exact same headspace. Nathan will often say something in creative meetings and the first words out of my mouth will be, “I was just about to say that” or vice versa.

Drew Weston in Die Bully Die.

I loved your previous film, Ghosted. How much have you both grown as filmmakers since that film?

Nathan: Thanks! Hopefully we’ve grown a lot as filmmakers. Every film we make is an opportunity for us to challenge ourselves both creatively and technically and Die Bully Die was no different. We worked with a bigger budget and crew on this film than Ghosted and had scenes involving a lot of sfx and vfx work as well, so there were many fun challenges for us to solve. Making films is definitely the best way to continue growing as a filmmaker and we certainly feel like we’ve grown even more since shooting this film.

Nick: I think with every film and every opportunity to hone our particular style and tastes, it’s just made us more confident with our decisions and direction. In each of our shorts we’ve taken calculated and well-thought out creative risks in our approach to aesthetic, character and story which I feel has been imperative in developing our skillsets as filmmakers and also readying us for long form films. Die Bully Die is another step forward for us in our storytelling careers and has built on what we’ve learnt so far and is a showcase of what we will continue to do in the future.

What does the future look like for The Lacey Brothers? Is there a feature film on the horizon? 

Nick: We’re currently developing our first feature film, a psychological horror. It’s our current focus and next project for us in our careers.

Keep an eye on cinemaaustralia.com.au for upcoming Die Bully Die screenings. 

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City Hub: Die Bully Die – Interview With Directors Nick and Nathan Lacey

By Mark Morellini / June 5, 2024

What happens when a man who was bullied at high school for being queer bumps into the bully 17 years later – the same bully who ironically has come out as queer himself? This 16-minute horror/comedy LGBT short film is captivating viewing and redefines the word karma in the deliciously evil twist in the finale.

Die Bully Die was written by Matthew Backer and Drew Weston, inspired by Matthew’s real-life experiences while at high school at his all-boys, Catholic High school in Brisbane. Matthew and Drew also play the two pivotal characters who find themselves in this rather complicated situation.

Astutely directed by Nick and Nathan Lacey, this short film will be having its world premiere at the 71st Sydney Film Festival and is in competition in the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films category.

“This film is an exploration of trauma and overcoming our past experiences, difficulties and how those things can come back to haunt us, but it’s also a film about letting go and embracing forgiveness in a kind of twisted way!” explained Nick Lacey. “Whilst this film is specific to homophobia and to people who have experienced prejudice, we also think it’s universal to everyone who has experienced moments of trauma and bullying.”

Underlying the comedic and horror aspects of the film, Nathan said there are powerful universal messages that resonate. “A message of forgiveness, letting go of the past and also coming to terms with who you are, but even though the messages are serious, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously – there are moments of light with dark.”

Die Bully Die for comedy/horror aficionados, LGBT community

Nick explained that this film was made with the intention of embracing not only an LGBT audience, but also for lovers of comedy and horror to share the enjoyment in a darkened cinema.

Funding for films is universally a long-drawn-out procedure but thanks to the Australian Cultural Fund production to completion was possible as Nick explained, “Without them and the support of the donors, films like this wouldn’t happen. We were blown away by the support and we hope that everyone who donated their money and their time, really sees that paid off on screen.”

When asked which feelings were triggered when they discovered their short film would not only be screening at the SFF but would also be in competition for a major award, Nathan was quick to respond.

“It was an honour for us, and we’ve just been over the moon with it,” he says. “Getting your film into these festivals helps get your film an audience and get eyes on the film and that’s exactly why you make the film in the first place – you want people to experience it and meet the people who are watching it.”

And what’s the future for Die Bully Die? “There will be a 12-month festival run at the very least and we’re still waiting to hear from a majority of upcoming film festivals,” concluded Nathan.

Screens on June 15th at the Sydney Film Festival. 

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Entertainment

QNews: Meet the actor set for stardom in 2024: Matthew Backer

By Dale Roberts / 12 January 2024

Brisbane’s own Matthew Backer chats to QNews about his career as an out gay actor, being a Play School presenter and his big year ahead. 

Matthew has just flown in to visit family for the holidays and joins our video interview from his childhood bedroom.

He explains that his parents have turned it into a spare room, although they still have some posters of him on the wall. 

It’s clear his parents are proud of his achievements and they have every reason to be. 

Matthew’s rise as an actor and TV presenter has grown each year over the last decade and it feels he is on the precipice of something even bigger. 

Matt grew up in Brisbane because of his dad’s rugby league career. His father, Bradley Backer, played for Easts and was in the first-ever State of Origin series for Queensland. 

Other pursuits were Matt’s passions though. 

“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in the 90s, enough said on that, but that’s where I found acting doing school musicals and plays,” he tells me. 

Journalism

Despite his love of acting, his first career went down a different path. 

He studied journalism at the University of Queensland and went on to become a cadet reporter at the Fraser Coast Chronicle in Maryborough. 

Maryborough was his family’s home town and despite not living there he knew the place inside out as a regular visitor. 

Although he loved the job and living with his grandparents, he started to feel it wasn’t the right path for him. 

“I just constantly had that little voice going like ‘you should be acting’. So at the end of that cadetship, I was like It’s now or never. I just really wanted to audition for NIDA, so I came back to Brisbane for a year and did every amateur play you could think of and short films and promo work and then I auditioned.”

Matthew got into the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) on first go and then moved to Sydney for his new life as an actor. 

Acting career

Matthew’s credits since then are extensive. 

After landing his first professional gig as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys he went on to a substantial theatre career. 

In 2016 he won a Matilda Award for Best Male Actor in Queensland Theatre’s production of Switzerland and a 2016 Broadway World Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Sydney Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

He hasn’t shied away from screen roles with credits in Wellmania, Five Bedrooms, A Place to Call Home and Home and Away to name just a few. 

The versatility of roles and medium has helped shape the longevity of his career. 

“You just gotta take what you can get, the industry is not big enough,” he says. 

“Thankfully, I can act and I can sing and I can move well. So I tick a few boxes, which you have to be able to do in Australia. Otherwise, there’s just not enough arenas for you to play in. But thankfully, I’ve got many fingers in many pies.”

Queer representation

Being boxed in as a “gay actor” has been a frustrating experience for Matt at times, particularly early in his career when the roles he was typecast for were consistently going to his straight colleagues. 

“Six, seven years ago, it was pretty much all straight actors playing gay roles and the gay roles were not even that developed. I think some of the soaps had two gay stalkers on there,” he says. 

“I don’t subscribe to the belief that only gay actors should play gay characters. That’s not it at all, but when the seesaw is like this [he puts out his hands to symbolise unbalanced scales] we have to level it out a bit.”

However, since he first began acting he has seen a demonstrable difference in the industry. 

“I’ve noticed much more developed interesting queer characters that are really exciting. My mate Tim Draxl just got nominated for two AACTA awards for playing two gay roles and he’s openly gay. Like, that was not happening when I graduated, there was no gay actor openly succeeding that you could go ‘cool, I can do it’, but it is changing,” he says. 

Play School 

For all his thespian prowess, there’s one role he is probably best known for: Play School.

Matt became a presenter on the iconic program back in 2017. 

“It’s just so fun. It’s so silly. I mean, it’s in the name. We just get to go in and play and be big kids, and I’m such a big kid,” he laughs. 

He has also been part of the program as so many children in his life grow up with it. 

“When I started, I had two nephews and they were like, in the right age bracket. So they’ve grown up with Uncle Matt on TV. Now I’ve got two more nephews and a little niece and so they’re all watching and my friends are having kids and I think I got it at the perfect time. It’s a reminder of how special it is, it’s like the funnest job I’ve ever had.”

With his exposure across so many different mediums, I ask him who recognises him the most. He says kids often spot him but he also gets approached out on the scene.

“I was at Mardi Gras, and you know, everyone’s dressed up and having a good old time and a lovely gay guy skipped up to me and pointed in my face and was like you’re on Play School and skipped off into the night!”

A big year ahead

2024 looks to be a big year for Matthew. 

On January 18, the Stan series Prosper comes out where he stars alongside Richard Roxburgh and Rebecca Gibney which he describes as “his biggest TV role so far.”

The show has been described as Succession meets Hillsong drama series.

Also coming out during the year will be Die Bully Die. 

The film is one that Matthew and his friend Drew Weston co-wrote and will star in together. 

It’s a comedy horror that takes some inspiration from Matt’s experiences at that 90s Catholic school in Brisbane as well as an incident he had later in life at Tropical Fruits.  

“I looked across the dance floor and saw one of my worst bullies and they’re shirtless and gay. It was fine, he came up and gave me a big hug, but I felt really angry and I didn’t show it. I remember thinking, gosh, there’s so much drama and conflict in what I felt because I was happy for him, but also really angry at him.”

“So we developed this idea, based around a character who maybe hasn’t let that go and is a little warped. Horror is my favourite genre, so we just made it a horror comedy. Hopefully, people love it, it’s it’s bloody entertaining.” 

The film’s budget was crowdfunded and the pair are hoping to have it played in a number of festivals this year. 

Matthew’s ability to be a chameleon throughout his career stands him in good stead. 

He’s gone from journalist to theatre and screen actor, Play School presenter, and now film writer. All while fully embracing his queer identity.  

There’s no doubt there is more to come in his career and the boy from Brisbane will continue to do his parents and his community proud.

You can follow Matthew Backer on Instagram. Photos by Johnny Diaz Nicolaidis.

[diebullydie]

DNA Magazine: Sweet Revenge Will Fill The Screen When Matt Backer And Drew Weston Debut Film

By Matt Myers / September 15, 2024

FEATURED: Die Bully Die! | Instagram | Crowdfunding PHOTOGRAPHER: Johnny Diaz Nicolaidis | Instagram FEATURED ARTISTS: Drew Weston | Instagram | Matthew Backer | Instagram

Ever wanted to get even with your high school bully? Local theatre hunks and DNA favourites Matt Backer and Drew Weston are doing just that, well sort of. 

The two actors have written a short film of vengeance, also paying homage to the slasher films of the Nineties. Described as Fleabag meets Final Destination with a dash of Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, Die Bully Die tackles homophobia, gay shame, forgiveness and bearing a grudge! 

Admit it, we’ve all dreamed of it!

Speaking to Matt Myers about the inception for their Die Bully Die! show, creators Matt Backer and Drew Weston explain that it’s loosely based off their experiences in high school and facing down old bullies through art.

“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in the Nineties and had a rough time. I held onto it for way too long and it affected my growing up in becoming an adult and my relationships,” says Backer. “I came out quite late at around thirty because of that damage, but I’m now happy working as an actor with a supportive and loving family.”

Feeling that the past is always present in our lives, Backer also saw a chance to create some interesting characters which he developed with Weston. 

“Drew and I get along so well,” he says. “We have the same sort of humour and we thought this was a great concept to write, play and produce. So, we drew from my experiences to create the story and it’s now evolved into a greater metaphor for trauma. It’s not necessarily just homophobic or queerphobic but something relatable to people in letting go of the past. It’s about tackling the future with greater hope.”

Set in a plush restaurant, the plot sees Max (Backer) meeting up with his high-school bully Adam (Weston) after a sixteen-year gap. But things don’t go well and Max’s grudge manifests into revenge of the classic teen-horror comedy genre.

“I had a different high school experience to Matt,” says Weston. “I had a little bit of bullying, but nothing to the extent that he had. In Die Bully Die! my character bullied Max in high school and he’s turned out to be gay himself. It’s a frustrating situation for Max, but Adam is there to apologise, which doesn’t really go to plan!”

For Weston, the experience has been a learning curve in producing and writing as well as acting. He also sees the production reaching beyond the LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s a universal topic,” he says.

“Whether it’s bullying for being gay or overweight or a cultural background, everyone can relate in some way, whether as the victim, witness or actually the bully who now realises what they had done.”

“It’s seen through the lens of the Nineties slasher films we grew up with, which sells well. It’s more Black Mirror than a sentimental ‘woe is me’. But even though it’s full-on, it does have some heart-warming moments.” 

The film also stars Ben Gerrard and Shannon Dooley, with Nick Annas and Ethan Lamb-Kelly playing younger versions of Max and Adam. Production is taking place around Sydney with aspirations to extend into a full-length film or series.

Backer and Weston are also looking for support from the community, with a crowdfunding account set up through the Australian Cultural Fund. 

“The crowdfunding is going great, and support has been beautiful,” says Backer.

“A lot of people have been through a similar journey, but we also have wonderful allies too. They want to see this type of story and the Australian Cultural Fund has been fantastic in providing our crowdfunding platform. We wanted to support an Australian organisation that supports local artists, and it also helps that donations through there are tax deductible!”

[diebullydie]

Die Bully Die: Shooting to start in Sydney for a comedy horror short film with a bloody powerful message

Sydney-based actors Matt Backer (Play School, Wellmania, The Twelve) and Drew Weston (Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical) are set to star in Die Bully Die, a comedy horror short film they co-wrote together, which explores the lasting damage of high school bullying.

The film centres around Max (Backer), who has agreed to meet with his high-school bully Adam (Weston) at a fancy restaurant. It’s been 17 years since they last saw each other but Max hasn’t forgotten how Adam used to torment him relentlessly for being gay when they were teens. As the night progresses, Max’s grudge against Adam begins to manifest in increasingly macabre ways, bringing into question whether the horrific events are the result of karma, coincidence or a warped coping mechanism of Max’s.

The inspiration for Die Bully Die came from Matt Backer’s personal experience of being bullied at his all-boys Catholic high-school in Brisbane in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Collaborating with fellow actor and friend, Drew Weston, the script came together over the course of three weeks of intensive writing.

“High school was hell for me, as the homophobic bullying I experienced was intense and constant and it took so many years to unpick that damage,” Matt said.

Drew thought it was “really important to get this story down on paper as bullying and harassment are such universal topics and Matt’s experience with being bullied also speaks to so many varying types of experiences”.

“We thought it would be fascinating to explore that through the lens of a horror comedy and in our voice with our humour,” Drew said. “At its core, we wanted to craft a film that is about two people who simply want to heal their respective pasts: Max clearly needs to talk and process his trauma; Adam clearly needs to connect and be forgiven,” Matt and Drew explain.

“It couldn’t just be a straightforward revenge story because we wanted to thoughtfully explore themes like homophobia, gay shame, and ultimately how important forgiveness can be.”

Shooting will commence in September in Sydney and Matt and Drew are currently crowdfunding for the film via the Australian Cultural Fund.

“The film has moments that call back to old-school classic horror, so the use of in-camera special effects will be visually striking and hopefully shocking,” the writer-actor duo said.

The funds will go towards that, but also to shooting, catering, editing and post-producing with the aim of entering the film into the festival circuit upon completion, according to the funding page.

Die Bully Die will be directed by Nathan and Nick Lacey of Based Film, shot by DOP Patrick Coe and produced by Nicole Thorn, alongside Backer and Weston. Frequent creative collaborators, the team’s last project, Ghosted, was a Highly Commended Finalist for the Dendy Award for Australian Short Film Live Action at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, and went on to screen at a number of Aussie film festivals. It also starred Matt Backer.

“We really love working with other up-and-coming Aussie screen creatives and being a part of showcasing their amazing talent and dedication to the arts,” said Matt and Drew.

They hope to inspire others through the film’s story to confront their own demons and embrace forgiveness as a path to self-love and acceptance. “And also, maybe make people laugh and gasp a little bit along the way too,” the creators add.

“We’re really leaning into the vibe of a 90s teen rom-com or horror flick so we’re hopeful that audiences have a blast with it as it’ll be one hell of a ride.”

Visit the ACF link here to support Die Bully Die and for further information and updates about the project.

[diebullydie]