Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J. Montalban : 'Temple'

It has been a dream of mine to create a significant public artwork, and with my collaborating partner Melvin J. Montalban and commissioned by Vivid Sydney, that dream has been realised. Temple - a Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J Montalban collaboration is at Vivid Sydney from 27th May – 18th June 2022
Location: Jessie Street Gardens, 29 Loftus Street, Sydney (near Customs House, Circular Quay)

Temple embodies the idea of nature as a sacred refuge. It takes us out of our busy minds, even if for a moment. The immersive three-channel film evokes the beauty of Sydney’s waterways, and pays homage to our native cockatoos. I look forward to sharing more about the artwork installed, and some behind the scenes footage, but for now here is a preview, with credits below.

Artist - Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J. Montalban

Melvin and I have worked with a wonderful team of people, all brilliant at what they do:

Special mention to the extraordinary native Australian cockatoos from Feathered Friends Bird Sanctuary - rescued red-tailed black cockatoos Sunset, Narrabri and Kooper, Sulphur-crested cockatoos Doris and Tirrike and Galahs Windsor and Stevie.

Made possible by Vivid Sydney - Gill Minervini, Tony Fahy, Justine Topfer, Emma Stander, Christina Klugt

Cinematographer - Chris Bryan

Bird Trainers - Feathered Friends Bird Sanctuary, Ravi, Max and Taylah

Gaffer - Thomas Keyes

1st AC - Michael Fairbairn

Lighting Assist - Charlie Gray, Alex Wilson

Grip - Tom Sheridan

Pre-light stand-in - Cockatoo Casper, Angela Robertson-Buchanan

Production support - Photoplay Films and Florence Tourbier

Thank you Oliver Lawrence and all at Photoplay Films

Editor - Melvin J. Montalban

Colourist - Daniel Moloney

Post producers - Daniel Fry, Michaela Fenton

Post house ARC Edit 

Thank you Joseph Perkins and all at ARC

Composer - Jackson Milas

Violinist - Veronique Serret

Music producer - Haylee Poppi 

Sound engineer - Josh Dives

Post audio - Sonar Music

Thank you Sophie Haydon and all at Sonar

Reflection pool construction - Wild Sets, Brett Bartlett

LED screens - Technical Direction Company

Staging - TriPoint Rigging

BTS video and photographer - Wes Nel

Thank you James Roden and Kristen Hawes for everything else in between.

Lastly thank you to Elio, Matthew, Danielle and Brendan at Taronga Zoo for all their help along the way.