At Tone Deaf, we pride ourselves on giving a leg up to Australian bands and artists on the come-up and celebrating the successes of locals who’ve managed to reach the upper echelons of the global music industry.
But it’s also important to recognise the struggle that it takes to get to that level, as well as acknowledging that not every band makes it. In fact, most don’t. For every success story, there’s thousands of tales without triumph.
Or as filmmaker Mat De Koning recently told Fairfax, ahead of the screening of his new documentary at MIFF, “For every Tame Impala there are a million bands who don’t get near to hitting pay dirt.”
“It’s the reality of what happens when you invest so much of your life in chasing your dreams. I’ve lived the same life – I haven’t had a full-time job, I’ve sacrificed financial reward to keep making films.”
de Koning’s new documentary is entitled Meal Tickets. More than 10 years in the making, the film chronicles the ambitions and tumults of Perth rock band Screwtop Detonators, as they combat managers, labels, roadies, and jealous girlfriends.
The film also documents the fall and rise of the band’s roadie, Will, who’s eventually fired by the band, only to become a local star in his own right as frontman of Will Stoker & The Embers, much to the consternation of the Screwtop Detonators.
You can see Meal Tickets when it screens as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival on Thursday, 4th August and Friday, 5th August. Head over to the official MIFF website for details or to book your tickets.
Photo: Tim Chuma
