A new film for Western Australia - Rams

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A new film is being shot in Western Australia’s Great Southern region starring Michael Caton and Sam Neill. I’m not sure how well-known these actors are although I’m sure many of you have heard of New Zealand’s Sam Neill. The film is called Rams and is a ‘fresh interpretation’ of the Icelandic film Hrútar which won an award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the tale of two estranged brothers who live on neighbouring sheep farms and have to work together to save their livelihood and that of their community after a rare disease threatens their flocks. However the real star of the film threatens to be a Dorset Horn ram named Locke. Time restrictions meant that Locke had to be brought in from the eastern states as no local trained rams could be found. Bringing animals into West Australia from the east is not an easy task and Locke had to be washed and scrubbed before being allowed entry. If the authorities had found one grass seed in his coat he would not have been allowed in. Locke is used to fake smoke and wind machines, and has worked under bright lights. He will walk to a spot and stand there and knows the command ‘stay’. It’s one film I’ll be looking forward to seeing. The photo shows a Dorset Horn ram which was exhibited at the Perth Royal Show in September. In the film, the ram has had his horns cut as they were about to grow into the sides of his face.