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FAST TALKING: 1984

Med 231 Jolleh Abshar
Fast Talking 1984. The Cast:
Steve Bisley: Redback
Tracy Mann: Sharon Hart
Peter Hehir: Ralph Carson
Denis Moore: Yates
Rod Zuanic: Steve Carson
Toni Allaylis: Vickie
Chris Truswell: Moose
Gail Sweeny: Narelle
Julie McGregor: Steve's mother
Gary Cook: Al Carson
Peter Collingwood: Principal.
Director: Ken Cameron.
Writer: Ken Cameron
Producer: Ross Mathews
Cinematographer: David Gribble
Film editor: David Hugget
Production Design: Neil Angwin
Music: Sharon Calfraft, Eurogliders
Screenplay: Ken Cameron.
Australian Film Commission.
Video Release Date: April 5th 1988.
The film Fast Talking centers on the life of a fifteen year old boy, who comes from a broken home. His father an alcoholic, and his brother a drug dealer, Steve Carson, is forced into a life of juvenile delinquency and "fast talking" his way out of trouble.
Release Dates: August 23rd 1984.
Fast Talking begins with the three main characters, Steve Carson (Rod Zuanic), Vickie (Toni Allaylis) and Moose (Chris Truswell) stealing eggs from a battery hen farm. The teenagers are confronted by the owner, and they run from the farm. Steve Carson is the protagonist in the film. He is a 15-year-old juvenile delinquent. He is a small boy with a big mouth. The second scene shows Steve running on the beach with his dog Max, before rushing to water his marijuana plants which he keeps concealed behind bushes. He waters them and feeds them fertilizer. The next scene is at Steve's school. Steve is picked on by the teacher who tells him "he knew Carson could not be trusted with a simple task," when Steve drops a desk he was moving. In woodwork, Steve is caught making a wooden phallus, which he claims is a "cricket bat handle." The teacher confiscates it and tells him to get back to work. In the half an hour we are shown all aspects of Steve's life. His dog Max, which he loves and takes care of, his crush Vickie, school (the main source of problems for Steve) and his dysfunctional family. At school, Steve is shown dealing Marijuana to kids that wait by his locker. He sells it in matchboxes, and is caught by an older student whilst making a deal. He is taken to the principles office, and judging by the familiarity him and the deputy principle Mr. Yates (Denis Moore) share, it is not his first time. The deputy asks Carson to turn out his pockets at which a wad of cash and another box of matches are revealed. Although it is blatantly obvious he is dealing drugs, Carson plays innocent and gets six hits with the cane and told "not to get caught again."
After his "brush with the law" (as Yates likes to describe it) Steve is sent to class. He is greeted by a new, young teacher Sharon Hart (Tracy Mann). After school, Steve climbs into his older brother's car, who takes the wad of cash off Steve. Ralph, (Peter Hehir) is a drug dealer, and is horrible to his younger brother, verbally and physically abusing him. They drive to a motorcycle wrecking yard, where Ralph deals to the workers. Although Steve is told to wait in the car, he gets out and has a look around. After scoping the place out, Steve attempts to steal a motorcycle part, at which the owner of the yard, a tough looking ex bike racer, Redback (Steve Bisley) sees him and gives chase. Redback catches Steve and threatens him. Ralph comes to hit Steve for not "waiting in the f***ing car" but Redback tells him to "piss off" and to never do drugs in his yard again. After Ralph has left, Redback asks the youth if he's "related to that turd?" to which Steve replies "he's my brother." Redback sees how bad things are for the boy and shows him a few bikes. He then asks Steve to come back on the weekend and learn about making motorcycles.
As Steve is walking home, he is shown walking alone past a group of boys his age, playing football. He arrives home to a big disturbance. His mother has left whilst he was at school, and his alcoholic father (Garry Cook) is fighting the removalists for the possessions being taken from the house. Steve virtually ignores the scene and takes his dog Max for a walk. Al Carson (Steve's father) keeps greyhounds for racing in cages in the backyard. Steve's dog Max is the runt, the "useless no-hoper." When Steve and Max go for a walk, the dog runs off and attacks a neighbor's cat. Like Steve, the dog is a "useless runt" who can't help himself from doing bad things. The day ends with Steve reading aloud the goodbye note left by his mother. "I've left you ten dollars under the fridge, find it before your father does." (Steve's mother leaves the family for an equally disgusting man who owns a cake shop.)
This "first day" we see takes us into Steve Carson's life. At first we see him stealing, and growing drugs, then misbehaving at school. In the first scenes of the film, Steve is an unlikable character. He is small, ugly and annoying. He is constantly doing bad things and lies consistently. Following the school scenes however, his behavior is explained, first by the appearance of his drug dealer brother, and then by his home life and alcoholic father. This "first day" allows the viewer to discover a lot about Steve's life and his behavior. His father beats him, his mother doesn't care, his older brother beats him, and teachers at his school pick on him, rather than offering help. We also see the side of Steve that shows he's a normal young boy, despite the dealing, swearing and lying. The way he cares for his dog, and has a keen interest in motorcycles show he is a normal boy, who is growing up in a dysfunctional family. The future is not all bleak for Carson however, as Sharon Hart (his teacher) and Redback genuinely try to help the boy and stand up for him. Both Sharon and Redback feel sympathy for Steve because they both know what it is like to be the "underdog". Redback later tells Steve he too, was a juvenile delinquent and spent three years in prison for stealing a Harley Davidson. Sharon tells Steve she knows what its like to be picked on because all the teachers were picking on her, due to her modern, and "unsuitable" teaching methods.
After this "first day" when the characters are introduced and Steve's life is shown, things get worse and more complicated for the 15-year-old. Redback gives him an old motorcycle to do up, to stop him from stealing one, but he has to earn the money himself. Steve steals newspapers and starts selling them. He tries to kiss Vickie, and she rejects him, his father in a drunken state, poisons Max the dog (for being useless like Steve) and his mother virtually ignores him on the street, quickly giving Steve her number, which she is not available on. Ralph tries to get Steve to sell "smack" at school, but Steve flushes it down the toilet. In the midst of all the conflict, there is an emotional scene when Steve's older brother comforts him after the death of his dog. Ralph tells him "the bastard has done worse to me" and gives Steve some money to ease the pain. The police find out Carson has been stealing newspapers and dealing drugs and come to the school looking for him. After a series of escape attempts which include Steve running on the roof, climbing up drainpipes, and pretending to faint, the boy is caught and expelled from the school along with his friends Vickie and Moose.
Steve's bike is finished so he rides to Vickie's. She kisses him and they go for a ride. Vickie tells him her mother "doesn't care about her anymore" and the two spend the night riding around. The following night the trio, Steve, Vickie and Moose vandalize Mr. Yates's office and steal his car whilst the whole school is in the hall for a disco. The three try to scam petrol the next day, but their plot is foiled when a police car spots them. Vickie is caught, and the two boys Moose and Steve speed off in the car. They drive off a bridge, into a river, and the car slowly fills with water. Both boys escape unharmed, and Moose gets caught. Steve takes off on a motorboat. In the final scenes Steve returns to the car yard where he takes his bike. Redback tells him that he will be caught, but he doesn't stop Steve from escaping. The last shot is of a motorcycle riding into the distant sunset. Steve has escaped again, for now.
Although the film is set around teenagers with no hope, it is not dark or depressing. Depressing films seemed to be a character of the 1990's with films like "The Boys" (date) so perhaps this is why the film lacks the "depressed" mood. Steve has no hope, yet it seems the entire community also has nothing to look forward to. There is a scene where one of the teachers tells the students that they are all "stupid, and can look forward to a life on the dole." All the adult characters in the film are also struggling; Sharon is not accepted by other teachers, Ralph is a drug dealer, Redback hangs around an old motorcycle yard, and Steve's father is an alcoholic. The kids have no one to inspire them to do well at school. Although Carson is picked on by most teachers, all the students seem to be dimwitted.
The film has a very desolate setting. All the landscape shots include industrial buildings and sparse areas of nothing. There are a few swamps filled with rubbish that are also shown. The setting can be compared to the future of the people living in the community, especially Steve, which is bleak and desolate. Although Steve has friends, he is a lonely boy, who seeks comfort in his pet dog. When he is walking home, there is a strong contrast between him and the boys his age who are playing football. He does not have a normal life. He is lonely with no hope of making anything of himself, and the setting reflects that.
The title Fast Talking comes from the way Steve lies to get himself out of trouble. He is very quick; he knows what to say and how to get out of situations. Throughout the film, Steve uses his "fast talking" to weasel himself out of the trouble he has caused.
Research;
When confronted with the task of finding information on Fast Talking, I was dreading looking on the internet, as I thought the web would have next to nothing on an Australian film made in 1984. In some aspects I was right; however, I was impressed with the IMDb website, which gave me quite a substantial amount on information on both the film and the actors. Finding reviews on the internet has been very difficult, and although I tried several different search engines, I am yet to locate a single review written at the time of release. I found one review on the IMDb site, but I don't think this was by a critic, as some of the information about the film was wrong in the review. In the Encore journals of 1984-86 I was able to locate two interviews on the film, one with director Ken Cameron, and the other with producer Ross Mathews. (August 16-29th 1984, p 4) The Australian Cinema books weren't too helpful, many of them either didn't mention the film, or had one sentence on it, comparing it to other teen films released in the 1980's. (Mad Max had entire pages written on plot and actors!)
The director of Fast Talking, Ken Cameron, has directed and written a list of other Australian films (see references), as well as directing the "White Collar Blue" and Halifax TV series. Along with Fast Talking, Ken Cameron has directed Miracle at Midnight (1998), Brides of Christ (1991), The Good Wife (1987) and Monkey Grip (1982). The film has won awards from the Australian Film Institute, including 1984 Nominated Best Actor in a supporting role, Steve Bisley and Peter Hehir. Best Director Ken Cameron, Best Screenplay (original) Ken Cameron. Winner of the Australian Critics Circle Prize. In the interview found in Encore, Ken Cameron said he wanted to express the importance of substance in his film. Cameron demands social substance in his films, so they are not merely for entertainment. He also made another film (for TV release) called Crime of the Decade, which was very similar to Fast Talking, and many of the young people from the original cast were used.
"Steve Carson" was Rod Zuanic's film debut. Born in France, in 1968, his acting portfolio includes Danny Deckchair (2003), Cody: Fall from Grace (TV 1996) Hampton Court (TV1991) Tale of Ruby Rose (1988) The Place at the coast (1987) Starship (1985) Crime of the Decade (1984). He also had roles in Water Rats in 1996, and Hey Dad! in 1986. He also acted in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train (1989).
Fast Talking was released on August the 23rd 1984, at Hoyts Centre Cinema in Sydney, because that particular cinema was most popular with young people. The target audience was the 12-20 age bracket. The film was marketed as serious, but also fun and entertaining. Promotions for the film included radio ads, TV and print, which all played up the sense of action in the film. The Prime Minister opened the premier at Paramatta on the 18th of August, and the Eurogliders were featured on the soundtrack. At the time of release for Fast Talking, Street Hero was also released. It had a similar plot, and aimed for the same audience. After reading the box office takings in Encore for August and the following months, I could not find Fast Talking on any of the pages. I found Street Hero on all the lists, but Fast Talking was nowhere to be seen! I read in an interview that Fast Talking had been taken by the Nine network for TV, so I am not sure what happened in the release time. I think the film may have been beaten in viewers by Street Hero, which has made it fade into the background. In books I have been looking at, there is much more information on Street Hero than Fast Talking.
I think Fast Talking is definitely a teenage film. It deals with teen issues such as school, stealing and drugs, and how a broken home can affect the life of a child. If put into a genre, I think teen would be suitable, however, much of it is comedic. (Or trying to be, it's quite outdated.) The film is referred to by several websites as a drama, which can be seen in the harsh life that Steve leads (with his broken home, alcohol and drugs). Other films also made in the 1980's which are similar to Fast Talking are Puberty Blues (1981) Moving Out (1982) Street Hero (1984) and Fighting Back (1982). The schools in these films are overcrowded and play up the fact that school provides no inspiration for the children attending. Overall the film is quite light; I did not feel depressed by the film, as I do with more recent dramas.

Jolleh Abshar

Bibliography:
Australian Cinema, edited by Scott Murray Australian Film Commission 1994. NSW Australia.
The Australian Screen 1989, Penguin Book Australia Albert Moran and Tom O'Regan.
An Australian Film Reader: Edited by Albert. Moran and Tom O'Regan 1985, Currency Press Pty Ltd NSW Australia.
Australian Cinema 1970-1985. Brian McFarlane. William Heinemann Australia. 1987 Victoria Australia.
Film Struck: Australia at the Movies. John Baxter. ABC 1986 Sydney Australia.
Back Of Beyond: Discovering Australian Film and Television. AFC Sydney Australia 1988.
New Australian Cinema: Sources and Parallels in American and British Film. Brian McFarlane and Geoff Mayer. Cambridge University Press 1992.
A Century Of Australian Cinema. AFI edited by James Sabine. 1995. Melbourne Victoria.

Websites used:
Australian Film Commission.
Alan McKee's Australian Cinema Unit.
Movie Review Query Engine
RML Movie Page.
The Internet Movie Database.
Australian Movieguide.

Director - Ken Cameron filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
"White Collar Blue" (2002) TV Series
White Collar Blue (2002) (TV)
Halifax f.p: Takes Two (2002) (TV)
"My Brother Jack" (2001) (mini) TV Series
Halifax f.p: A Person of Interest (2000) (TV)
Secret Men's Business (1999) (TV)
Miracle at Midnight (1998) (TV)
Payback (1997/I) (TV)
Dalva (1996) (TV)
"Bordertown" (1995) (mini) TV Series
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994) (TV)
Joh's Jury (1993) (TV)
"Seven Deadly Sins" (1993) (mini) TV Series (segment "Lust")
"Brides of Christ" (1991) (mini) TV Series
"Police Rescue" (1990) TV Series
Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy (1990) (TV)
"Bangkok Hilton" (1989) (mini) TV Series
Clean Machine, The (1988) (TV)
"Stringer" (1988) TV Series
Good Wife, The (1987)
... aka Peter Kenna's The Good Wife (1987)
... aka Umbrella Woman, The (1987)
... aka Who's Zoomin Who (1987) (USA)
Crime of the Decade (1984) (TV)
Fast Talking (1984)
Monkey Grip (1982)
Temperament Unsuited (1978)
Out of It (1977)
Filmography as: Director, Writer, Actor
Writer - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
More Winners: The Journey (1990) (TV)
... aka Touch the Sun: The Journey (1990) (TV)
"Bangkok Hilton" (1989) (mini) TV Series (story)
Clean Machine, The (1988) (TV)
Fast Talking (1984)
Monkey Grip (1982)
Temperament Unsuited (1978)
Out of It (1977)
Filmography as: Director, Writer, Actor
Actor - filmography
WillFull (2001) .... Ken
Australian Film Commission [au]
Filmtrex
Merchant-Ivory Productions [us]
Oldata