MEMORIES TO MOTION PICTURE
The True Story Behind
Because of the War
From Family Memories to the Big Screen
Because of the War has lived with me for most of my life. Growing up in Queensland, I listened to stories about World War II told by my mother and father around the dinner table and on warm summer evenings spent outdoors enjoying the breeze. They spoke of separation, uncertainty, sacrifice and the enduring power of love during difficult times. Those stories stayed with me long after childhood. Over the years they became more than family memories; they became the inspiration for a screenplay. Much of Because of the War is drawn from real experiences, including those of my own parents during the war years. While the characters and events have been shaped into a dramatic story, the emotions at its heart are genuine. The waiting, the hope, the promises made across great distances, and the determination to hold on to love despite the uncertainty of war, all come from stories that were passed down through my family. For decades I carried those memories with me. Today, they have finally found their way to the screen. — Sally Elliot
A Dream Takes Shape
It was back in the 1970s when Sally Elliot's determination to build a career in the film industry first took hold. But where to begin? Arriving at the Burbank studio lot in California, Sally approached the gate of what would later become Warner Bros. and asked if there were any jobs available. The answer was no. Undeterred, she was told that Columbia Pictures had openings, so she headed there instead and immediately secured a position as secretary to one of the Vice Presidents in charge of production. Her career soon progressed when she became Production Secretary to George Swink at Irwin Allen Productions. Under Swink's mentorship, Sally learned every aspect of filmmaking and production management, gaining the practical knowledge that would shape her future career. Years later, Sally established her own company, Fandango Productions, where she began writing, producing and directing her own projects. Today, she remains deeply involved in every stage of production, sourcing locations, coordinating cast and crew, overseeing costumes, and managing the countless details required to bring a film to life. After decades in the industry, Sally set out to fulfil a lifelong dream: creating her own feature film. When traditional funding avenues repeatedly rejected her projects, she refused to let the dream die. Instead, she made her first film with virtually no budget, relying on the passion and generosity of cast and crew who believed in the project. For Because of the War, Sally has once again taken the independent path, spending more than two years filming on weekends, working around the availability of volunteers and a small paid crew, while building an ambitious wartime romance on a fraction of the budget most productions would require. Because of the War is a story about love, loyalty and sacrifice during wartime. But behind the camera, it is also the story of one woman's determination to never give up on a dream she first pursued more than fifty years ago. As Sally reflects: "I never stopped asking questions in those early days. I wanted to know everything, and I was so lucky to have the opportunity to learn. In the end though, if it wasn't for the lady at the Warner Bros gate, or Mr George Swink, I doubt I would be where I am today."
The Battle to Make the Film
The True Story Behind
Because of the War
After decades in the industry, Sally set out to fulfil a lifelong dream: creating her own feature film. Like many independent filmmakers, she turned to traditional funding bodies and grant programs in the hope of securing support. Time and again, her projects were rejected. For many people, that would have marked the end of the journey. For Sally, it became the beginning. Refusing to let the dream die, she made her first feature film with virtually no budget, relying on the passion and generosity of cast and crew who believed in the project and wanted the opportunity to gain experience in filmmaking. For Because of the War, Sally once again chose the independent path. Over more than two years, filming has taken place primarily on weekends, working around the availability of volunteers, actors and a small paid crew. Historic locations have been sourced across Queensland, period costumes assembled, vintage vehicles secured, and scenes carefully staged to recreate wartime Australia on a fraction of the budget most productions would require. What began as a screenplay inspired by family memories has become a feature film built through determination, persistence and the goodwill of countless people who believed the story deserved to be told. Because of the War is a story about love, loyalty and sacrifice during wartime. Behind the camera, it is also the story of one woman's refusal to give up on a dream she first pursued more than fifty years ago.