Before the Dreamtime 79 was founded, cult leader Ray “Millenium Ray” Author was a rising star in the former Sydney based film studio Gold Emu. His time there (and the time of many crew members who would become cult members) ended in a massive and dramatic heist of equipment and money, essentially sending the studio into bankruptcy and turning Author and his legion into fugitives.
Read about Ray “Millenium Ray” Author here.
Read about the Dreamtime 79 here.
It is believed that the Dreamtime 79 produced over 30 films in under a decade – and impressive run for a studio of any size. Based on the 13 film posters that were salvaged from the ruins of the Dreamtime 79, we are aware of the following titles:
Black Swan Ceremony
TasMANIA!
Cemetary Dogs
The Devil’s Marbles
Van Demon’s Land
The Lair of the Lyre Bird
Escape From The Never Never
Incident At Uluru
Spirits of the Golden Soil
Thunder Egg Drive
The Sirens of Static Valley
Goodbye, Hoodoo Country
Wild Summer Soul
Almost nothing is known about the content of these 13 films, the names of the crew and actors involved, or if any of these films are still in existence. It is believed that the reels of all films produced by the Dreamtime 79 were destroyed in a fire, although with Author and all remaining members of the cult still at large, it is possible that there are copies somewhere.
The artwork and design on the posters suggest that many of the films were influenced by the psychdelic “head” films of the era. Other posters, such as the one for Thunder Egg Drive appears to be a grindhouse-style “muscle and machines” movie, similar to films such as Stone and Mad Max which came out around the same period. Whether or not the Dreamtime 79 films predate these other films is unknown.
While the posters do not have a consistent visual style (even the Dreamtime 79 logo appears to be different in each instance), the artwork does bear a number of similarities across the board. The use of bold colours, abstract collage, and hand-drawn typography all combine to create a truly unique collection.
Of the films developed by Author while working at the Gold Emu studio, we are aware that he completed a short film called Crystal and received a green-light for a feature film adaptation of the story of Burke & Wills entitled Outback Valhalla.
Crystal is an extremely hard to find 12 minute film which is said to be about an ancient crystal, discovered in the Australian wilderness. The crystal has the power to give eternal life to whoever touches it. Early in the film it is discovered by a bushwalker who selfishly keeps the crystal and its power to himself. Time passes, civilizations rise and fall and the film ends with the nameless bushwalker alone, at the end of the world. The film received a limited screening, although the massive hype and acclaim surrounding it secured Author a sizable feature film contract.
While no footage of the original Outback Valhalla script was filmed, it is rumored to have been a fairly straightforward re-telling of the legend of explorers Burke & Wills. There is said to have been some quite elaborate special effects sequences planned for the hallucinations experienced by the titular characters as they begin to die of dehydration in the desert.
