The trick to making a film that deals with addiction, mental health, social pressure and how outsiders are treated in modern society is in making it palatable. Silent film offers the audience an opportunity for gentle reflection through nostalgia, to remember an era when people tackled tough times with humour and grace, and took pleasure in simple things.

Dance reaches the audience in a specific way; its winding physicality bypasses logic and goes straight to our emotional core. Its ethereal quality allows the viewer to visualise Otis' inner journey, bringing his sensibility to the fore without dialogue.

Using stages of addiction helped to give the film a roadmap. Otis traverses euphoria, debt, denial, resolve, relapse, guilt, withdrawal and finally, acceptance.

Ultimately, couching the issues in a silent dance film allowed us to comment, in a palatable way, on the increasing lack of freedom in our society; a steadily declining health system, and, to remind us that finding happiness may be as simple as dancing around the lounge room with whomever or whatever happens to be there at the time!

Since graduating from Queensland College of Art film production course in 2003, Scott has worked consistently in film, television, commercials and music
videos, the last 3 years as a full time cinematographer. His considerable lighting experience brings a commanding ease and perfection to the way he works and his cinematographic results. Recipient of 5 Australian Cinematography Society Awards, he has 4 feature films, 15 short films and numerous television, commercial and music videos to his credit, and counting.

We wanted the whole film to have the rhythm of dance, not just the dance sequences. Scott's photography realised that philosophy beautifully. His familiarity with fluid camera movement and expertise in shot-making were really brought to the fore. Scott's knowledge of lighting and experience on the ground with scheduling, made it possible for us to get everything we needed with the limited time we had. Bravo!

A consummate performer with a Bachelor of Theatre (JCU), Dan has been an active contributor to the Brisbane performing Arts scene for over 13 years. 

He received a Matilda Award for his performance in Grimm Tales (QTC), and while with Expressions Dance Company was nominated for Australian Dance Awards and a GreenRoom Award. He has performed with the Mirramu Dancers, worked for Dance North with Woomera and Mornington Island Dancers, lectured at the Australian Dance Performance Institute in Contemporary Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and served as Summer School Director and teacher in physical theatre, choreography, composition and character development for the Gold Coast Dance Theatre.

Dan used his full skillset as dancer, choreographer and actor to create a memorable and sympathetic character in Otis. His sense of fun, fabulous timing and heart wrenching pathos are evident, but what truly makes Dan's performance excellent is his embodiment of this character. He is Otis!

An accomplished dancer and choreographer, Sally graduated from QUT with an Associate Degree in Dance, and joined the Sydney Dance Company under the direction of Graeme Murphy.  She performed and toured with the company for 7 years, including choreographing In Time. Joining Expressions Dance Company, she was twice awarded a scholarship to attend the International Dance Web in Vienna. She has taught and choreographed extensively including for Expressions Dance Company, the Australian Dance Performance Institute, Ausdance National and the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, and toured Europe with Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Sally has an innate sense of how to physically convey emotion. She and her husband Dan work seamlessly together. Sally's skill as a choreographer and interpreter is unmistakable from her creation of the dances for Empathy.

Tyrone 'Ty' Noonan is an Australian musician, best known for his vocals, guitars, keyboards and song-writing in the Brisbane band George. He has also worked as a composer for Australian theatre companies La Boite and Queensland Theatre.

In 2005, Ty began pursuing a solo career, which would see him relocate to London in 2008, and New York in 2009. He released an eponymous indie jazz album 'Palimpsest' in 2004, followed by the 6-track pop/rock mini-album "Heavy Soul Part I" Jellyfish /MGM) on 16 September 2006, and self-released his debut full-length album, "I Believe", in August 2011.

Ty devised his own megaphone for 'On a Wing and a Prayer' and made three versions of the song, in 78rpm style, rock and folk for Empathy is the Devil. The style and lyrics of the song are perfectly in tune with Otis' sensibilities, and the music enhances those to such a degree that I believe 'A Wing And A Prayer' becomes Otis' anthem. What a good idea!

Since receiving his Diploma in music technical production (SAE),
Luke has honed his skills as a composer, producer and sound designer.
Finding work in radio, television and internet advertising whilst contributing extensively to Brisbane's live experimental electronic music scene. In recent years Luke has gravitated towards the independent film and video game industries where his knowledge of genre and attention to detail have come to the fore.

Luke’s wonderful score delights the senses. Taking cues from the silent era but no strong references, he has composed an original work, at once humorous and melodramatic.

Most of what I did was purely reactionary. The lack of dialogue gave me the
opportunity to create something that was really upfront and almost took the place of dialogue in terms of articulation. For me, the abstract composition work by Jesus Lopez-Donado in the Hand and Lounge Dance sections already exemplified his inner turmoil, so I really only needed to add a few touches of sound design to highlight the impact of Otis's contortions on screen.           - Luke Goldfinch