This year’s Revelation Film Festival features two short films about beloved local music institutions Penny Lane’s Music Workshop and The Ellington. 

Situated on Knutsford St in Fremantle, Penny Lane’s specialises in fun music lessons for young rockers and aspiring pop stars, eschewing stuffy formalities in favour of a cool venue and live student concerts. 

It was spearheaded by the well-respected musician Richard Lane—a founding member of the legendary garage band The Stems—who died in May 2020. He was in his mid-50s.

The doco Penny Lane’s takes up the story exactly five years after Lane’s death, exploring the emotional and financial challenges faced by his wife Cathy and daughter Penny. 

“I wanted to make a documentary that celebrated Richard’s life, his contribution to music, and the incredible resilience Penny and Cathy have shown in keeping the workshop alive,” says Penny Lane’s director Javiera Ortega.

“After the interviews, Cathy and Penny invited the crew to visit Richard Lane in Drill Hall, a laneway named in honour of one of Fremantle’s most beloved musicians.

“They also took us to previous workshop locations, including Freo.Social, sharing stories about the workshop’s history and its significance to the local music community.”

A screen production and sound design student at Murdoch University, Ortega shot the short film as part of her documentary production unit.

She first met Penny and Cathy in 2024, during an internship at Artisan Music.

“At the time, Penny was recording vocals for her song Why Can’t Things Stay The Same, a deeply personal tribute to her father,” Ortega says.

“She had a beautiful voice and later I learnt more about who Penny was and the Music Workshop in Fremantle. 

“In the documentary, both Cathy and Penny shared cherished memories of Richard, speaking about his passion for music and what it was like growing up with music, especially Penny wanting to be an artist like her father.

“While the shoot was emotional, it was ultimately a beautiful experience.”

Cathy praised the sensitivity of the all-female student crew working on the film.

“They were so professional, respectful and considerate while dealing with a difficult subject and that in itself gave us both great comfort,” Cathy says.

“There have been many challenges since Richard’s passing but the loyalty and support of our wonderful community has kept us encouraged and afloat.

“Starting our community choir on Thursday nights and more recently putting on Penny Fest, which was our first community music festival with students, parents, teachers, neighbours and friends performing are some of the ways we continue to adapt to keep the music alive at Penny Lane’s.”

Cathy says she is proud that Penny has followed in her father’s footsteps and is carving out a career in the music industry.

Ortega graduates in September, but has already secured a job as videographer and is booked to do the final sound mix on a short film about car racing, Final Lap.

“The Penny Lane’s Music Workshop documentary was a particularly rewarding project because it brought together my two greatest interests of music and filmmaking,” she says.

A few km up the road in Perth, another beloved music institution, the Ellington jazz club, is showcased in the short doco In a Sentimental Mood.

Back in 2017, the future of the Ellington was in doubt after founder and talented pianist Graham Wood died from cancer, aged 46, leaving the club rudderless.

But in 2023, longtime Ellington patrons Travis Simmons and Zoe Jay took over the business, and since then it has flourished and diversified its musical offerings, while staying open seven days a week. Directed by Saskia Glass as part of the City of Vincent film project, In a Sentimental Mood features the 18-piece Western Australian Jazz Project soundchecking at the Ellington.

“Woven throughout their music we intercut with interviews from previous and current staff, local musicians and dedicated patrons, forming narration that is part voice and part melody,” Glass says.

“Our director of photography Stephanie Senior does a mesmerising job at capturing the club from stage to seats, always honouring the unique intimacy of the Ellington’s atmosphere.”

It was a bit of a dream project for Glass, a former WAAPA student who has attended countless gigs at the Ellington over the years.

She says the project was the brainchild of Aron Attiwell, who produced the film and is a talented musician in his own right.

“I know Aron had been sitting on the inspiration for a documentary about the Ellington for a while, which I also found exciting as the venue holds a lot of sentimentality for me,” Glass says.

The Perth-based director says she was struck by the variety of shows and performers at the Ellington.

“From supporting local students to staging Grammy nominees like RAYE, they do it all,” she says.

“I don’t think enough of Perth appreciates how lucky we are to have access to live music every night of the week, and I hope this film ignites a little craving in everyone who watches it for a prompt dose of live entertainment.”

When she’s not busy behind the camera, Glass is artistic director of the Australian Pop Academy, a contemporary youth choir in Fremantle.

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2022, she’s also written, directed and produced the jukebox musicals The Karaoke Club and Sugar and Ice.

Penny Lane’s and In a Sentimental Mood are showing at The Revelation Film Festival in Perth. For times and venues see revelationfilmfest.org.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK