Overview
Want to take a journey through post-lockouts Sydney in two pretty sad minutes? Sydney-based production company Shifted Pictures have created a haunting timelapse video of the effects of the NSW lockout laws on various venues around the CBD.
Released online today, stunning new short film Closed Sydney documents venues that have closed down or were sold in the time since the lockout laws were introduced by the State Government in 2014. As we've seen too many times in the last two years, a significant amount of Sydney venues claim that since the introduction of lockout laws, venue patronage has decreased casting financial strain on business owners and employees. Hugo's threatened to sue the NSW Government after they closed down in August 2015, and just today, the Keystone Group counted the lockout laws in their reasons for financial stress and move into receivership. And that's just two examples.
Closed Sydney was produced using motion control timelapse technology, with the final film using over 3800 still images. Tim Pass, one of the film's producers shared his inspiration behind the visuals. "It's been an idea that's been kicking around since the Hopetoun closed down. Not long after the lockouts came in, it seemed we were losing a live music venue, nightclub or restaurant every other week. If we didn't document them now, we'd be too late.
"It might be too late for the venues shown in the video, but hopefully if people keep talking about these issues and come up with some real solutions, we don't have to lose the nightlife of an entire city."
The footage is set against an original composition written by avid Keep Sydney Open supporter and Art Vs. Science keys player Jim Finn. Be warned: it's best to grab a box of tissues before you hit play.
