Award-winning filmmakers, Melbourne twins Jay and Shaun Perry's short film 'Cold Water' won the AFTRS award for Best Screenplay at Flickerfest 2024. 'Cold Water' is now on tour across Australia.
What do you do?
Jay: Write, procrastinate, procrastinate more, occasionally make films.
Shaun: Tell stories, and procrastinate by shaking my fist at Jay’s procrastination.
Why do you do it?
Jay: I don’t know how to do anything else.
Shaun: Jay doesn’t know how to do anything else.
What do you love about the city you live in?
Jay: The coffee, the people, the arts.
Shaun: The mixing pot of cultures, the eclectic food, the music.
Where did you go for your last holiday?
Jay: Rome, Italy with the fam.
Shaun: Same as above. One highlight was witnessing my dad purchase a salami from a burly shopkeeper, and in his attempt at speaking Italian he said, “Ciao, Bella” not realising this means “Goodbye beautiful”. . . The confusion from everyone in the store was fantastic.
What's your favourite item of clothing?
Jay: I bought a Stetson hat in New York when my first film made it into a festival over there.
Shaun: Probably my boots.
What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid?
Jay: ‘The Simpsons’.
Shaun: Definitely not ‘MASH’, but it was always on for some reason. I remember the opening theme song vividly.
If you could travel back in time for a day, where would you go?
Jay: After being in Rome recently it’d be pretty wild to see the Romans at their peak.
Shaun: I’m a bit of a film geek so maybe the 1960s, 1970s during the New Hollywood era – would love to experience what the set of ‘Easy Rider’ was like.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us?
Jay: Spaghetti bolognese with chilli.
Shaun: A good spicy red or green curry.
What's the best lesson you've ever learned?
Jay: This quote is pretty cool: “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein.
Shaun: Have the courage to back yourself, and swan dive right into whatever it is you’re passionate about. Ask questions later.
Tell us one thing about yourself that nobody else knows...
Jay: Not a chance.
Shaun: I’m opposed to cold showers, I don’t care how good they are for you.
Are you happy with your work/ life balance?
Jay: I think I have ADD so this is a foreign concept.
Shaun: I believe my partner has some strong opinions on this topic.
How do you define success?
Jay: ‘Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance’ by Robert M. Pirsig.
Shaun: If I’m able to pay my bills by writing and directing and telling stories, that’s pretty great, really.
What's your spirit animal?
Jay: Not sure but I was always referred to as a wombat growing up.
Shaun: I don't know, but I was once told that if I were a Pokemon I would be Snorlax. I do like a good sleep.
