This New Aussie Film Will Resonate With Every Struggling Musician You Know

"You're gonna be 30 before you know it. And then you'll be 35, and then everyone you know is going to have solidity to their life, and you're gonna be scratching your arse, looking around, wondering what happened."

If this sounds like an upsettingly familiar sentiment to you, Play It Safe is probably going to be a deeply affecting movie.

The words — uttered by the father of 26-year-old protagonist Jamie (Nicholas Kato) mere seconds into the poignant trailer for this upcoming Australian independent film from debutant director Chris Pahlow — or some variant thereof have crossed the eardrums of many an aspiring musician (or actor, or artist, or writer, or), and no doubt they, too, have found themselves facing the same choice that befalls Jamie in Play It Safe: concede that show business isn't working out as a viable pursuit, or double down and remain defiant and determined in the face of daunting odds.

Pahlow's first feature utilises a striking monochromatic style and comes carrying influence from fellow young fringe masters such as Lena Dunham, Andrew Bujalski, Noah Baumbach and the Duplass Brothers. Melburnians will have the first chance to see the movie at the cinema, with a world premiere (plus Q&A) lined up at Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn, on Thursday, 10 September, from 7pm, and additional screenings at Elsternwick's Classic Cinemas (including special screening with Q&A on Thursday, 17 September, from 7pm) and Belgrave's Cameo Cinemas (also with special screening with Q&A on Friday, 18 September, from 7pm).

Of course, being a film about music, Play It Safe hasn't cut corners when it comes to the actual soundtrack, either, boasting songs throughout from a raft of more than 20 excellent Melburnian artists such as Big Scary, Speed Painters, Yes/No/Maybe, Patinka Cha Cha and Villains, among several others. Meanwhile, the ensemble cast who bring the film's characters to life is an equally colourful roster of performers, including Maya Aleksandra, Christine Liu, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, Spencer Gigacz, Kane Felsinger, Matt Lewin, Mantra, Jeremy Hopkins, Clayton Jacobson, Christina Kato, Matt Joe Gow, Max Morgan, and Abel Kinyodo.

Check out the trailer below.

Play It Safe: Full List of Contributing Artists

Big Scary
Mantra & Nathan Liow
Lower Spectrum
Speed Painters
Brothers Hand Mirror
Ron Rude
Aaron Choulai
Polo Club
Aoi
DOS4GW
Yes/No/Maybe
Patinka Cha Cha
Dyl Thomas & Must
Spacecadet Lullabies
Merc Swazey X Nettsmoney
Villains
Gus Rigby