fourteen-and-nine-months
A short film by Yvette Turnbull
SYNOPSIS
Fourteen-and-nine-month-year-old Freya works at the local kitchen supply store in her small town in regional Victoria. It’s her first job and this particular Sunday her boss has let her open up the shop by herself for the very first time. She’s got this.
The day is going according to plan - until an interaction with a lesbian couple backfires and sends her into a spiral. The couple, Polly and Ruth, were looking to purchase a turkey baster for an at-home artificial insemination. The interaction brings up a slew of unexpected thoughts and feelings that rocket her into her own journey of self-discovery.
In search of answers, she connects with the local librarian Frankie, who doubles as the local LGBTQIA+ archivist. Frankie introduces Freya to an underground lesbian magazine from the 80s which accurately and delicately explains the “turkey baster method” from a queer lens. Frankie acts as an informal mentor, providing insight and friendship within the rainbow community.
Inspired to share her newfound knowledge, she convinces her boss Roger to overhaul their range of basters and get behind their local community’s needs. She goes on to reconcile with Fran and Fannie and finds family in the safe space she has created.
ABOUT ME
Yvette Turnbull | Writer, Director
Yvette Turnbull is a practising arts professional of 11+years, previously working as a stage designer for live performance, theatre and major arts festivals, with a shift towards designing for screen and media over the past 4 years.
Currently she is at a pivot point in her practice – creating her own work as a Writer/Director for screen. Most recently as a designer, Yvette lead the helm as Creative Director/Production Designer of a global campaign for Airbnb in partnership with the BBC and Ludo Studios. Recreating The Heeler Home in Brisbane Queensland, from the Emmy Award winning children’s tv show Bluey.
In February of 2020 Yvette was accepted into the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles to undertake a Masters in Production Design. Due to the covid-19 pandemic she deferred her enrolment, then in 2021 made the difficult decision to decline their offer and focus her efforts into connecting with the Australian Screen Industry.
As a LGBTQI+ artist, Yvette is passionate about the repesentation and inclusion of queer narratives and championing our stories and challenging existing hierarchies.
