Jump to content

Meet the Winton dogs that stole their scene


Boronia
 Share

Recommended Posts

This ABC drama is excellent,  Deborah Mailman is so talented and here's a story about the dogs

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-20/dogs-steal-scene-in-total-control-during-filing-in-winton/11618384

Meet the Winton dogs that stole their scene in ABC drama series Total Control premiere

Posted about 11 hours ago

A man wearing an akubra and sitting in a motorised wheelchair chats to actress Deb Mailman surrounded by border collie puppies.
 
 

These outback Queensland dogs are probably the only characters in Australia that could steal a scene from star Deborah Mailman.

Key Points:

  • Sheep dogs steal the scene in ABC drama Total Control
  • Originally cast as extras, were given larger role when producers saw them
  • Owner Steven Elliott says they would return for a second season

 

The Australian border collies captured hearts in the debut episode of the ABC drama series Total Control.

The scene sees their Winton owner Steven Elliot offer Ms Mailman's character a puppy, to distract her from telling him to take his medication.

The well-trained canines jumped on her ute as she tried to drive away.

Mr Elliot was originally cast as just an extra in the Blackfella Films production.

The directors saw something special in him and the dogs and wrote them all a bigger role in the show.

"They all slotted in and done their little bit," Mr Elliott said.

"They were working really good and really enjoyed it."

A man in a checked shirt and akubra laughs in the yard of a large outback shed, with dogs running around in the background.
 

 

From rodeo riding to a wheelchair

The 42-year-old partly severed his spinal cord when he fell from a horse in a rodeo in 2003.

Nowadays you will find him scooting in his wheelchair around the backyard of his Winton home.

It is there he crafts hand-made branding irons and trains his beloved dogs.

Four sheep and a border collie follow a man in a motorised wheelchair around a sheep pen.
 

 

It was a long day filming on set, but the dogs took to it like ducks to water.

"They sort of got sick of it by the finish," Mr Elliott said.

"One fell asleep underneath the car at one part."

Scores of the Winton locals were cast as extras in the production and the larger role came as a surprise to Mr Elliott.

"We were thrown in the deep end there a little bit," he said.

"They said 'we're going to do something next week', then they turned up that afternoon and gave me a piece of paper," he said.

"They said 'this is what you've got to say and we're going to start at half past six in the morning' and out we went."

Leaving their mark

With a quick whistle and a flick of his hand, the dogs are quick to respond to Mr Elliott's every command.

"They all really enjoyed it, all the film crew and everyone, they all love the dogs," he said.

"They were enjoying the extra pats."

A border collie dog looks up hopefully next to a pile of food on the ground.
 

 

Mr Elliot is hopeful for an even bigger role with Ms Mailman if there is a season two.

"We kinda clicked after a little bit and got on real good too," he said.

"It was pretty fun to work with her."

Mr Elliott thinks the dogs left an impression in more ways than one.

"I think the dogs ended up making a bit of a mark on the camera stand at one point," he said with a laugh.

You can watch Total Control on ABC TV and on iView.

Close-up on the face of a black and white border collie with its tongue hanging out.
 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...