The Azalea Motel turned into a hub of creativity as a crew came to Coonabarabran, exploring the old wonders of the town for their new film.

Rooms within the Azalea Motel were transformed last week, setting the scene for an independent feature film titled ‘Two Ugly People’.

After two years of scouting for the perfect location, director Peter Skinner and his collective of creative minds travelled with their professional gear from Sydney to Coonabarabran.

Aiming to create an original romance/drama with a specific country-western aesthetic, the film follows two lovers who meet every year at the same motel.

Production manager, Kaitlyn McMurtry acknowledged the advantages of discovering Coonabarabran and the unique aesthetics of the Azalea Motel.

“This motel fit perfectly with its white walls and the cactus,” Miss McMurtry said.

“I think we all feel quite at home here – everyone is so lovely and it is way more of a relaxed vibe out here compared to Sydney.”

Throughout filming the crew supported the town, reaching out to local cafes for catering and sourcing items from the hardware store.

And when enjoying a day off from their busy schedule, the team was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the area when bushwalking in the Warrumbungles.

“It was beautiful; it’s nice to be in nature and it really helped create a vibe on set, which ultimately does translate to the screen,” Miss McMurtry said

For many crew members, who previously studied at the Australian Film, Radio and Television School (AFTRS), the film is a kickstart to their professional career. There are hopes to enter the film into festivals and selected cinemas across Sydney.

“If it does do well at film festivals, that is a huge help for everyone involved. It helps our careers to grow a lot,” Miss McMurtry said.

“We have all been working in the industry for a couple of years, but we are still getting started.”

Having wrapped up filming in Coonabarabran, the crew has now moved on to Gilgandra and Jerrys Plains to complete the regional portion of the shoot before returning to Sydney, where they will apply for post production funding to complete the film.