‘For what?You have the camera equipment.And I’m pretty sure you’d have access to some apps to do your own editing, too.’
‘But…’ She shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, mindful of not disturbing the cooler on her lap.
But Stone still watched her, while being protective over the eggs.‘What extra work do you need to do, if you went on your own?’
‘It’s huge.’She sighed, letting the vehicle’s cool air wrap around her while watching the sun bake the outback’s soil into a rich powdery red that matched the distant escarpment.‘I’d have to tell a complete story in a 30 to 90-minute film.That would involve researching, scripting, filming, and editing hours of footage to tell a story that has a central theme or message to it.’
‘And you and Julian were going to do all that in three hours of paid flight time.With me?’
She sat back with her crossed arms resting on the lid of the chunky blue cooler.‘It’s stupid, I know.But I did get some decent footage of you…’ A lot more than Stone realised, but her camera just ate him up.‘Are you sure I can’t sneak a camera inside this crocodile farm?’
‘No.’Stone was adamant, too.‘But I think you should do it.’
‘Do what?Sneak my camera inside?’Oh, hello.
‘I meant do the documentary.Then use Julian’s contacts to help with the distribution and apply for this film grant.’
‘How do you know about that?’
Stone smirked while casually steering them down the dirt road.
‘Did you read Julian’s phone over his shoulder too?’
‘No.His laptop.’
‘That is a terrible habit, you know.’
But Stone just chuckled as the ute hit the crest, giving them a view of the dusty red road that stretched for miles to nowhere.Where was this farm?
‘I bet you’re dying to know what Julian’s email said.’The taunting tone in Stone’s voice had her teething her bottom lip, desperate to be a good person.
What would her mother say about being nosy?
Aw, who was she kidding, when she was more like her devious dad who’d want to know everything.‘Did this email say anything about what Julian’s documentary was about?’
‘Nope.Just that they wanted him to provide a brief film pitch in hope of optioning it for money to buy some film equipment and hire a team.’
Her stomach plummeted at being so used like that, when she’d thought she was on a team making a documentary that mattered.
‘It’s called a pilot.’She’d done a few for TV series that went nowhere.But it wasn’t where she wanted her career as a videographer to lead, especially not some heavily manipulated reality show to score cheap ratings.
‘How about filming a documentary about crocodile conservation?Done in a way where everyone in the industry wins.’Stone kept his eyes on the road, with that limp wrist on top of the steering wheel.
‘Who else is in this industry besides the crocodile catchers and the fashion houses?’
‘There are plenty of Indigenous rangers who ethically collect crocodile eggs for these farms, too, you know.’
‘Really?’If she was so clueless to this world, the general population might be the same.Maybe therewasan opportunity for her.‘How else does the crocodile affect the Indigenous?’
‘Some Aboriginal communities have the crocodile as their totem, or they hunt them as part of their traditions.They’re also an apex animal that is needed to keep a balance to the wildlife.If not managed correctly, it can get out of control and cause a rippling effect on the other animal species that roam this region.I heard farmers down south are having trouble with the roos, because they hunted out all the dingoes.’
‘I had no idea.’The topic of these man-killers could be big enough to want to bite into.But could she do her own documentary?
‘Do you think you can keep an open mind to that?’Stone gave her a look she didn’t dare look away from.‘Reckon you can see the bigger picture of these complex creatures and the world they live in, to give that unique perspective they deserve?’
She narrowed her eyes at the crocodile wrangler being serious—it was such a sexy look on this guy.
What was Stone getting out of this if she did?He must have an angle.
