Hey everyone, 

We just wanted to check in and let you know that we are still full speed ahead with Westerly, though it is taking longer than expected. We are exploring different directions for the cut, hence the delay with respect to our last update. Rest assured, we're still here, working diligently, and thanks to all of you we will undoubtedly have a finished film soon. Stay tuned... 

Many thanks, 

team Westerly

We're happy to report that we are rapidly approaching a final cut of the film. We will be hitting the film festival circuit at the beginning of 2016, which means locking picture within the next month or so and moving into the finishing process (composing original music, color grading the film, mixing sound, etc). Thank you again for all your support. We can't wait to share the film with you. 

Best,

Team Westerly

Dear Westerly Supporters,

It's been a while! We've been working on the edit, though as is so typical in this game, it's taking longer than expected. Partly because we shot a truckload of footage, but mainly because the story is still unfolding. In post-gender reassignment terms, and as Westerly points out, she's really still in transition (her surgery took place in December 2012). In February she was featured on "7:30," a national current affairs program in Australia -- that was a big deal for Westerly, as well as for our project! We will be editing through the summer and finishing by end of year. Thanks for all your continued support. Below are some frame grabs from the edit. Enjoy.

All best,

The Westerly filmmakers

Dear Westerly Backers,

Thanks once again for your support. The film is coming along well. We spent the final months of 2013 in the editing room. It's a real joy and education working with our editor, Victor Livingston. He's a monster of the documentary form, and it came across in his every cut. We currently have about half the movie done. It's looking really good. There's great archival stuff of Peter Drouyn heaving up and down on shimmering waves in Mauritius, South Africa, Japan, and Indonesia. There's a surreal hospital in Bangkok that's straight out of an S&M fantasy, mini-skirt-clad nurses gliding through the halls on rollerblades, a plastic surgery wing that looks more like the cosmetics floor of a high-end department store. We're chasing down some of our final interviewees. Once we get them we'll go back into the editing room and get the thing done.

So that's the lowdown. Again, thanks so much.

Dear Friends,

First, let us say how grateful we are for your support on the Westerly film. Without you we would not have been able to move forward with the project. It's great to know that there's so much interest in Westerly's story.

The project has been moving along excellently. In December, Westerly traveled to Bangkok for her surgery. As most things go in "Westerly World," it was not without great drama. We would love to tell you about it in detail, but it's probably best that you wait for the film. Peter trained as an actor and had an intuitive feel for set up and pay off, bait and switch, keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. Westerly has inherited this gift. Enough said.

In February, Westerly attended the Surfing Australia 50 Year Awards, a red carpet gala full of that country's greatest surfers from the last half century. Westerly was the star of the evening. She absolutely radiated. It was fascinating to see her interact with Peter's surfing rivals from the '60s and '70s. Three-time women's world champ Stephanie Gimore might have fallen in love with her.

We documented both of these events. We think you'll like what you see.

We are presently deep in the edit with Victor Livingston. You might know Victor's work. He edited Crumb, Bukowski: Born Into This, The Queen of Versailles, and many more. He is a monster, and we are thrilled to be working with him.

When will we be finished? Hopefully in the late fall. We promise to keep you posted.

Again, thanks for all your support.

Best,
The Westerly Filmmakers

Below: 

- Westerly with her best mate Mal Chamers on the Gold Coast

- Derek Hynd & Jamie, post interview nosh in Byron Bay

- Jamie, Alan and Victor burning the mid morning oil in the editing room back in Los Angeles