Prudence Bernadette.

Production has commenced on Subculture: The Whovians, an exciting new documentary short film by Western Sydney actress, director, and musician Prudence Bernadette (aka. theARTGRL). This marks the first project from Bernadette’s film production company, Prudent Pictures.

Currently filming for a mid-2025 release, Subculture: The Whovians examines the journey of fans transforming into creators, as seen through author Jon Blum’s path to becoming a professional writer for the Doctor Who franchise.

For America-born Blum, now based in Sydney, Australia, this has been an incredible journey and a dream come true for a devoted Doctor Who fan – or “Whovian”. After writing – and starring in! – the legendary Doctor Who fan film Time Rift (1996), Blum was catapulted from fanboy to licensed writer. Over the past 29 years, he has penned several acclaimed spinoffs of the beloved British sci-fi – some in collaboration with his wife Kate Orman – for heavyweights BBC Books and Big Finish audio.

Subculture: The Whovians celebrates the power of imagination and the magic that exists within the world of fandom. Blum’s experience serves as a profound reminder that, with passion and perseverance, anything is possible.

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Director/producer Bernadette hopes the film will inspire others to reach for the stars.

“As a child, I always heard successful people end their origin stories by saying, “and the rest is history”,” she says. “Although in reality, to be a professional working artist, it means taking the road less traveled, or rather building it, brick by brick.

“Regardless of whether you’re a Doctor Who fan or not, this film is for the underdogs and dark horses who have already started paving their way.”

Joining Bernadette is a team made up entirely of Western Sydney talent, including AACTA-nominated executive producer and editor Ryan Cauchi (Greystanes) and director of photography Luke Walker (Christmas Downunder). These friendships were forged at the Made in the West Film Festival, the biggest annual celebration of Western Sydney short films on the big screen.

Principal Photography of Subculture: The Whovians is currently underway at Fortress Sydney.

For updates, visit the Subculture: The Whovians social pages: Instagram (@Subculture.Doco) and Facebook (@Subculture: The Whovians).

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