TURNING CAMERA ON LOCKDOWN

TOWNSVILLE-BORN actor Ilai Swindells has turned his life of living in a COVID-19 lockdown into a work of art. Swindells starred in the ABC comedy Retrograde, capturing the lives of a group of friends attempting to navigate the pandemic, partners and their new lives through the lens of Zoom catch-ups.

The unique show used cameras set up on each actors’ computers, while using their homes as the set. “Retrograde was really unexpected, it’s so rare to act full-time anyway,” Swindells said.

“It was really funny, the writing was really great. I’d love it to get a season two.” Swindells, who now calls Melbourne home, said he was coming to terms with the strict lockdown as Victoria battled its second COVID-19 wave.

Born at the old Kirwan hospital, Swindells moved to Mornington Island and went to school in Rockhampton before heading to Brisbane to give acting a crack.

Since then he has featured in a number of TV shows and provided the voice to the main character in animated family film 100% Wolf – Freddy Lupin.

The movie was one of many released online during the height of coronavirus restrictions which forced shut cinemas across Australia.

“( 100% Wolf) was the favourite thing I’ve done. It was three years voicing the film and the TV season,” Swindells said.

“It’s kind of bizarre, it’s on cinemas now in the UK and Ireland.”

100% Wolf was featured at No. 3 on the UK box office in the first weekend of August.

Swindells hopes on returning to Townsville later this year. “I’ve still got really good mates there (in Townsville). I love the North Queensland weather.”

Retrograde can be streamed on ABC iview.