A broken camera cable brought a childhood spy movie to an abrupt end in a Boronia Heights backyard in 1997.
Almost 30 years later, its young filmmaker has finally turned that unfinished adventure into a novel.
Logan author Jason Wingate launched Aussie Spies at Logan West Community Centre on 5 November, bringing to life a fictional world born from decades of imagination, friendship and determination.
“This book is proof that childhood imagination never dies if you refuse to give up on it,” Mr Wingate said.
Growing up with autism, Mr Wingate struggled to connect with other children at Boronia Heights State School until he befriended fellow student Shannon Holtzapffel in 1995.
Bonding over music, movies and Mr Wingate’s imagination, the boys began dreaming up adventures in which they could be heroes.
“I think it was just knowing Shannon in general that brought me to that concept,” Mr Wingate said.
Inspired by Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video, Mr Wingate buried action figures in a backyard garden, imagining them rising from their graves.
A depression left by an old swimming pool became a miniature mountainside he called Mount Zombie.
Before long, the boys wanted to bring their adventures to the screen.
“Shannon and I started talking about making a film together as far back as grade six,” Mr Wingate said.
Then, on Christmas Day in 1996, Mr Wingate received a special gift.
A video camera.
“I begged and begged my dad to get me this camera for Christmas and they actually did it,” he said.
Using the camera, which recorded black and white footage onto VHS tapes, the boys recruited two neighbourhood friends to play villains in their spy movie, Shannon and Jason: Mission Impossible.
But a broken cable brought filming to an abrupt halt.
“We did this film … when we were kids back in 1997 and unfortunately, because the camera was very cheap, we never got to finish it,” Mr Wingate said.
The footage was eventually recorded over.
“I’m kicking myself for taping over that film,” he said.
But while the movie was lost, its fictional world endured.
Mr Wingate spent the following years developing characters and mysteries inspired by Logan, including the Grassman, a creature based on the Boronia Bushland Reserve.
A stretch of land near his family’s later residence in Waterford West, where he fed magpies, inspired Magpie Gully, a fictional animal park central to the story.
“I’m a world builder,” he said.
His fascination with films such as Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Indiana Jones also shaped the fictional universe, but its foundations remained firmly in Logan.
“I’ve always considered myself a Logan boy,” he said.
As the boys grew older, Mr Holtzapffel became an internationally successful dancer and choreographer, working with entertainers including Michael Jackson.
Meanwhile, their backyard adventure had evolved into an ambitious television concept by 2005.
“It was basically based around this world that Shannon and I created as kids,” Mr Wingate said.
The pair eventually pursued separate paths, with Mr Wingate continuing to develop the stories alongside other creative projects.
“I was basically working on other projects that didn’t really work out for one reason or another,” he said.
“People kept pulling out or … I didn’t have the budget to continue with any of them.”
With film and television production remaining out of reach, Mr Wingate eventually decided to bring his childhood world to life through a book instead.
“I kept going back and forth for about a good 18 odd years before I finally decided, hey, well, why don’t I just do this as a book,” he said.
“Write the story as a book rather than going straight to film or straight to TV.”
“Bringing this book into publication has opened a lot of doors for me,” he said.
“It could take me anywhere basically.”
The launch was hosted by 101fm presenter Caroline Woodman, with Mr Wingate admitting he was nervous.
“But you know, I got through it. I got through it all.”
Among those recognising the milestone was Professor Tony Attwood, an internationally recognised autism specialist who first met Mr Wingate as a child.
Unable to attend, Professor Attwood sent a statement which was read to the audience.
“I first met Jason when he was 12 years old way back in 1995,” the statement said.
“One of the qualities of Jason is his imagination and creativity, and I know that he has been devoted to developing his independent entertainment brand called Cinetorium.”
Mr Wingate is already developing a sequel and hopes to use Cinetorium to establish a creative network combining film, music and live entertainment.
“My mission for Cinetorium is to build a creative community through entertainment and compassion,” he said.
His ultimate ambition is to create immersive experiences where audiences can step into his fictional worlds.
“You’re actually entering the world and you become part of the story,” he said.
For a boy who once struggled to find his place in the schoolyard, the chance to share those childhood adventures with readers marks a significant achievement.
And perhaps nobody captured that better than the psychologist who knew him as a child.
“I am so delighted to know that the little boy who I saw at 12 years old, is now a published author,” Professor Attwood said.
“Congratulations Jason.”
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