Strawberry fields forever... Camera man Richard Bell has captured Redlands strawberry farmer Errol Perry in a documentary about being an interesting Queenslander. Photo by Chris McCormack
THE Redlands' strawberry fields will forever be preserved in film after a documentary crew became hooked on a story from the Bayside Bulletin website.
Tranquillity Park strawberry farm owner Errol Perry will star in the short film, which tells the tale of the farm and a life spent on strawberries.
Documentary filmmaker Alex Podger said he searched throughout Queensland to find a lead character but found what he was looking for on the Bayside Bulletin website.
"We were searching for colourful people to make a documentary about. The idea of the documentary is about celebrating a really fascinating Queenslander," Alex said.
"We looked at a number of people, but it was Errol's passion about local issues like revitalising the (Redlands) Strawberry Queen Ball.
"He was a wonderful person to work with and was such a great character. The whole idea behind it is that the film is fun. Errol definitely brought that."
The film is yet to be named, but Alex said producer Tim Marshall had started editing the film in Melbourne.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing the final product. I think there would be a lot of people who would like to see it," he said.
"It's going to be a three or four minute film, but we will also enter it into short film circuit."
Errol said the film told the human story of a life spent looking through strawberry-coloured glasses.
"It's a goal of mine to keep alive the memory of the strawberry festival, which involved the entire community and ran for nearly 50 years," he said.
"I didn't know it was going to be more of a personal documentary, and if I did know I would have planned something.
"They told me I was chosen for the documentary because I was a unique and interesting person."
Alex said one of the highlights was seeing Errol sitting atop the Strawberry Queen throne.
"It was a massive throne, and we got him to sit on it. It was great; I think he'll love the film," he said.
The film will be released online later in the year.