AFTER MIDNIGHT

I met Chris Kennedy and John Hillcoat when we were drunk.

Everybody went to the Crystal Ballroom in St Kilda to listen to music, find parties and score drugs on Saturday nights, and I probably bumped into them there and then made the connection back at school.

I met Frank Trobbiani and David Last at Swinburne, two second year graphics students who introduced me to Matthew Gown. Frank and David lived near the railway bridge on Glenferrie Road, and Matthew lived alone at number 764 Glenferrie Road, an old Georgian era flat on the second floor above a very seedy op-shop, and next door to a very convenient pharmacy.

Matthew smoked Stuyvesants, drank milky tea and was also a second year design student. He asked me, "Do you think?" I instinctively replied "I think so." The following day I moved in with him to be closer to college and begin my new life.

I liked cigarettes and drinking so much that I kept a half-bottle of vodka in my top floor desk at school. During life drawing class we’d dash up the stairs, have a slug and the drawing always went very well.

In 1980 I had no career plan and no ideals. I finished second year and applied for the four year graphic design degree stream, which would place me in an advertising agency for twelve months of paid work experience.

I failed to secure a job position, and I felt disappointed but relieved, and uncertain what to do. The head of the graphic design department Bob Francis told me I could continue my degree by doing a year of freelance work from the college.

I thought graphic design was commercial and passé compared to making films, and I joined the gang of filmmakers on the night I told my film student acquaintances that the design students were having a Friday night party in the life drawing room.

I recall Chris and John came along, bringing their friend Paul Goldman. He got bored quickly and decided to raise the stakes. There was a fire hose in the stairwell. It was a warm night and a window was open into life drawing, and I remember there was music and dancing inside.

It was dark, and as John jammed the escape door shut, Paul and Chris grabbed the fire hose and I helped them poke it thru the open window and wedge it shut.

The valve was opened and the life drawing room was quickly flooded. Somebody kicked the door open, saturated design students escaping as water surged everywhere.

I looked in as fellow designer Peter Becker walked by with a knowing smile, a soggy cigarette held between his lips. It was raining, like a thunderstorm had broken inside and put all the lights out. I ran outside into the dark with Chris, Paul and John, and we hid beside the train line and drank stolen whisky.

That was the night Paul asked me what my favourite film was. I said, “Taxi Driver”.

When asked the same question, Paul’s reply was “Goldfinger”.

I went shoplifting with John, creating a distraction at the cash register as he stuffed his overcoat with armfuls of 12 inch record albums, so many he could barely fit out the shop door.

He got away with it more than once, but I didn't.