Toprock Productions

14/02/2026

“What a powerful, intimate and heartfelt film this was; it achieved so much in 7mins that many blockbuster films attempt over 90mins. Bravo to the all involved in this film! We need more stories like this on film!” -JeremyYam-p8f-

“Growing up I’ve heard of these stories from my grandmother who had to pretend to be a man to protect themselves and this short film was an impeccable depiction of history brought to life. Well done to all the actors and producers - this should be a long film block buster!” -juzzyoh-

Meet Taysha McFarland, who is the director, writer and producer:
Taysha is a multi-award-winning producer, director, writer, and founder of Toprock Productions. She produced the AACTA-nominated short Jia and co-directed the Screen Australia’s Skip Ahead 8 comedy web series Life of Kea. Both were nominated at the 38th Annual Screen Producers Australia Awards, with Jia winning in its category. Her producing credits also include Eating the Other (Flickerfest 2023), SPIRAL (2025), and the 2024 AACTA Pitch: Focus-winning project Alter. As a recipient of the Berry Family Fellowship and AIDC’s Leading Lights Program, Taysha is working on her debut documentary, Unheard Memoirs from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. She has also received awards for Best Director for her films Zarephath and Hear Me.

It’s the last day for the Tropfest Wildcard Short Film Competition!

But it’s not too late, you can still support our film by:
1. Watching our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

WATCH BLUE ORCHIDS HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Competition will end today, Saturday 14th February!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

13/02/2026

“A deeply moving film that brings a dark chapter of history to the screen with honesty and care. The storytelling and performances make it even more impactful.” -eirlys0910-

“A truly marvelous historical short. Incredible cast performances, stunning photography, and breathtaking scenery that pull you straight into another time. The setting feels authentic, the editing is sharp and seamless, and every frame is crafted with care. Powerful storytelling, beautiful visuals, and impressive technical skill all come together to make this a standout piece. Absolutely worth watching.” -YuanTan-c7i-

Meet Tristan Braines, who is the producer:
Tristan is a Melbourne-based film producer, writer and director, and co-founder of Toprock Productions, established after completing courses from Swinburne and VCA. His work includes multiple Audience Choice–winning 48 Hour Film Project films, the mental health short If Only, and the web series Life of Kea, produced through Screen Australiaand YouTube’s Skip Ahead 8 initiative, with over 8 million views. His 2024 short “Last Call” was a top film at Filmapalooza in Seattle and screened at Cannes Short Film Corner 2025. He is currently developing Life of Kea as a feature film alongside a new web series, Boba Bing.

It’s the last day for the Tropfest Wildcard Short Film Competition!

But it’s not too late, you can still support our film by:
1. Watching our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

WATCH BLUE ORCHIDS HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Competition will end today, Saturday 14th February!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

13/02/2026

“Thank you for showcasing these kinds of stories that aren't often told.” -adamsalyce-

“What a powerful and meaningful film and thank you for being the voice of lots of unheard and untold stories.” -suryaniesuryanie1785-

Meet Victoria Lincoln, who is associate producer:
Victoria is an emerging screenwriter and producer recently graduated from the VCA with a BFA in Screenwriting and is currently based in Melbourne. Victoria has worked as a note-taker in numerous writers rooms including a series produced by Good Things Productions; ‘Polysaturated’ & ‘Loved Up’ created by Michelle Offen & Trudy Hellier, and documentary ‘Time On Our Side’ by Chris Luscri. Her short sci-fi romance script ‘Over’ recently received a quarter finalist placement in Filmmatics Inroads Fellowship. She is currently in early stages of developing web series ‘Smellbourne’ and producing a q***r satirical short film ‘SOYBOY’ directed by Moo Renzaho.

Only 1 day left to Wildcard Tropfest Short Film Competition!

But it’s not too late! You can still support our film by:
1. Watching our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

WATCH BLUE ORCHIDS HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Competition will end tomorrow, Saturday 14th February!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

12/02/2026

“Blue Orchids is such a moving and important film. It beautifully reflects the quiet strength, resilience, and layered history of Malaysia. Stories like this deserve to be seen and supported — they preserve our heritage and amplify Asian voices through art.” -dorothyng3233-

Meet Chan Lee, who is a producer and BTS photographer:
Chan Lee is an Australian born Malaysian Chinese based in Melbourne. She studied Finance at Monash University and has worked in the tech industry for the last decade. Since 2022, Chan has been involved in multiple short film productions including writing, directing and producing her own short film Period (2025) - a coming of age story about a Malaysian Chinese teenager surviving a school day on her period. Recently, she was one of the writers to take part in a writers room developing a web series set in Footscray with showrunner Osamah Sami.

Only 1 day left to Wildcard Tropfest Short Film Competition!

But it’s not too late, you can still support our film by:
1. Watching our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

WATCH BLUE ORCHIDS HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Competition will end tomorrow, Saturday 14th February!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

12/02/2026

Only 2 days left before the Tropfest Wildcard competition closes!

To celebrate Tropfest and our film Blue Orchids, we’ve curated a playlist of some our favourite Tropfest films from the previous years. Find the playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElYADYOvDD4&list=PL6sA8pN9TBCElREFyo82WBDSe8CJ94d8H

You’ll naturally find Blue Orchids at the top of the list, and it’s not too late, you can still support our film in the Wildcard competition by:
1. Watching our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

Competition will end Saturday 14th February!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

This film is part of the Tropfest YouTube Wildcard Competition, vying for the final spot in the top 16 Tropfest 2026 Finalists! Please engage to help it succ...

11/02/2026

No prisoners were harmed in the making of our film. We promise!

See? You can tell by how happy they are here.

Btw, there are only 2 days left to vote for our film for Tropfest! So make sure to get in now and make your vote count, so we can share our special film with more people.

Whether we win the wildcard position or not, each watch, like and comment tells YouTube that 'Blue Orchids' is worth watching and will put it in front of other potential viewers. (It's all an algorithm game.)

To vote for us, please:
1. Watch our film until the end (7mins)
2. Like and leave a meaningful comment
3. Share it around with your circle of people and ask them to do the same

Judging is based on viewer engagement and not just views alone, so likes and comments matter.

Watch our film on the link below. (Link is also in bio)
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=92-THOh49Ug_zV7H

11/02/2026

Meet our Kempeitai soldiers! The Kempeitai were the Japanese Imperial Army police, who would torture, interrogate suspects, monitor civilians, and suppress anti-Japanese movements. Who better to portray these characters than these absolutely lovely people: Elvis Tran, Shin Hara, Blake Ou and Danny Park.

There are only a few days left to get your votes in for our short film, Blue Orchids. We can't believe we've come this far and are so close to the finals. Each view, like and comment counts as vote, so please don't hesitate, just jump on now and show us some love ❤

Here's the link to Blue Orchids - don't forget you need to watch until the end (7mins), like and comment. 😊

https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=92-THOh49Ug_zV7H

(link also in bio)

10/02/2026

“Beautiful cinematography. I teared up at the end” -salmaramliii-

“Great cinematography!! Really good story. I like how well time was used” -liviamataazocar5260-

“What an important story to share. I love the colour grading of the film as well. Amazing work!” -yerutham-

Meet Nicholson Ren, who is the Director of Photography:
Nicholson Ren is a Malaysian-Australian Cinematographer and Producer based in Melbourne. He studied accounting and finance at Melbourne University but began his career in the film industry immediately after graduation. His work is primarily in narrative fiction forms with a focus on cinema. In 2023 his short film Jia with long time collaborator Vee Shi was nominated for an AACTA Award and has screened in over 30 film festivals internationally while also winning multiple national awards. While in-between personal projects he has also been part of the Camera and Video Team on studio projects such as La Brea (2021-2022), Ricky Stanicky (2023) and Better Man (2024).

We are in the top 25 films for 2026, but we need your help to get the 16th spot as a Wildcard Finalist! It’s very easy to help! All you need to do is:
1. Watch our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

The voting is not based on how many views we get, but on video engagement, which is why comments and likes are so important.

The competition will end this Saturday 14th February!

WATCH FILM HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

09/02/2026

“Powerful and moving short film - Sasha’s portrayal as the mother is so authentic and heartfelt.” - natachayabre-

“One of the best short films that I have ever watched. Great job to all and well done. The lead actress was fantastic, classic and demure.” - yimkamling2421-

Meet Sasha Leong, who plays Mei Lan:
Sasha Leong, born in Ipoh, Malaysia and based in Melbourne, is an actor who has trained extensively with coaches across Australia and the USA. Her recent screen credits include lead roles in Blue Orchids (2025), The Unshakable Destiny: Reprise / 迴 (2024) and Some Company (2022), as well as co-lead in Dark Arcadia (2024) and series regular roles in Kea’s Life(2022) and Life of Kea Season One (2023). Her stage work includes Grave Issues, Flesh Disease, Shadowfall, Ken’s Quest and Dear Mama, There’s Something Maybe I Should Tell You. Fluent in Malay and conversational Cantonese, Sasha also enjoys travelling, dancing, and long nature walks.

We are in the top 25 films for 2026, but we need your help to get the 16th spot as a Wildcard Finalist! It’s very easy to help! All you need to do is:
1. Watch our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

The voting is not based on how many views we get, but on video engagement, which is why comments and likes are so important. ☺️

The competition will end this Saturday 14th February!

WATCH & SUPPORT FILM HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

09/02/2026

“The actors are exceptionally talented and bring the story to life in such a powerful way” -ginnietan3107-

“Amazing work to the whole cast for their stunning performances! Loved it!!” -karinasorelli-

Meet Enoch Li, who plays Poh Shi:
Enoch Li is a Chinese actor from Hong Kong, now based in Australia, with formal training across Australia and the United States. His most notable credit to date is starring as the lead in the world’s first English-language production of “I, Me, She, Him” by renowned playwright Stan Lai. Enoch’s screen work includes ARCHIE AI – Crime Dog (dir. Stephen Peters), The Invisibles Season 2 (dir. Dave Wallace) and Blue Orchids (dir. Taysha McFarland). He has trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York, Screenwise Sydney, and the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (JMC), completing an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media (Acting). Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, Enoch brings a grounded, cross-cultural perspective to both stage and screen.

We are in the top 25 films for 2026, but we need your help to get the 16th spot as a Wildcard Finalist! It’s very easy to help! All you need to do is:
1. Watch our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

The voting is not based on how many views we get, but on video engagement, which is why comments and likes are so important. ☺️

The competition will end this Saturday 14th February!

WATCH FILM HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

09/02/2026

“The actors are exceptionally talented especially the little girl in the story.” -vacationphysiomom-

“Now THIS… is great! Plus those actors are incredible especially the child actor!” -majorax21-

“Brought me to tears with what the little girl’s saying at the end. An incredible short film with so much to tell.” -lynlynl2886-

Meet Amelia Franke, who plays Sau Chun:
Amelia is a 6-year-old Australian actor with a Malaysian roots. She is a natural on screen, with a warm and expressive presence that translates easily across film and commercial work. She has appeared in multiple TVCs, including campaigns for the Melbourne International Film Festival and alongside Curtis Stone, bringing confidence, focus, and authenticity to every role. In addition to acting, Amelia is an experienced model with a strong on-camera presence, comfortable on set and quick to follow direction.

We are in the top 25 films for 2026, but we need your help to get the 16th spot as a Wildcard Finalist! It’s very easy to help! All you need to do is:
1. Watch our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same

The voting is not based on how many views we get, but on video engagement, which is why comments and likes are so important.

The competition will end this Saturday 14th February!

WATCH FILM HERE:
https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=aHf6RKtyy95Kdvcj

Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support 🥰

08/02/2026

"Commanding acting all around! The Japanese officer brought a level of menace that felt truly authentic. Watching that 'evil' slowly disrupt a peaceful way of life was difficult to watch and the tension in each scene was palpable. Would love to see this as a feature!" - CandiceBuchanan-u9p

"Wow Shin what a fantastic actor, you played really well and well done. You all took my breath away n I am very proud of you shin ❤" - nilamarcon3657

Meet Shin Hara, who plays Kempeitai Taichō.
Shinichiro Hara (Shin) is a Melbourne-based, bilingual (Japanese/English) actor trained in the US, Japan and Australia, bringing grounded authenticity and international life experience to character-driven screen work.

We are in the top 25 films for 2026, but we need your help to get the 16th spot as a Wildcard Finalist!

It’s very easy to help! All you need to do is:
1. Watch our film from start to finish
2. Like and leave a comment on the video
3. If you can, share it with your family and friends and ask them to do the same, please 🙏

The voting is not based on how many views we get but on video engagement, which is why comments and likes are so important.

Thank you so much everyone, y'all are the best!

https://youtu.be/ElYADYOvDD4?si=SAO03lY2p5svPAra