When young Muswellbrook based filmmaker Thomas Ryan decided to change direction from computer science to media production, it wasn’t the result of a single cinematic epiphany. “One day I just woke up and wanted to do filmmaking instead,” he laughs. “I think it started with game design—I loved the stories in those old Nintendo 64 games like Zelda and Star Fox. The graphics were limited, so the story had to carry everything. That stuck with me.”
That love of storytelling eventually led Thomas to the Horizons program—a Regional Arts NSW initiative for emerging creatives. “It was really exciting to see how many other people with similar goals and aspirations were living in regional places,” he says. “You normally associate creatives or studios with the city, but Horizons showed me there are so many different paths you can take without having to move.”
One of those paths led Thomas to Tin City—a unique shack settlement on the Stockton dunes. His short documentary, developed during university, went on to win Silver in the People’s Choice Award at the Short + Sweet Film Festival in Sydney (Heat 3, 2025). “It looked like something straight out of a movie,” he recalls. “The fact that people actually live there—not even an hour from where I was based—was just too interesting to turn down.”
Filming Tin City, Thomas remembers the moment the rest of the world disappeared. “It’s not necessarily in the middle of nowhere, but it feels like it. You drive along the beach and suddenly Tin City appears. The sand dunes were incredible—we tried to capture them, but you really have to be there. And the people! Some of the most down-to-earth I’ve ever met.”
The film’s warm reception at the festival helped validate his creative instincts. “It’s hard to know if you’re on the right track with something like that, even months later,” he says. “To hear people say they loved how the story unfolded—and that they really felt drawn into the world of Tin City—that was extremely gratifying.”
More recently, Thomas has been working as the videographer on Arts Upper Hunter’s program This Here Then Now, capturing the work of artists across the Upper Hunter as they respond to local stories and museum collections. “Every artist has their own unique voice and style,” he says. “It’s been great trying to balance the representation of the local stories and the artists’ approaches. I really want the videos to make you feel like you’re stepping into the room with them while they work, and also to give a taste of what the exhibitions were like in person.”
Thomas especially enjoyed documenting Helene Leane’s project in Dungog. “Her use of colour, the way she turned the story of a cash register into something so dynamic—that really resonated with me. It started as one object, but expanded into something much bigger. That mirrors my own creative process—things always start small and grow.”
Working regionally has also reaffirmed his appreciation for small-town stories. “It’s just fun to see how other artists interpret local history,” he says. “There are stories everywhere, and sometimes the most powerful ones come from places where the community is small, but strong.”
When asked about his creative process, Thomas is quick to laugh: “It’s not great! I usually have a thousand ideas going at once, but I keep a lot of notes. That helps. You also can’t be too precious—just get stuck in and keep it fun.”
Community is a recurring theme in his work. “Smaller communities hold things near and dear in a way you don’t see in cities. That closeness really interests me. But it’d be cool to explore the other side too—what happens when community breaks down.”
So what’s next? “I think I’m ready to dive back into narrative work,” Thomas says. “It’s been a while since I made something weird. I have plenty of ideas—just need to pick one and go for it.”
His advice for other young regional creatives? “Take notes, and keep it fun! Living regionally actually gives you a leg up. The stories and locations are all around you—you just have to start.”
AUH’s This Here Then Now project Thomas has been working on is supported by:
Image: Taken by Suzannah Jones.