Lena, a fifteen-year-old girl with Down syndrome, is fascinated by sex and all the mystery that surrounds it, fertility, desire, and the mechanics of childbirth. Because of her inability to grasp the facts of sex, the desire for it envelops Lena like a cloud of unknowing. Everywhere she looks she sees sex. Her brother has a girlfriend who cannot keep her hands off him. The chicken’s egg she is caring as part of a dimly understood school project has a vague, but ominous sex life of its own. Daniel, the boy next door has changed from innocent neighbourhood playmate into the object of Lena’s desire.

The idea for Yolk began as a conversation between Cory Taylor and Stephen Lance about sexual identity. With the help of many families and collaboration with the Down Syndrome Associations, both in New South Wales and Queensland, Cory and Stephen drafted a script that centered around Lena and a book on sex.

writer / director: Stephen Lance
Stephen studied film and television at the Queensland University of Technology, before completing a law degree at the University of Sydney. EUSTICE SOLVES A PROBLEM was his first funded short film which garnered both national and international success at film festivals including Sydney, Palm Springs, Toronto and Seattle. YOLK Stephen’s latest work was funded by the AFC under the Short Film Fund. In 2003, Stephen and his business partner Damon Escott formed Head Pictures a film production company. The boys have been busy working on national ad campaigns, music clips and developing longer form projects.

actress: (Lena) Audrey O’Connor
This is Audrey O’Connor’s first professional acting role in a film. As a committed member of the Merrymakers Dance Group — an organisation assisting those with disabilities to connect with others through dance — Audrey is no stranger to performing. She recently performed in a concert at Brisbane City Hall cheered on by Australian icon Marcia Hines. Having caught the acting bug Audrey is keen to further her craft through acting workshops and gain as much experience as possible.

producer: Damon Escott