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Lights! Camera! Rhyme Time!


Chris Van Ingen and William McInnes on set of Rhyme Time
Photo credit: Charlie Kinross
 For regular readers of this blog it is no secret that acting is my life, and my life is acting. I can now share with you a joyful experience I had shooting a film called Rhyme Time.

Rhyme Time is a thought provoking, sweet comedy about an old school librarian coming to terms with an ever changing modern world. 

Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to be billed alongside great casts such as Rachel Griffiths, Claudia Karvan, and Matt Nable to name a few. 

Rhyme Time continues my blessed luck working with Australian legends such as William McInnes from Blue Heelers, Sea Change, and NCIS Sydney fame. William is joined by Emily Havea best known for her work in Wentworth. The cast was rounded out by an amazing group of adorable and rambunctious children that completely stole the show and made the final act of the film one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Lastly I had the opportunity to play the role of librarian Gary. 

The film was the brainchild of writer director Dean Bryant and was produced by Elise McCann. 

For me it was awe inspiring watching William McInnes work on set and flat out poignant to see his performance in the finished product. 

From a personal perspective I loved working with Dean, Elise, and the cast because it was one of the few opportunities I have had in my acting career where my disability wasn't mentioned as part of the character. I was just another one of the changes in the modern world. 

Rhyme Time is now live on YouTube and will hopefully be appearing on a US streaming service later in the year. 



Time Capsule


Isn't it funny how a library full of books and an actor on screen create a time capsule.

The world outside might be modern but we are still able to remember what we feel.

The stories in the book and my smiling face might change but to the imagination it's still real.

There is an ever creeping internal rhyme to the passing of time.


In the magical world that is a library, my wheelchair doesn't matter.

All we need to do is listen to the whispers as the characters roam and clatter.

The poets bamboozle us with rhyme after rhyme.

I dream of Shakespearean monologues that mountains of actors try to climb.


I stalk the aisles with hipster irony;

It is through the library that I'm able to be the truthful version of me.

So when the book is shut or the director yells cut,

I say 'but please give me the chance for one more line. 

I'm not asking a crime, I'm just asking for more Rhyme Time.'


Chris Van Ingen | 19 August 2024

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