Island Life (Australian franchise)

Island Life AU (or simply Island Life) is an Australian franchise made by Sam Wilkes Sr. since 2020. The series primarily focuses on Sam Wilkes Sr., a bad-tempered but good-hearted cameraman, who runs away to Russell Island after losing one family member to suicide and another family member succumbing to a major stroke, resulting in him filming his day-to-day survival on Russell Island. It includes a camcorder filmed movie *Psycho Dad: The Movie 8* (2021) & two phone-filmed movies: *Island Life Movie - Swell Sculpture Festival* (2023) and *Island Life Movie - Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk* (2024) and a daily filmed YouTube series *Island Life* (2020 - Present Day). In August 2023, he stated that he is solely focusing on his YouTube series. He has also announced that he will be ending the Island Life franchise in November 2025.

## Films

### Psycho Dad: The Movie 8 (2021)

Psycho Dad, an angry fisherman, is cast netting for prawns but is not having much luck with the other island boaties at Macleay-Karragarra Island channel. One of them notices he isn't having much luck and gives him prawns they caught already and he thanks them. Psycho Dad does attempt several times after this to cast net for more prawns but to no avail. He soon returns back to the car with the cameraman as the two drive down to the south side of Russell Island.

Wilkes and Wilkes Sr. reprised their roles from Psycho Dad: The Movie 7. This is the final film in the Psycho Dad franchise. In 2023, Wilkes Sr. has announced that Psycho Dad: The Movie 8 has no place in the Island Life franchise and had divested it from the Island Life franchise, keeping it in the Psycho Dad film franchise.

### Island Life Movie - Swell Sculpture Festival (2023)

Island Life Movie - Swell Sculpture Festival is a standalone film separated from the Psycho Dad films.

Cameraman, who filmed Psycho Dad: The Movie 8, is back to reveal 65 different sculptures at Currumbin Beach. Starting with a walk to the passenger ferry terminal, he gets to Redland Bay and disembarks with the other passengers. With two different cars on the road, he is in one of the cars with his friend while the others are in another car with another of the Cameraman's friends. These two make their way down to Currumbin for the festival. He then displays all 65 sculptures. This was edited to be listed in order displaying all 65 sculptures. Additional footage of the bush turkey in the nearby park is also included as well as the walk back to the ferry terminal at the Redland Bay Marina and the arrival at Russell Island where the cameraman walks to IGA.

Wilkes Sr. is the only actor that reprised his role as he had no plans to reunite the cast from the previous Psycho Dad films. As it is a standalone film separated from the earlier Psycho Dad films, Wilkes Sr. has said that it is not feasible to have crossover characters in both films.

### Island Life Movie - Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk (possibly 2024)

Cameraman (Sam Wilkes Sr.), who filmed the Swell Sculpture Festival, came to film the rainforest skywalk. Starting with a walk to the new passenger ferry terminal, arriving at Redland Bay, disembarking with the others. The Bearded Dragon at the Tamborine township is revealed and then the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is shown and the walk with some checkpoints to reveal important info in regards about the rainforest attraction. He then reveals the variety of trees and all sorts of plantation all around it as he walks the track. Following the walk, he reveals the different butterflies, beetles and various other bush bugs as well as some originating from overseas locations. He then walks back to Redland Bay Marina from the marina car park and disembarks at Russell Island Ferry Terminal, walking up to the office of his extended family before concluding the film. The film is expected to start editing later in 2023 with an early 2024 release. This would be his final film as well as the final in the Island Life franchise.

As was the case with the Swell Sculpture Festival film, Wilkes Sr. was the only actor to reprise his role with additional voices voiced by various people from his extended island family.

## The Two Films and Scrapping Future Films

Island Life films

In 2023, Wilkes Sr. was interested in making more Island Life films but briefly halted producing Island Life movies due to his ongoing health problems including his amnesia-related issues that he had been battling for the past five years (it was later revealed that his autism had advanced to the point where it arises to this issue). In May 2023, he was ready to make future Island Life movies for as long as Island Life remains active but he would have to rely on info signage as his amnesia-related issues (connected to his autism diagnosis) continue to progress further. In August 2023, he has stated that he will be taking a break from making all movies (including Island Life movies) as he is very busy with the main Island Life series. He has later announced that he is ending the Island Life franchise in November 2025, therefore assigning the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk as the final Island Life film. This is the end of the road for the Island Life movies.