Days Like These
FEATURE SCREENPLAY
Set against drought-stricken rural Australia, Days Like These follows Johno, a stoic livestock agent whose life unravels when his wife walks out. A chaotic classic car rally becomes an unexpected journey of humour, healing and human connection.
A heartfelt Australian dramedy about masculinity, mental health and the courage to be vulnerable.
The Heart of the Story
When his wife walks out, stoic livestock agent Johno buries his grief in the one thing he can control: prepping his 1966 Jaguar Mark 10 for the Alpine Classic car rally. But when a respected local farmer takes his own life, the silence of the rural landscape becomes impossible to ignore.
Driving his beloved Jag with his damaged best mate Dave and the SHATTS — an unlikely crew of mental health survivors — Johno learns that recovery isn't a solitary road. It's found in the courage to be vulnerable, and the strength of a community that shows up once the dust finally settles.
Days Like These is heartbreaking, funny and ultimately uplifting — a deeply human Australian dramedy celebrating friendship, community and hope.
Why This Film Matters
Days Like These tackles the silent crisis of rural mental health and the myth of the stoic man without sentimentality. At a time when regional suicide rates demand honest storytelling, this film reframes vulnerability as the ultimate act of courage.
Central Themes
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Healing Through Community: Celebrating the life-changing power of connection and shared experience.
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Reclaiming Identity: The freedom to redefine oneself with honesty and purpose after old roles fall away.
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Hope After Loss: Discovering that renewal is possible even in the harshest seasons of life.
Stage to Screen-the Carpe Diem Legacy
Days Like These began as Carpe Diem, a touring stage play written in response to the alarming rate of suicide among farmers and the mental health crisis facing regional Australia. From 2015 to 2024, the play toured 135+ regional towns across NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT — reaching thousands and sparking vital conversations about mental health in the communities that needed them most.
Staged in partnership with Lifeline, RAMHP, StandBy, Carers NSW, Primary Health Networks and Headspace, Carpe Diem built a proven track record of audience engagement and community impact. Days Like These is the cinematic evolution of that decade-long journey.
John Wood as Johno and Chris Pidd as Nev (now Dave) in Carpe Diem,
Mental Health Support Partners
John and Chris with Jason Paige (tech) and Sandi Mc Naughon (Carers NSW) who facilitated 27 shows in the New England Shire, NSW.
Mental Health Support Partners
John and Chris with Merilyn Limbrick and Helen Sheather (RAMHP) on the highly successful 16 show tour of the Murrumbidgee tour.
Mental Health Support Partners
John Voce and Grant Piro with Tracey Wanganeen (StandBy) on SA tour
John Wood, Megan and Chris in Ballarat for Mars Factory Shows.
JJoJohn
135 Towns, Venues and Audiences across NSW, Victoria, SA and ACT.
The Shows
The Actors
The Q+A
Honouring the Community and Creative Partners Who Built This
My deepest gratitude to John Wood for twelve years of mentorship and brilliance, and to Chris Rigoni for being my greatest support. Heartfelt thanks to our dedicated ensemble of actors and expert technical crew; our vital mental health partners and the regional audiences across NSW, VIC, QLD, and the ACT who embraced this journey.
In loving memory of Chris Thompson—friend, mentor and dramaturg.
Professional & Community Voices
"A powerful script that captures the heart of rural Australia and the quiet battles men fight every day."
John Wood, Actor & Mental Health Advocate
"Reframing vulnerability as courage is vital. This work opens that door in a way that feels real and hopeful."
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"Hits the target perfectly. Keep this going!
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" Such a vital and powerful message."
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"Fantastic! It reminded me of the importance of opening up to others ."
Dr Nancy White, Rural Mental Health Researcher
Featured on WIN News Riverina, 10 News Adelaide and briefly on Australian Story.
About Megan Young Rigoni
Award-Winning Vision
Megan Young Rigoni is an award-winning Australian playwright, screenwriter and producer whose work blends creativity with social purpose. Her character-driven stories, rooted in resilience and hope, are built to create authentic emotional connection with audiences everywhere.
Her acclaimed play Carpe Diem toured extensively across regional Australia, winning the 2016 NSW Government Partnership Award for its impact on rural mental health. That journey through regional communities directly inspired the creation of Days Like These.
Megan lives in Victoria's Alpine region and remains deeply committed to stories of hope, vulnerability and connection.
Selected Awards for Days Like These
⭐New York Screenplay Competition 2024 – Best Female Screenwriter
⭐Best Script Awards London 2021– Best Australian Script
⭐Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival (Los Angeles) 2026 – Jury Award for Outstanding Writing
Additional Recognition
Melbourne International Screenplay Awards – Finalist
Oxford Script Awards – Official Selection
Hollywood International Indie Screenplay & Film Awards – Official Selection
Community Impact
⭐2016 NSW Government Partnership Award for Carpe Diem Mental Health and RAMHP, recognising outstanding contribution to rural mental health awareness and community engagement.