This is a short excerpt from the feature film in post-production - Apna Ghar. We plan to have the completed film ready for screening in the next couple of months but in the meantime wanted to share a little taster of the project.
The film charts the work of Ravi Rai Manas and his organisation, Children of Mother Earth. CoME works with destitute children and families living in abject poverty along the vast network of railway lines in northern India. Many of the children in this film have been forced to beg, steal or been sold as slaves to survive in a country that boasts a strong economy and rapidly growing middle class but still has little ability to care for its most vulnerable.
From the Ground UP
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hanging out on the Murray Arts Inspiring Science project, 'From The Ground UP'. Exploring the interplay between cutting edge science and art the project began in the gentle world of botany and ended in the tech world of 3D printing. Another successful, fun, inspiring Murray Arts project laced with beautiful images.
An Australian/Afghan Wedding - excerpt from feature documentary ANTHEM.
An excerpt from feature documentary, ANTHEM. This is an age old story of two people in love. Dallas, an Australian law student married Zabi, an Afghan refugee in the backyard of Kate Durham and Julian Burnside QC. Just months before Julian had been in the High Court fighting for Zabi's right to seek asylum in Australia during the infamous Tampa court hearings. At the same time Zabi was being held, with hundreds of others, on a freighter at sea. Innocent victims of domestic politics.
This simple moment of two people declaring their love for one another sweeps aside all the fear mongering and falsehoods. This is what is actually possible.
Over the years of filming Anthem we were invited us into so many heart-filled, private moments - it was humbling to take the journey with so many heroic people.
SIEV X excerpt from feature documentary ANTHEM.
WARNING: Distressing images
I have filmed much sadness and desperation, I have interviewed many broken, hurt people but I still believe the toughest interview I ever conducted was with SIEV X survivor Sondus. Asking this gentle mother to describe her loss and grief over the drowning of her 3 little girls while I filmed her was one of the hardest things I've done.
This excerpt is from feature documentary ANTHEM. It tells the story of the infamous SIEV X, a refugee boat that sank off the coast of Australia drowning 353 men women and children. This clip contains footage of survivors describing that fatal boat journey and analysis of what went on behind the scenes.
Filmed 14 years ago the stories contained in this clip are now being repeated across the globe as Europe struggles with unprecedented numbers of desperate refugees arriving on its shores.
ANZAC film tells the story of Wodonga during World War One
A century has passed since Australia entered World War 1 as a young nation still forging its identity. Wodonga, like many rural communities, sacrificed hundreds of young men to a war whose toll was to be beyond what anyone had imagined.
In Homefront Stories community members and local historians share stories of both the men who left to fight in the 'Great War' and the families who waited for them on the Homefront.
Click on the image above, or this link to watch the film
ANZAC film to screen at Wodonga Cube April 25th
The last few months Nomad Films has been gathering the stories of local community members whose sons, brothers and fathers served in the first world war. 100 years on the impact of the war on these families still carries a strong emotional narrative that is both poignant and powerful. The completed short film 'Homefront Stories' will screen on ANZAC day 9pm at Wodonga Cube.
The Prime News interview about the film can be viewed here
Filming in India, 2015
January this year I had the privilege of returning to India to again document the work of Children of Mother Earth with children and families living in slums near the railways and in poverty stricken villages. The work of Ravi and his team is the most holistic, heart-wise and visionary NGO work I have ever had the honour of documenting. As the second most populous country on earth and with some of the most extreme poverty in the world life in an Indian slum is extremely precarious. It is into this world that Ravi and his team venture every day walking a delicate balance of care, support and empowerment.
CoME homes now provide housing, education, emotional support and materials needs over 200 children who were either living on the railways or whose families, too poor to care for their own child, have asked CoME to provide a home instead.
My job now is to turn the hours of footage we returned with into a document that will provide CoME with a tool to build more support for for its work. A daunting yet exciting challenge.
Borderville - Celebrating 35 years of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus
Borderville was a weekend of circus, performance and art to mark 35 years of the world- famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus and their home on the Border.
Nomad Films was excited, honoured (and a little bit overwhelmed!) to be asked to capture and edit a weekend's showcase of some of the best circus, vaudeville, art and theatre performance in the country,all of which came together to celebrate the story of Australia’s most successful cultural community development project with exclusive shows and exhibitions over the first weekend of October, 2014.
Stuffing 35 years of excellence into 16 minutes of video made for an action packed documentary.
The video can be viewed here
'Torn Apart' documentary now available for online viewing
Torn Apart, an ‘up close and personal’ documentary looking into the heartbreaking territory of family separation is now available for online viewing.
Six people, all primary carers of their children, candidly share their experiences of traversing the minefield that is family breakdown. Their stories paint a raw and honest picture of the impact on lives when parents separate. Their strength, resilience and ability to use resources and supports comes through loud and clear but it is the trauma, shock upheaval and losses which leave a powerful and lasting impact on both parent and children.
The full documentary can be viewed here
Nomad Films to partner with Children of Mother Earth, India
Nomad Films is very excited to announce that in early 2015 we will once again head to Northern India to film the ongoing work of Children of Mother Earth(CoME) with India's 'Railway children'. Eight years ago Helen, together with fellow filmmaker Annette Walton, travelled to India to document the work of Ravi Rai and his organisation CoME. What we found was an inspiring story of selfless love and caring.
Every day thousands of children arrive at one of India's myriad railway stations in an attempt to make a new home for themselves. Instead most are immediately drawn into a life of exploitation, violence and substance abuse. In the years since Annette and Helen were filming Ravi's work CoME has further developed it's compassionate and wise model for creating positive change. Many of the former 'Railway Children' who most likely had no future have instead successfully become literate, graduated high school, gained vocational training, studied at tertiary levels, married and had children of their own. In short Ravi and CoME have given them futures.
We will keep you posted as filming and editing progresses.
Voice of America radio interview - India's Railway Children
A couple weeks ago I recorded an interview with Voice of America radio talking about the lives of railway children in India and the amazing work being done by Children of Mother Earth (CoME). Several years ago my filmmaker friend, Annette Walton, and I travelled to India to document this work and were so touched by the wonderful balance of caring for the physical and emotional needs of up to 200 children in 5 different homes.
CoME takes impoverished street-children into homes and provides them with food, medical treatment, emotional support, education and a beautiful family of loving brothers and sisters. It was an honour and delight to document this wonderful work and great to have a chance to promote it again all these years later.
You can listen to the interview on Voice of America here
'Wonderland' - The Flying Fruit Fly Circus
On a chilly night in June The Flying Fruit Fly Circus bought the magic of 'Wonderland' to life in an exclusive performance for the Albury Tigers Football and Netball Club's Fundraising Ball 2014. A night full of fantastic skills, and whimsical fantasy, it had the audience enthralled from beginning to end. Well done yet again Fruities!
You can watch a short clip of the night's fun here.
Best ever thank you note!
For the past two years I have worked on several short films documenting the stories of lung cancer survivors and their families, including Archie Roach's powerful story. This wonderful project, 'Let's Yarn' was co-ordinated by the Lung Foundation Australia and has now finally come to an end. It was so heart warming to receive this thank you note in the mail which reminds me how important my 'heart' is to my work.
For those of you in Albury, Archie Roach will be playing at the SS&A Club 9pm this Friday night (July 25th) where the documentary 'Archie Roach - Surviving Lung Cancer' will be launched.
"Emporium" exhibition now open at Albury LibraryMuseum
The Emporium exhibition at Albury's Library Museum opened on Sunday July 21 and will be exhibiting the timeless glamour of iconic SM Abikhair's department store for the next three weeks before touring regional Australia. The exhibition brings to life the emergence of department stores in response to a rise in consumer wealth, the evolution of shopping as a pass time and the changing role of women from homemaker to shopper and glamorous housewife.
Watch the short film "Emporium" here
Emporium - The Rise of the Department Store
I've just finished filming and editing a wonderfully fun and interesting project , " Emporium - The Rise of the Department Store" in preparation for AlburyCity's exhibition of the treasure trove of goods from local iconic department store, SM Abikhair's. The Emporium exhibition brings the glamour of SM Abikhair's store back to life, telling stories that connect to the everyday and our consumer heritage.
Exhibition dates and details are here.
Archie Roach - Surviving lung cancer
A few months back I filmed Archie Roach as he spoke of his journey surviving lung cancer. His gentle wisdom was so compelling as he shared his many fears, days of frustration during his rehabilitation and his new way of understanding and celebrating his life.
The film can be viewed here
Interview with ABC radio
Earlier this week, as part of Refugee Week I was interviewed by ABC radio host Bronwen O'Shea about my filmmaking work with refugees. Thank you ABC for the opportunity to share some of the experiences and stories that so many refugees have generously shared with me.
Link to the interview on the ABC Radio website is here
Or you can listen to the interview here
Nomad Films featured in Border Mail
New Website is live!
I've finally completed overhauling Nomad FIlms website. What renewed respect I have for my dear friend and web-mistress of so many years, Lou! After many hours trawling through old footage, wrestling with what is actually a very simple web template and discovering forgotten treasure (which always needed reformatting-argh!) I came to the conclusion that this process should not be undertaken too regularly. However, like editing a film, the possibilities of playing with images are endless and I'm sure I'll be back soon to continue the tweeking. In the meantime take a wander and let me know if you find any typos ;)
Short film, 'Yaritji' to screen at Regent Cinema, Albury
On Thursday, February 13 short film 'Yaritji' will screen at the Regent cinema Albury. 'Yaritji' is a shadow play interpretation of the story of indigenous leader, Aunty Avis' life from being taken from her family at 6 days old, raised in the harsh conditions of a church home and her eventual reconnection with her tribe. The screening is part of a bigger event launching a documentary about the journey of Stolen Generation survivors seeking re-connection with family and culture.
UPDATE: 'Yaritji' is also to screen at Albury/Wodonga's Cinema Under the Stars on Saturday February 15