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7 INSPIRING INDIGENOUS SHORT FILMS
DVD available for purchase through Flickerfest
http://www.flickerfest.com.au
[email protected]
A S T U D Y G U I D E b y K at y m a r r i n e r
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
http://www.theeducationshop.com.au
The New Black
This study guide to
accompany The New Black,
has been written for upper
primary and secondary
students. It provides
information and suggestions
for learning activities in English,
History, Literature, Media and
curriculum projects exploring
the culture and concerns
of Indigenous Australia.
The New Black is rated PG.
Teachers should preview the
films before showing them
to students. The subjects
and themes of Ralph, The
Farm and Aunty Maggie and
The Womba Wakgun would
appeal to students in Grades
5 and 6. All seven films
are suitable for secondary
students at all levels.
SCREEN EDUCATION
The New Black (2009) is a
series of seven short films
made by Indigenous writers,
directors and producers. The
series is an initiative of the
Indigenous Department of
Screen Australia, in association
with the ABC, New South
Wales Film and Television
Office and the Pacific Film and
Television Commission.
2
Introducing the films
Ralph
The Farm
The Party Shoes
Jacob
»» Drama
»» Drama
»» Drama
»» Drama
»» 10 minutes
»» 11 minutes
»» 11 minutes
»» 12 minutes
»» Writer / director:
Deborah Mailman
»» Writer / director:
Romaine Moreton
»» Writer / director:
Michelle Blanchard
»» Writer / director:
Dena Curtis
»» Co-Writer: Wayne Blair
»» Producer:
John Harvey
»» Producers: Darren Dale
and Rhea Stephenson
»» Producers: Darren Dale
and Rhea Stephenson
»» Olivia longs to know the
people who came before
her, in a place filled with
mystery and wonder. Her
mother Lauren, concerned
with what her daughter
might discover, is forced
to come to terms with her
own history and truths.
»» In an attempt to rid her
mother of sadness, tenyear-old Jenny devises a
plan that will hopefully make
her mother happy. When
her mother discovers that
the plan involves stealing
letters from the neighbours,
she is forced to make some
changes in their life.
»» George and Milly and Max
and Gina live on a small
station in the middle of the
outback. While George and
Max are away fencing, Max
receives news that Gina
has given birth to their son
Jacob. Four months later
George and Max return
home. Max is thrilled at the
prospect of father meeting
son for the first time but
the joyous occasion soon
turns to disillusionment
as he realises Jacob
is not his child.
»» Producer: Jessie Mangum
»» For ten-year-old Madeline,
it takes more than just
dreaming to survive
school; it takes a friend.
Nia’s Melancholy
Bourke Boy
»» Drama
»» Drama
»» 11 minutes
»» 11 minutes
»» Drama
»» Writer / director:
SF Tusa
»» Writer / director:
Adrian Wills
»» 11 minutes
»» Producer:
Andrew Arbuthnot
»» Producer:
Kath Shelper and
Anusha Duray
»» A young Yalanji girl
witnesses her sister’s
suicide. This is the tale
of her descent into
melancholy and her
journey of redemption.
»» A father and his adopted
troubled teenage son
take a trip to the son’s
birthplace of Bourke,
where they try to find the
right words to say to each
other before it’s too late.
Aunty Maggie and
The Womba Wakgun
»» Director: Leah Purcell
»» Writer: Angelina Hurley
»» Producers: Bain Stewart
and Lisa Duff
SCREEN EDUCATION
»» Aunty Maggie and Uncle Peter
struggle to feed their three
nephews. The arrival of some
chickens provides a new food
source … Eggs! When the
new rooster becomes more
of a headache and nearly
dies, Aunty Maggie’s quick
thinking shocks the family
and makes her famous.
3
The New Black
»» Have you ever heard anyone
referring to something as
being ‘the new black’?
‘The new black’ is often a reference
point in the world of fashion, for
example ‘grey is the new black’
or ‘brown is the new black’.
Why do you think the series
is titled The New Black?
»» Did you enjoy watching The
New Black? Which film did
you enjoy the most? Why?
Write a review of The New Black
that makes reference to the
individual films in the series.
Your review should offer information
about the series and your
evaluation of the series’ worth.
Your review should begin with a
title. Below the title you should
provide the name of the series
and a rating that indicates your
judgement of the series’ worth.
Indicate the form and genre of the
series early in your review. You will
need to name the films in the series
and the directors of the films. You
should also provide information
about the subjects and themes of the
film. Provide your reader with plot
summaries for the films. You should
comment on how the filmmakers have
portrayed their subjects. You should
comment on how the filmmakers
have used production elements.
Offer evaluations of the films and
the series. What did you like? Why?
What didn’t you like? Why?
»» What do the films have in common?
In what ways do the films differ?
The New Black is a collection of
short fiction films. Like short stories,
short fiction films offer a condensed
narrative and may or may not be part
of a collection. A short story usually
explores one incident, has a single
setting, a small number of characters
and covers a short period of time.
Working as a class and drawing on
The New Black make a list of the
features of a short fiction film.
»» What contribution does The New
Black make to Australian culture?
»» Have you heard of the Message
Sticks Indigenous Film Festival?
The Message Sticks Indigenous Film
Festival showcases the best new
Indigenous films from Australia and
the world. It is an annual event.
The seven films in the series The New
Black were shown at the Message
Sticks Indigenous Festival in 2009.
You can find information about the
2010 Message Sticks Indigenous Film
Festival at <http://www.sydneyopera
house.com/About/Program_Message_
Sticks.aspx>.
Post a comment about The New Black
or one of the films from the collection
on the Message Sticks Indigenous
Film Festival Facebook page at
<http://www.facebook.com/group.
php?gid=73960184141&v=wall>.
»» Do you know what a
message stick is?
Message sticks were once
used by indigenous people as
a means of communicating.
Messages were painted and
inscribed on a stick, which was then
transported by hand. The person
who carried the message stick
was traditionally granted safe and
protected entry to another Aboriginal
nation’s territory. Those who found
the messenger on their land had
an obligation to safely deliver the
messenger to the elders of their
people. The messenger would then
convey the message to the elders.
Messages included announcements
of events, ceremonies, meetings,
happenings and disputes, as well
as invitations and warnings.
»» A selection of The New Black films
screened at Flickerfest 2010.
Flickerfest is Australia’s only
Academy®-accredited short film
festival screening the best short films
from Australia and the world annually,
over a ten-day festival at Bondi Beach
and throughout a national tour across
Australia. Apart from Flickerfest’s
International, Australian, Documentary
and Environmental competitions, they
also host a competition for films by
school students from across Australia.
Find out more about Flickerfest at
<http://www.flickerfest.com.au>.
Spend some time reading reviews
of feature films before you begin.
SCREEN EDUCATION
4
Using The New Black
in the classroom
Teachers may select from the
following activities to support
students’ viewing and close
analysis of the films that
are part of The New Black.
Ralph
The heart of Ralph is friendship and belonging. As my first film, it was important to begin with a
story that was accessible to me. Ralph is a personal diary, made up of fragmented memories of
someone being on the outside, about a young Aboriginal girl madly in love with an American teen
heartthrob, surviving a world barbed with racism. – Deborah Mailman
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of
Ralph with your peers.
»» What is the most important
message of Ralph?
»» What does Ralph tell us about life
in Redfern, Sydney in 1984?
»» Dear Ralph,
Hi, it’s me again. It’s been a few days
since my last letter and I still haven’t
heard from you. My school dance is
coming up. I would love you to come.
Your number one fan,
Madeline.
Ten-year-old Madeline has a crush
on the karate kid, Ralph Macchio.
By her standards he is the hottest
teen actor on the planet. That’s why
she writes him a letter, asking him to
be her date at the school dance.
Can you remember who you
were infatuated with when
you were ten years old?
»» What word best describes each of
the following characters: Madeline,
»» ‘Get a life … Have a bath.’
– Dean
Madeline must endure the unkindness
of her classmates. Dean the school
bully is intent on making life a
living hell for Madeline and her
teacher doesn’t seem to be all that
interested in protecting Madeline.
Why is Madeline bullied?
Were you surprised by the
teacher’s indifference?
»» Garth teases Madeline when he
draws on her exercise book and
chopsticks the cockroach but
then comes to her defence when
she is bullied in the schoolyard.
What does Deborah Mailman
want us to think about Garth’s
attitude to Madeline?
What else do we learn about Garth?
What do Madeline and Garth
have in common?
»» What does Ralph teach us about
intolerance? What does Ralph
teach us about acceptance?
»» Deborah Mailman, the director
of Ralph, has claimed that Ralph
is about the giddiness of first
love. What moments in the story
reveal this claim to be true?
»» What does Madeline learn about life?
»» Explain the significance of the
following symbols: Madeline’s letters
to Ralph Macchio, the posters
on Madeline’s bedroom wall,
Madeline’s bandanna and the pink
dress in the boutique window.
»» Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of Ralph. Why
is each setting significant?
»» The final scene of Ralph is like a
dream come true. Garth arrives
in the nick of time. Why shouldn’t
we question the end of the film?
»» In what sense is Ralph a film
about race?
»» Learn more about Ralph at
<http://goalpostpictures.com/
pictures/film/ralph/>.
»» Learn more about Deborah Mailman
at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Deborah_Mailman> and <http://www.
imdb.com/name/nm0537648/>.
SCREEN EDUCATION
Write a personal narrative
about a childhood crush. Try
to write 350–500 words.
Garth, Madeline’s mum, Dean,
Madeline’s teacher and Garth’s
dad? Share your choices with a
peer and then with the class.
5
The Farm
The Farm is a film I have wanted to make for a very long time, but it wasn’t until a friend
mentioned that there were no contemporary representations of the Indigenous agricultural labour
experience on the far south coast of NSW that I recognised its significance in a filmic context.
The Farm pays homage to an Indigenous workforce essential to the agricultural wealth of NSW
and Victoria dating back to the 1930s, and is told through the eyes of a young girl who is a part
of this labour force. The film is based on my childhood experience of being a part of this labour
force, and I wanted to revisit that experience cinematically. – Romaine Moreton
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of
The Farm with your peers.
»» What is the most important
message of The Farm?
»» What word best describes each of the
following: Olivia, Lauren, Gus, Tom
and the spirits? Share your choices
with a peer and then with the class.
»» What do we learn about Olivia’s
life on the farm?
»» How do Olivia’s experiences on
the farm shape her perspective of
the past and its place in her life?
»» How does the filmmaker position
us to see Olivia’s mother, at first,
and also at the end of The Farm?
»» What role does Olivia’s cousin
play in the story of The Farm?
»» Why do you think Olivia can see the
people who once worked on the farm
and have since passed on? Is Olivia
scared by her ability to see ghosts?
»» Olivia
‘Mum, what happened to all
the Aboriginal people who
were here before us?’
Why does Olivia’s mother refuse
»» Why do you think Olivia etches
her name into the timber
of the pickers’ shack?
»» ‘Nana always said people only live as
long as we remember them. And they
die because we forget.’– Olivia’s mum
Why does Olivia’s mother give
Olivia the amber necklace that
belonged to Olivia’s grandmother?
»» ‘But this principle of spirituality
being inexplicably salient is strong in
Indigenous cultures, and through this
film I wanted to declare an ongoing
belief in the wisdom of our Ancestors,
past and present, and in the heartbeat
of our country.’
– Romaine Moreton
Would you call The Farm
a ghost story?
»» Explain the significance of the
following symbols: the names
carved into the wood of the pickers’
shack, the old money box and
the amber stone necklace.
»» The drama is set on and around a
farm in southern NSW. Moreton’s
intention was to illuminate the
circumstances of itinerant Indigenous
workers who travelled from South
Australia to New South Wales and
Queensland as bean pickers.
What part does this context play
in the telling of the story?
Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of The Farm. Why
is each setting significant?
»» On the way to the local show, Olivia
can see the spirits of the dead
walking on the side of the road.
Why does the film end this way?
»» Tally Ho Farm is a real place once
occupied by myself and my family, as
well as many generations of seasonal
labourers before me. Although no one
lives in the huts we grew up in now,
the farm is still alive in our stories, our
hearts and our memories. The farm
is spoken about as a time of great joy
and happiness, its simplicity etched
into my being. My family and I always
recount stories of living on the farm
as some of the best times of our lives.
– Romaine Moreton
Write a personal narrative about a
place that matters to you and your
family. Aim to write 350–500 words.
»» Learn more about Brown
Cab Productions at <http://
www.browncabs.com>.
SCREEN EDUCATION
Lauren
‘I’ll tell you when you’re older.’
to tell her what happened to the
others? Does she understand?
6
The Party Shoes
The reason why I wanted to make this film is because I wanted to explore the
complex relationship between a mother and a daughter drawing partially from my
own lived experience. I wanted the film to celebrate the resilience of people. Of
two very different characters, young and old whose common bond is love and yet
other circumstances tangle, knot and threaten this bond. – Michelle Blanchard
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of The
Party Shoes with your peers.
ordinary things, she rummages
through the council pick up, or in the
gutter for treasures and trinkets.
»» What is the most important
message of The Party Shoes?
What does Jenny’s collection
of found objects tell us about
her and her situation?
»» What word best describes Jenny,
Patsy, the postman and the
neighbour? Share your choices with
a peer and then with the class.
»» Is Jenny a typical ten-year-old?
»» Is Patsy a good mother?
Why do you think she keeps her
treasures in the meter box?
»» Why does Jenny hide
everybody’s letters?
»» What happens when Patsy finds
the letters in the meter box?
»» How do we know that Jenny’s mother
Patsy is suffering from depression?
How is this moment a turning point in
the story of mother and daughter?
»» What moments made you
aware of Jenny’s resilience?
What moments beyond this point in
The Party Shoes confirm that mother
and daughter will be all right?
»» How does Jenny cope with
her mother’s sadness?
»» Do you think Jenny’s situation
is an uncommon one?
What part does this context play in the
telling of Jenny’s and Patsy’s story?
Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of The Party Shoes.
Why is each setting significant?
»» Do you think the resolution at the
film’s end is too easily achieved?
»» In what sense is The Party
Shoes a film about race?
»» Write an imaginative narrative called
The Party Shoes. Try to write 350–500
words. When you have finished share
your story with others in the class.
Discuss your differing interpretations
of the title and the differing
representations of the party shoes.
»» Learn more about Blackfella Films at
<http://www.blackfellafilms.com.au>.
»» What does The Party Shoes
tell us about love?
»» Explain the significance of the
following symbols: the meter box,
Patsy’s party shoes, the family
photograph, Patsy’s letter, the
letters that the postman brings
and the broken lipstick.
SCREEN EDUCATION
»» To counteract and deny the situation
caused by her father’s absence
and her mother’s sadness, Jenny
creates her own world mostly outside
of the home where things seem
brighter and not so full of despair.
Jenny finds simple pleasures in
»» Who does the filmmaker want
us to feel sympathy for?
»» The drama is set in workingclass urban Sydney in 1974.
7
Jacob
It’s hard to know where to begin in explaining why I wanted to make a film like Jacob. Even
though elements of this film reflect part of my family history, this story affects many Indigenous
men, women and their families in Central Australia. This is a reality that is very rarely explored
and even less so from the perspective of Indigenous men. – Dena Curtis
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of
Jacob with your peers.
»» What is the most important
message of Jacob?
»» What does Jacob tell us about life
in Central Australia in 1940?
»» Dena Curtis, the director of Jacob,
decided to draw her audience’s
attention to what was once a
widespread practice: white farmers
abusing their Indigenous employees.
»» Were you shocked to discover
that Jacob was fairer skinned
than the other Indigenous
characters in the film?
»» Who earned your sympathy? Why?
»» What moments show Max to be
humiliated by the fact that Jacob is
not his son? How does the filmmaker
convey his disappointment? How
does the filmmaker convey his
anger? Does Max let pride get
in the way of what is right? Does
Max try to accept the situation?
Were you aware of this aspect
of Australia’s history?
»» How do Max’s reactions affect Gina?
What comment does Curtis
make about this practice?
»» What moments establish Jacob
as innocent and as vulnerable?
»» ‘She’s not to blame, you know. The
boy is who he is and he’s here now.’
– George
»» Who do you think is the most
compassionate character?
»» Why does Gina make the choice
to abandon Jacob? Did you
Why does George decide to
appeal to Max’s better nature?
»» George and Milly are Gina’s parents.
Why don’t they interfere sooner?
»» Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of Jacob. Why
is each setting significant?
»» Is Jacob’s story resolved?
»» What statement does Jacob
make about survival?
»» ‘Jacob is a discomfiting
film’ Do you agree?
»» In what sense is Jacob
a film about race?
»» The end credits state that Jacob
was filmed on Adnyamathanha land.
Why do you think the filmmaker
included this information?
»» Learn more about Blackfella Films at
<http://www.blackfellafilms.com.au>.
SCREEN EDUCATION
»» What word best describes each
of the following characters:
George, Milly, Max, Gina, Bob and
Jacob? Share your choices with
a peer and then with the class.
understand Gina’s desperation?
Did Gina have any other choice?
8
Nia’s Melancholy
In Indigenous communities, the rates of suicide, and especially of teenage suicide, are some of
the highest in the world. It’s an issue we must bring to light more often and discuss in broader
communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous. – SF Tusa
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of Nia’s
Melancholy with your peers.
»» What is the most important
message of Nia’s Melancholy?
»» What does it mean to be melancholy?
What does the filmmaker want us
to realise about melancholy?
»» What word best describes each
of the following characters: Nia,
Lania, Nana, Nia’s mother and Nia’s
younger sister? Share your choices
with a peer and then with the class.
»» Why do you think the film begins
with a younger Lania and Nia in the
rainforest with their grandmother?
»» After her sister’s suicide, Nia finds
solace in her memories of childhood.
Why do these memories comfort Nia?
»» Why is Nia drawn to the rainforest?
»» ‘I was tired, so tired, not strong like
nana, not like you.’
– Lania
What are Nia’s strengths?
»» Nia dreams of becoming a
nurse in the ‘big smoke’.
Why is Nia’s dream significant
to the story told by the film?
What moments highlight that Nia
is confused about her future?
»» How does Nia’s mother respond
»» ‘You’ll forget all about us.’
– Nia’s mother
What moments in Nia’s
Melancholy prove that Nia’s
mother has nothing to fear?
»» What statement does Nia’s Melancholy
make about community?
»» ‘Nia’s journey is about coming to
terms with the grief that comes
with losing someone you love.’
Do you think this is an apt
summary of Nia’s Melancholy?
»» What moments in Nia’s
Melancholy convey hope?
»» Make a list of the challenges of
making a film like Nia’s Melancholy.
»» Eventually Nia finds the
courage to leave her family
and take the bus to Cairns.
Why is it significant that Nia sees her
grandmother’s spirit walking behind
the bus, waving her farewell?
»» What does Nia’s Melancholy
teach us about loss?
»» Explain the significance of the
following symbols: the posters on
Lania’s bedroom wall, Lania’s pink
rubber thong, the out of control
garden hose, the cigarette on the
window sill and the noose that is
left hanging in the schoolyard.
»» Nia’s Melancholy is set in an Aboriginal
community in Far North Queensland.
Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of Nia’s Melancholy.
Why is each setting significant?
»» In what sense is Nia’s Melancholy
a film about race?
»» ‘I hope this film makes a difference.’
Nia’s Melancholy explores the issue
of teenage suicide. The issue of youth
suicide in Aboriginal communities
is of particular significance
given rates of suicide in these
communities have been increasing
since the 1970s. The majority of
Aboriginal people who suicide are
under the age of twenty-nine.
Why is important that we speak
openly about teenage suicide?
What type of difference can
Nia’s Melancholy make?
Teachers should approach any
discussion of teenage suicide
with care and an awareness of the
personal situations of students in
their class. Teachers may choose to
begin their own research on the issue
of teenage suicide at <http://www.
livingisforeveryone.com.au/FactSheets.html> or <http://www.rch.org.
au/cah/research.cfm?doc_id=11036>.
»» Learn more about La La Pictures at
<http://www.lalapictures.com>.
SCREEN EDUCATION
How does she resolve her confusion?
to the loss of her eldest daughter?
Why is she so angry with Nia?
9
Bourke Boy
When I started the development of Bourke Boy it was about me telling a story of an actual event,
almost exactly as it had occurred. The feelings I had, the things that we did together as father and
son, and how it made me feel. I thought it was going to be a simple story about adoption, about
love and about finding a place of contentment within myself during that time in my life. However,
what really emerged during the development process, and the making of the film was something
far more intimate and truthful. – Adrian Wills
»» What happens? Share your
thoughts about the plot of
Bourke Boy with your peers.
»» What is the most important
message of Bourke Boy?
»» What word best describes each of
the following: Russell, John, the
motel owner? Share your choices
with a peer and then with the class.
»» Who earned your sympathy? Why?
»» ‘Dad, why’d we come here to Bourke?’
– Russell
Why have father and son travelled
to Bourke?
»» ‘Look, let’s just try to get through
these next couple of days, OK? Do
what we’ve come here to do. And
then hopefully when we get back
home things will be different. This’ll be
behind us.’
– John
What do you think Russell’s
father wants to achieve?
»» What does Russell see as he
travels around the town?
»» What moments establish
Russell’s confusion?
»» Why does Russell pocket a
handful of Bourke dirt?
»» ‘I’m sure she loved you very much.’
– John
»» Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of Bourke Boy.
Why is each setting significant?
Why does Russell want to know
his birth mother’s name?
»» How does the filmmaker
position us to see Bourke and
the people who live there?
»» When do we see things from
Russell’s perspective? What is
the filmmaker’s intention?
»» When do we see things from
John’s perspective? What is
the filmmaker’s intention?
»» Russell
How come you shook her hand?
John
It’s what you do.
The motel owner is a racist.
Russell challenges his father’s
decision to shake her hand.
»» Bourke Boy ends with father and
son driving away from the Aboriginal
Reserve. What are we meant to feel at
the end of Bourke Boy? What are we
meant to think? Was this the right way
to bring Bourke Boy to conclusion?
»» In what sense is Bourke
Boy a film about race?
»» ‘Suggestive of a bigger story,
Bourke Boy is a quiet and intense
film – a portrayal of inadequate
communication and a sadly
incomplete rite of passage.’
Do you agree with this
assessment of Bourke Boy?
»» Learn more about Scarlett Pictures
at <http://scarlettpictures.com.au>.
Why is this moment significant?
SCREEN EDUCATION
10
Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun
I actually think I heard this yarn when I was a little girl in the late seventies. – Leah Purcell
Womba Wakgun in Aboriginal Murri
language means Mad Rooster.
»» What happens? Share your thoughts
about the plot of Aunty Maggie and
the Womba Wakgun with your peers.
»» What is the most important message of
Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun?
»» What moments did you find funny?
»» What is a fable and why could
Aunty Maggie and the Womba
Wakgun be called a fable?
»» What word best describes each
of the following: Aunty Maggie,
Uncle Peter, Ralph, Ronnie, Rex,
Mr Johnson, Mrs Johnson, the
street vendor, the cashier and the
photographer? Share your choices
with a peer and then with the class.
»» How do we know that the family is poor?
»» What moments highlight that Aunty
Maggie would rather go without than
see Ronnie, Ralph and Rex miss out?
»» Why does Aunty Maggie buy the rooster
»» The boys chant ‘We want eggs’ each
morning but what do they get instead?
How does the filmmaker convey
excitement, suspense and
disappointment in these scenes?
»» ‘He’s driving me Womba!’
– Aunty Maggie
Use this exclamation to initiate a
discussion of Aunty Maggie’s rather
complex relationship with the rooster.
»» Did the rooster drown or was it an
act of neighbourly sabotage?
»» Why does Aunt Maggie save the
rooster? After all, he has been
causing her, the family and the
neighbours a great deal of stress.
»» The rooster is saved and moves out of
the hen house and into the house, where
he lives a very pampered existence.
»» How does he repay Aunty
Maggie’s kindness?
»» Explain the significance of the
following symbols: Uncle Peter’s
pain powder, Aunty Maggie’s tin of
Winner’s Red, the porridge, the Book
Up Board of Shame and the eggs.
»» Discuss the use of different settings
to tell the story of Aunty Maggie
and the Womba Wakgun. Why
is each setting significant?
»» Did you like the way the film looks?
What elements of the production
did you find appealing?
»» In what sense is Aunty Maggie and the
Womba Wakgun a film about race?
»» Leah Purcell is the director of Aunty
Maggie and the Womba Wakgun.
Find out more about Leah Purcell by
visiting <http://www.leahpurcell.com>.
»» Why do you think the filmmaker
decided to use a narrative voiceover
to tell some of the story of Aunty
Maggie and the Womba Wakgun?
»» Have you ever heard the word ‘yarn’?
Do you know what it means? Who tells
the yarns in your family? Aunty Maggie
and the Womba Wakgun is based
on an actual event that happened in
1954. Drawing on the yarns that are
told in your family, write a story in the
style of Aunty Maggie and the Womba
Wakgun. Aim to write 500–750 words.
»» Learn more about Bungabura
Productions at <http://www.freewebs.
com/bungabura/bungabura/>.
SCREEN EDUCATION
»» How does the filmmaker position
us to regard the Aboriginal
community portrayed in Aunty
Maggie and the Womba Wakgun?
and the hens? Is her decision sensible?
11
Your turn
Make your own short
fiction film.
All elements of the production should
be undertaken collaboratively.
Submit a production design
plan that indicates your:
Before you begin, spend time as
a class discussing the challenges
of making a short film.
»» Intention
»» Audience
»» Style and/or genre
»» Storyline and/or outline of content
»» Techniques of engagement
»» Location and/or setting
»» Dialogue, narration and/
or interview questions
»» Camera: framing, position
and movement
»» Edit details and transitions
»» Lighting
»» Music and/or sound effects
You should also visit Flickerfest
at <http://www.flickerfestfilmmakers
resource.com> to learn more about
what it takes to make a short film.
Your film should be five to ten
minutes in duration including titles
and/or credits sequences.
When the films are finished,
organise a short film festival.
Before you begin, spend time as a
class discussing the challenges of
running a film festival. Make a list
of the tasks involved in running a
successful film festival. Give your film
festival a name. Appoint two students
to act as directors of the film festival.
Every student in the class will need
to take on a role and be responsible
for an aspect of the film festival.
SCREEN EDUCATION
12
This study guide was produced by ATOM. (©ATOM 2010) [email protected]
For more information on Screen Education magazine, or to download
other study guides for assessment, visit <http://www.metromagazine.com.au>.
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SCREEN EDUCATION
For hundreds of articles on Film as Text, Screen Literacy, Multiliteracy and
Media Studies, visit <http://www.theeducationshop.com.au>.
13