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First 'Dramatically Black' project wraps

31 May 2004 - Australian Film Commission - Media Release - Filming wrapped yesterday on the first of five films selected for Dramatically Black - an initiative of the Indigenous Unit of the Australian Film Commission (AFC) and SBS Independent (SBSI) in association with the NSW Film and Television Office, the Pacific Film and Television Commission and the South Australian Film Corporation.

Shot in Rockhampton, Queensland, The Djarn Djarns is a moving story of friendship between four boys, the responsibility they feel for their culture and the love a young boy has for his family.

The Djarn Djarns is directed by Wayne Blair and produced by Kylie du Fresne who have previously worked together on the short films Kathy and Black Talk. Wayne Blair has an extensive history in acting and has also directed the short film Jubulj. Kylie du Fresne is a principal of RB Films and has produced feature films such as Fresh Air and In the Winter Dark she has also worked on documentaries such as A Band Together and Boy in the Bubble.

AFC Chief Executive Kim Dalton said the initiative highlights the depth of talent in our Indigenous communities that deserves to be recognised and developed.

"This initiative is giving Indigenous filmmakers an opportunity to develop their skills, enabling them to take control over their creative and cultural projects," said Mr Dalton.

Launched in 2003 Dramatically Black is aimed at supporting Indigenous filmmakers with at least one short fiction film credit to consolidate their work in the longer format of 26 minutes.

The five projects have each been through an intensive development process. This included draft funding and a visual storytelling workshop where the filmmakers worked with leading cinematographers, editors and actors on developing and testing their ideas.

SBS Independent General Manager Glenys Rowe said SBSi's investment in the Dramatically Black program through presale offerings and investment in each of the projects is in line with its charter to develop quality Australian drama.

Dramatically Black will screen on SBS Television in 2005.

The five projects selected for production are:

• THE DJARN DJARNS
  Producer: Kylie du Fresne
  Writer/Director: Wayne Blair
  The story of friendship between four boys, the responsibility they feel for their culture and the love a young boy has for his father.
• CROCODILE DREAMING
  Producer: TBA
  Writer/Director: Darlene Johnson
  Concept by: David Gulpilil and Darlene Johnson
  A comic fable about two men who are in a race to hunt down the legendary Crocodile, Big Tooth.
  
• GREEN BUSH
  Producer: Kath Shelper
  Writer/Director: Warwick Thornton
  A celebration of an era of music, working for the cause and getting things done. But not in the way you would expect.
• THE PLAINS EMPTY
  Producer: Kath Shelper
  Writer/Director: Beck Cole
  Sam has recently moved to an isolated mining camp with her husband, Dusty. While her husband works Sam questions whether she really is alone.
• SA BLACK THING
  Producer: Pauline Clague
  Writer/Director: Rima Tamou
  When Clinton Spice's laptop is stolen the day before an important deadline, his world is turned upside down.

Dramatically Black

'Dramatically Black', the latest drama initiative of the Indigenous Unit, was launched on 23 April 2003. The initiative was set up in association with SBSi, who offered a presale and investment in each project. Film Victoria, FTO and Pacific Film and Television Commission are also providing production investment in projects selected from their states.

The aim of 'Dramatically Black' is to support Indigenous filmmakers with at least one short fiction film credit, to consolidate their work in the longer format.

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The selection panel was held on 18 February and five projects have been selected for production:

Crocodile Dreaming: A comic fable about two men who are in a race to hunt down the legendary Crocodile, Big Tooth.
The Djarn Djarns: The story of friendship between four boys, the responsibility they feel for their culture and the love a young boy has for his father.
Green Bush: A celebration of an era of music, working for the cause and getting things done. But not in the way you would expect.
The Plains Empty: Sam has recently moved to an isolated mining camp with her husband, Dusty. While her husband works Sam questions whether she really is alone.
Sa Black Thing: When Clinton Spice's laptop is stolen the day before an important deadline his world is turned upside down.

Of 24 applications received, eight projects were selected for further development including a Visual Storytelling Workshop.

Projects selected for development:

• Crocodile Dreaming (w/d: Darlene Johnson, p: Antonia Barnard, co-creator David Gulpilil)
• The Djarns Djarns (w/d: Wayne Blair, p: Kylie du Fresne)
• Gone Primitive (w/d: Catriona McKenzie, p: Aline Jacques)
• Green Bush (w/d: Warwick Thornton)
• Sa Black Thing (w/d: Rima Tamou, p: Pauline Clague)
• The Plains Empty (w/d: Beck Cole)
• True Colours (w/d: Samantha Saunders)
• Wives Tales (w/d: Erica Glynn).

The Visual Storytelling Workshop was held in Sydney from 29 September-4 October. Participants worked on their projects with a pool of actors, four cinematographers (Nino Martinetti, Kim Batterham, Martin McGrath, Ellery Ryan) and three editors (Karen Johnson, Mark Perry, Tania Nehme). Don McAlpine gave the keynote address and other advisors in attendance included Garry McDonald, Rowan Woods, Mike Bullen and Shawn Seet. Projects will go into production in 2004.

The week was designed around the concept of how you tell your story cinematically, using all the tools that are available to you. Project Managers Jackie and Lawrence Johnston started the week off with their, now famous, Cinematic Storytelling presentation - using clips to show great openings of films, how to introduce characters into scenes and memorable moments (what scene are people going to remember from your film in years to come?).

A mini-studio was set up in the St Scholastica's School in Glebe with four sets of video camera equipment and three video editing suites.

The first two days were spent shooting and editing exercises - a two hander from Ordinary People (from two different points of view) and a five hander from They Shoot Horses Don't They. The remainder of the week was spent on each filmmaker's own project with specialists coming in where required to address particular needs. For example, Garry McDonald worked with one of the filmmakers on creating comedy, Rowan Woods with two filmmakers on creating suspense and tension on-screen, Shawn Seat (MDA) on directing and editing, and Mike Bullen (Cold Feet) on writing romantic comedy. The filmmakers were all able to workshop their scripts with actors and to shoot and edit at least a couple of scenes.

Actors included numerous well-known Indigenous actors such as Aaron Pedersen, Lisa Flanagan, Luke Carroll and David Gulpillil (who is the co-creator of one of the films) and other actors such as Victoria Longley, Tina Bursill, Tony Bonner and Zoe Carides. Don McAlpine gave a keynote address on cinematography and Rowan Woods gave a terrific talk about his experiences in creating work, using The Boys as an example. One of the DOPs said it was the best talk they'd ever heard someone give on the role of the director.

Source: Australian Film Commission

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