Think Films is thrilled to announce the newest filmmaking team member – Jonathan Stack. Jonathan Stack is a multiple Emmy Award winning and two- time Academy Award® nominated documentary filmmaker. During his career Jonathan has written, produced and directed over 25 films and 50 television programs including The Farm, which was honored as Sundance Film Festival’s 1998 Grand Jury Prize winner. He has distributed his films through HBO, BBC, Channel Four, Discovery Channel, A&E–among many others. Jonathan, based in New York, will act as Special Adviser to the filmmaking and distribution process.
Author Archives: banjo's war
Award Winning Documentary Maker Joins The Team
March Filming Trip Fundraiser
The online auction has now ended. Thank you to everyone who participated. Donations to the making of “Banjo’s War” are always welcome especially at present to help buy a Canon 5D Mk II kit that will be used for filming the feature documentary. If you can help, tax deductible donations (in cash or in kind) can be made via the Documentary Australia Foundation. Click on the “Help” page for details.
The Story Hits Sydney
Richard Downs, Edith Hanlon, Angelina Luck and Louise Clarke made the inaugural journey from central Australia (350 km NE of Alice Springs) all the way to Sydney for the Two Films Screening event held on 4th December at Leichhardt Town Hall in Sydney. Over 3000km by road and air ! With well-known journalist and former ABC foreign correspondent, Jeff McMullen as special guest, the evening was a great success in terms of raising awareness about the Intervention and what the Alyawarr People are doing to create their new self-sustainable community at Honeymoon Bore. Unfortunately Banjo Morton and his wife Lillie were unable to make the trip due to Sorry business but it was a great night of learning, understanding and sharing.
Latest Filming Fundraiser
I’ve started the next fundraiser for our next filming trip. This trip will be extra special as we’ll be documenting the journey of Banjo Morton, Angelina, Lillie and Eddie as they make an inaugural journey from Honeymoon Bore (350 km NE of Alice Springs) all the way to Sydney for the Two Films Screening event being held on 4th December. Over 3000km by road and air ! I’m so excited to be able to film this inaugural journey as Banjo and the other elders take their story to the public in Sydney ! Check out the AFFECTAustralia website for more information about the event. So, in this final few days of fundraising, there’s another $1000 to raise ! To make a donation, visit our HELP page….and THANKS for your support !
The Advertiser article 30/11/10
Banjo’s story got a great write up in the Adelaide “Advertiser” on 30th November. Click on the article to open up a large readable version.
Alice Springs Gathering July 6-9
We returned on Friday night from Alice Springs, having attended the Gathering of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People and having sat through the coldest recorded day in Alice Springs history !
Unfortunately, the roads from the Alyawarr Community were washed out so Banjo Morton and the other elders from Honeymoon Bore weren’t able to get to Alice Springs for the conference. However, it was a very powerful event and one which really opened my eyes. As I sat, filmed and listened to the stories from the Traditional Owners of their experiences with the Government’s Intervention, I came to fully understand their struggle.
I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to have thousands of years of history, tradition and culture standing before me over the course of the week. And I realised how little mainstream Australia really knows about the issues and the struggle affecting our Indigenous People. How rich Australia is to still have our Indigenous people. How sad it is that they are struggling to survive. How wrong it is that our Government is still unable to understand their plight and listen to their needs. Attending the conference last week has made me even more resolved than ever to make the story of “Banjo’s War” – for it’s definitely a story of hope for all Indigenous Australians. Here’s a video clip I made from the conference last week:
Teaser Trailer
The 2 minute teaser trailer for “Banjo’s War” – a new documentary that will follow the story of the Alyawarr People of Central Australia in their plight for self-determination.
Why This Story Is Important
As a filmmaker, I’m passionate about Indigenous issues. Partly this was nurtured from my appreciation of culture being born into a migrant family. After my Tibet documentary, I wanted to focus on a story that highlighted the blatant injustice that continues to be shown towards Australian Indigenous people. “Banjo’s War” is a powerful story that not only highlights just how badly our governments treat Aboriginal people but it’s also a story of hope. A story about a community who have chosen to take their destiny in their own hands and to create what will be a legacy not only for their own children, grand-children and future generations, but a historical legacy for Australia.
As John Pilger said recently at a talk he gave in Sydney “Since the apology, Aboriginal poverty has got worse. The promised housing programme is a grim joke. No gap has even begun to be bridged. Instead, the federal government has threatened communities in the Northern Territory that if they don’t hand over their precious freehold leases, they will be denied the basic services that we, in white Australia, take for granted.”
That’s why I’ve committed to making this documentary and to helping Richard and Banjo and the Alyawarr People tell this story, and the many stories they have. “Banjo’s War” is a part of Australian history – a story of hope and empowerment.
“Banjo’s War” is an important story – for everything it represents to all Australians and to all people, everywhere.
How It All Began
My name is Lara Damiani. I’m passionate about making documentaries that highlight the small man’s struggle. In February this year, I read a story that appeared in “The Age” about Banjo Morton and the Alyawarr People of Central Australia and their planned walk-off protest against the Government’s Intervention. The significance of this story was immediately apparent to me and I knew it was a story that I wanted to help tell through film. I contacted spokesperson Richard Downs who suggested I come and visit the community. I contacted my good friend photojournalist Rusty Stewart (who I met in 2008 as the official photographer for the Dalai Lama in Australia tours, a veteran photojournalist having worked in areas of conflict around the world and experienced in working with remote communities across Australia) and asked him if he wanted to come with me up to Honeymoon Bore to meet the community and start to begin to find a way to help tell their story. And that’s what we did. This blog will follow Banjo Morton and Richard Downs and the Alyawarr People in their dream to create their own utopia – a new community free of the government’s intervention. We’ll produce a feature documentary for international distribution – a story of hope and empowerment…a story of the way things should be.
