Five filmmaking teams selected to produce Season 2 of ‘WA Reflections’
Screenwest and the State Library of Western Australia are pleased to announce five WA filmmaking teams have been selected to each produce a short documentary for Season 2 of WA Reflections – Our History Rediscovered, a joint initiative designed to bring treasures from the State Library of WA to life.
Now in its second year, the capacity building initiative is supporting each WA filmmaking team with $18,000 to produce a short documentary film of up to five minutes in duration. Each team will creatively utilise the State Library’s heritage collection items – including letters, diaries, journals, photographs and oral recordings – to bring to life and share unique stories from Western Australia’s history.
The five documentaries include local factual stories about a beloved Indigenous musician, 19th Century British/Russian tensions seen through the eyes of a coastal town, the Chinese community of WA, a sound recordist devoted to capturing the songs of vanishing animals and the longest running LGBTQIA+ nightclub in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The State Library collection is a treasure we collect and preserve for all Western Australians. This partnership is a great way for us to share the Library’s treasures and stories in ways that reach the community, no matter where they live.” said Catherine Clark, CEO and State Librarian of the State Library of WA.
“Congratulations to the filmmaking teams, whose projects are all set to reimagine our state’s diverse history. We look forward to seeing these five Western Australian screen stories take shape.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
The five documentary projects will be released in 2023.
WA Reflections Funding Recipients
Mr. Kimberley
A legend of the region, he is known as Mr. Kimberley, but his mates call him Sam. This film delves into the fascinating life of 89-year-old Kimberley musician Sam Lovell and how his life has shaped his music.
- Collection Materials: Sam Lovell Collection of Slides
- Key Creatives:
- Producer: Marlanie Haerewa
- Director: Jake Blackburn
The Rules of Mahjong
In search of cultural identity through a complex game of Mahjong.
- Collection Materials: Chung Wah Association Records
- Key Creatives:
- Producer: Cameron Davis
- Director: Melle Branson
Sound Twitcher
The rediscovered legacy of auditory adventurer, John Hutchinson.
- Collection Materials: John Hutchinson Recordings of Birdsong
- Key Creatives:
- Producer/Director: Olivia Davies
- Director of Photography: Darren McCagh
- Editor: Noah Norton
- Sound: Wendi Graham
In the Dark
From sunset to sunrise: a reminiscent night at Connections.
- Collection Materials: Connections Poster Collection
- Key Creatives:
- Producer: Elsie Shaw
- Director: Matt Sav
- Writer: Pat Hogan
Russian Spy
As fear of war dominates the news cycle, Russian-Australian Cinematographer Dasha Melnik travels to Albany to learn about the time that a tiny 19th Century town at the edge of the world prepared for a Russian attack.
- Collection Materials: Russian Spies in Albany
- Key Creatives:
- Co-Producer/Director: Jennifer Piper (JP)
- Co-Producer/DOP: Dasha Melnik
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