St Kilda Film Festival - Fenced
Kate Myers drives through the gates of Portsmouth Immigration Detention Centre each day. But can she leave behind what she's seen? Or what she's done?
Interview with Writer/Director Sophie Hawkshaw
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Fenced was born out of a desire to be part of the conversation surrounding asylum seekers and the impact of detention on individuals and our society. We know what happens in detention centres. We know the horrors that these people face. But as a society, we happily turn a blind eye to injustice sitting right under our noses. I wanted to speak to Australians who had stopped caring about asylum seekers and show them the impact that detention has on absolutely everyone it touches.
It’s also my directorial debut, and I was very keen to make an ambitious project and work with an incredibly team, heading by outstanding female heads of departments.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
‘Fenced’ looks at the issue of asylum seekers through a fresh and relatable lens. You’ll probably see a little bit of yourself in Kate. And you’ll probably see why you should care that you do.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Fenced is first and foremost about humanity and how our human empathy is inherent within all aspects of our lives. It is incredibly topical to the current refugee crisis across the world, and speaks directly to an Australian audience about the way we handle asylum seekers.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
There was a lot of development on this film. I wrote it in early 2015 and the biggest changes were to do with raising the stakes. We also dealt with some wild weather for our exterior shoot so some things had to be changed on the fly in order to get it done. But hat’s the joy of indie filmmaking, just making it work.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I am thrilled to have received wonderful feedback on the film. Every time someone tells me that they felt something when they watched it, it makes it all worth it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
As a white female filmmaker I am definitely cautious as to the approach that I’ve taken in telling big stories like this in an appropriate and respectful way. I’ve been surprised with how well the film has been received and the support we’ve had for telling this story the way I chose to tell it. I was also pretty surprised by how many people told me to be less ambitious in during preproduction and to try to make something more logistically manageable. I ignored them and made it anyway.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’d love for people to come out to see the film when it screens this year in its festival run, starting with our premiere at St Kilda Film Festival. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates of future screenings.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I’d love for everyone who watches this film to talk about it, tell other people about it, and care about the issues that the film tackles. And if any producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists like the film, please give us money! (Kidding but not kidding).
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The goal of this film is to re-engage the ‘average Australian’ who has checked out of the conversation surrounding asylum seekers. We know the impact that detention has on individuals, on children, on families. But we don’t seem to care. I want people to see how detention affects everyone who comes into contact with it, and ultimately, our whole society. Film is powerful, and I want Fenced to make you care. Because you should.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you balance moral obligations to your fellow human beings with your day-to-day need to survive?
Would you like to add anything else?
If you watch Fenced and it made you feel something, let it be the start of a conversation about asylum seekers and our treatment of them in Australia and the world. Don’t let it end when you walk out of the cinema.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The team behind Fenced are currently in preproduction for a feature length comedy about a magician's assistant who finds out she’s actually magic, set amongst the highs and lows of the RSL entertainment circuit.
Interview: May 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Fenced
Kate Myers drives through the gates of Portsmouth Immigration Detention Centre each day. But can she leave behind what she's seen? Or what she's done?
Length: 8 minutes 48 seconds
Director: Sophie Hawkshaw
Producer: Eliza Bone & Anusha Muller
Writer: Sophie Hawkshaw
About the writer, director and producer:
Sophie Hawkshaw is a Sydney based writer and director with a background in acting. A film graduate from UTS, Fenced is her directorial debut.
Anusha Muller is a producer with a focus on influencing social change through the arts, specifically minority voices on screen.
Eliza Bone is a producer based in Sydney, currently working in commercial VR, passionate about the power of film to engage audiences.
Key cast: Claire Lovering, Aaron Tsindos, Terry Bader, Ruby Burke, Milan Shad-Sharpe
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fenced.short.film/
Made in association with: University of Technology, Sydney
Where can I see it in the next month? St Kilda Film Festival – Sunday 21st May, 4pm, St Kilda Town Hall Melbourne
http://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/film/fenced