Incoming: Words of War
Seven Australian soldiers take part in a social experiment to share their experience of being at war.
Interview with Writer/Director Kerry Drumm and Producer Emma Hunt
Watch Incoming: Words of War on Vimeo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
KERRY: The idea behind INCOMING: Words of War started to form after I watched Peter Jackson's First World War documentary, They Shall Not Grow Old. I remember fighting tears at the footage of soldiers in the trenches playing cards, reading, writing letters home or trying to sleep. At the same time, above them, the sounds of war, fighting and explosions continue. I was reminded of my time as a military wife and receiving letters from my husband away on deployment.
EMMA: After creating Little Red Fox Productions in 2020, I wanted my debut production to be something that resonated with me. I knew Kerry would be writing from experience and as with Kerry’s writing, the script would be bold and confronting but laced with humour. I also have a direct family connection to the military, and I feel these stories need to be told.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
We believe the series offers an insight into the unique world of the military. Both funny and moving, Incoming: Words of War is a character driven ‘talking head’ series developed and produced during the pandemic. If anything, the series showcases creators will never surrender! There is always a way to make content!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Even though the stories are from the perspective of being a soldier, they talk about grief, PTSD, fear, being a parent, love, family all of which are universal themes.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
KERRY: Developed during lockdown and filmed within the lifted restrictions we have very little room to alter our path. Before I went to script, I spoke to the actors I had in mind and asked if they would be interested. I then wrote the script specifically for them over six weeks. Knowing we had little time to film, I wanted to write characters and stories that played to the strengths of the actors. We were forced to alter the location for filming as many studios remained closed as we came out of the lockdown. In the end, we filmed in my dining room over three days.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
To have been officially selected for a world premiere with SeriesFest: Season 7, when we had only just completed the series was overwhelming! To then continue with festival selections and nominations, including a very recent win of ‘Best Dramedy’ at this year’s Seoul Web Festival, the feedback has been very positive. We released all six episodes several weeks ago, and the feedback from military personal has been heartening. They recognized themselves and the stories. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
With any project, you’re never too sure what response you’ll receive when you release it out into the world. We’ve been told that we’ve made people laugh and cry, and especially men who found it extremely moving.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are fans of We Are Moving Stories and very proud that we were one of the first films showcased when the platform first began with TANKED, directed by Katrina Mathers. We applaud the platform for supporting women filmmakers and with our series having many women in key creative roles, we wanted to celebrate that with We Are Moving Stories.
http://www.wearemovingstories.com/we-are-moving-stories-films/2016/3/29/tanked?rq=tanked
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All the above! We are keen to have the series screened at festivals that specifically focus on military stories and web series. Later this year we hope to start discussions with several war museums for potential collaboration and screening. In addition to seeking funds to develop a second season combining soldiers and military wives.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
KERRY: Many of the stories in Incoming: Words of War come from my personal experiences of being a part of that world, and it was important to me that it felt authentic. My hope is that we've offered an insight into the life of a soldier and the world of the military but also that their stories resonate with the audience.
EMMA: My family who are in the military felt they knew the characters in Incoming: Words of War and had been in similar situations. We wanted our cast to feel like soldiers. We hired the uniforms, with some additional items loaned to us for the shoot. Unable to have someone do the actors hair and makeup, we studied military bun tutorials and sent them to the female actors. It was fundamental that we captured and respected the ‘real’ military as this was hugely important to both Kerry and I. We wanted the stories to feel real and resonate with those who live this life. I personally hope that we have given an insight into this world to those who are not part of it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
We hope that it questions the ongoing issues of PTSD within the military and we’re telling stories that need to be told.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
KERRY: I’m developing several projects and currently writing a feature ‘Lionhearts’ and in the early stages of developing a new play, ‘Yorky’.
EMMA: Little Red Fox Productions is busy with rehearsals for the play ‘Brothers’ by Kerry Drumm, which has its world premiere at this year’s Melbourne Fringe. We’re also developing several other projects, both film and theatre.
Interview: August 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
Incoming: Words of War
Length:
web series
Writer
KERRY DRUMM writes full-time for film and theatre since completing a PhD in animation. Credits include Great Barrier Reef 3D for IMAX, narrated by Eric Bana and produced by December Media. Kerry’s debut play Strawberry completed a season at Williamstown Little Theatre to critical acclaim in 2019. Her short play Half of Me, based on Strawberry, was selected for PlaySix Festival 2017 and has since been produced as part of a trilogy of short films. The films have had a successful international run on the festival circuit, with various nominations including Best Screenplay. Kerry’s other short works, Punched, Rocket and Be Someone Today, have been selected by Madwomen Monologues, ADP, Manchester, UK, Short Work Series, Wyndham Theatre, Voices of Women and PlaySix. Kerry is in development on several projects, including Season Two of Incoming: Words of War and a feature.
Director
KERRY: Incoming: Words of War is my debut directing live-action. Predominantly from an animation background working with stop-motion, including the feature ‘Bunny and the Bull’ directed by Paul King, director of the Paddington feature films. I also directed an underwater experimental film ‘Beneath’ which was screened at the V&A Museum, London.
Producer
EMMA HUNT has worked predominantly in theatre, including many Melbourne Productions and while living in London, worked at Shakespeare’s Globe. With an established career in finance and her involvement with several successful short films, Emma founded Little Red Fox Productions. As a producer, Emma aspires to develop and produce stories that engage with audiences and enjoys collaboration with artists and productions passionate about the stories they want to tell. Little Red Fox Productions is currently developing several projects, including Season Two of Incoming: Words of War and a theatre production Brothers.
Key cast:
Ruby Duncan (Corporal Rosie Nolan), Cam Faull (Captain Timothy Malone); Samantha E. Hill (Captain Laura Mantle), Cat Jardine (Q), Katrina Mathers (Major Madeline Laughton), Daniel O'Kane (Sergeant Jake Walker), Liam O'Kane (Corporal Ben Lawley), Liam Seymour (Sergeant Dexter Grant)
Looking for:
distributors, journalists, film festival directors, sales agents, buyers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/IncomingWordsofWar
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/incoming_web_series/
Hashtags used:
#webseries #incomingwordsofwar #film #creators #australianmade #madeinmelbourne #storytelling #australiansoldiers #womeninfilmandtelevision #filmfestival #soldierstories #femalescreenwriter #femalefilmmakers #webfestival
More info:
https://incoming-web-series.com
Where can I watch it now?
Currently AACTA members can watch Incoming: Words of war as it is a contender for nomination in AACTA's Best Short Form/Online - Drama category.