Djarliny means “listen” in Noongar and is about listening to Elders when they are trying to tell us about their land and culture.

Director / Producer: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

Congratulations! Why did you make your music video?

Djarliny, which means “listen” in Noongar, is about the importance of listening to Elders when they are trying to tell us about their land and culture.

The video was made by the Burdiya Mob from Narrogin as part of a Community Arts Network (CAN) project to acknowledge and celebrate Noongar culture.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this music video?

Djarliny is a cinematic window into traditional and contemporary Noongar culture and the lives of young people living in the West Australian Wheatbelt.

The Burdiya Mob have a strong connection to their culture and land and they want to share that with the world through their music.

How do personal and universal themes work in your music video?

Djarliny talks about koort (heart), moort (family), koorlangka (legacy) and koortaboodja (heartland).

It’s about cultural pride and the keeping Noongar language and culture alive.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

Djarliny was written and recorded during a workshop with Noongar singer Gina Williams and rapper Scott “Optamus” Griffiths from Downsyde.

Once the track was mastered the Burdiya Mob embodied the message of their song by learning traditional dances and choosing culturally significant sites where they wanted to shoot the music video. During the shoot they also had Elders teach them cultural knowledge like how to make bookas (kangaroo skin cloaks), karla (fire) and kodjs (axes).

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The video was first screened in Narrogin on 25th November 2016. More than 200 people from the small regional town turned out to support the launch and the sense of pride upon seeing the clip was palpable. Elders called for the video to be replayed several times!

Three days later the clip premiered online via Tone Deaf. The response was incredible. Triple J voted it one of the top ten music videos released in November and Channel Ten News, ABC Radio and local media all covered the release.

The response from the community in Narrogin has been one of heartfelt pride and support for the message the Burdiya Mob are spreading about listening to Elders.

.Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

We were very aware of the importance of the message in the song and the benefits of sharing Noongar language and culture through the clip, but the support from national media like Channel Ten and Triple J has definitely been a great surprise.

What are you looking to achieve by having your music video more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We want to change people’s perceptions and stereotypes of Aboriginal Australians, in particular young Aboriginal people. We want this clip to show the world that culture is strong, and that the younger generations are eager to learn about their language, their traditions and the stories of their Elders.

Burdiya Mob want to listen and they want others to listen too.

Projects like this one delivered by CAN, help empower communities to celebrate their culture and it provides a space for generations to come together to share and learn.

We want to spread the message about listening to Elders as far as possible and celebrate the work of the Burdiya Mob and all the Elders, artists and community members who supported them to create this clip.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We are trying to get the clip out to as many people as possible so anyone who can help with that should contact Community Arts Network http://www.canwa.com.au/

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this music video to have?

We hope this clip challenges negative stereotypes and shows these teenagers for what they are – young, proud of their culture, embracing their language and eager to learn what their Elders will share.

Most of what we see about Aboriginal Australia in the media is either derogatory or tragic. Deaths in custody, unacceptably high suicide rates, poor health and education statics. It is negative and depressing. This video is a real world antidote to that media perception. The people featured in this video are not victims. They are strong and proud and making a difference.

We hope that people watching it will hear the message and take time to listen to Elders when they are talking about their land and culture.

For the young people in Burdiya Mob the process of making the song and clip also had a huge impact. Not only did it develop their traditional and contemporary cultural skills and knowledge, it also gave them an opportunity to learn more Noongar language and share that language through music with the whole country.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this music video?

We want to show that we can make a REAL difference to communities and individual lives by investing in art and cultural projects that celebrate and promote important aspects of life such as language, cultural transmission and the sharing of intergenerational information.

How important is it to listen to Aboriginal Elders and learn about Indigenous culture?

Would you like to add anything else?

Burdiya Mob’s Djarliny was born out of Community Arts Network’s Rekindling Stories on Country program in partnership with Narrogin Senior High School and the Shire of Narrogin. The project was supported by the Australian Government, Australia Council for the Arts and the Government of Western Australian’s Department of Culture and the Arts.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Burdiya Mob have been approached by numerous festivals and events to perform in 2017.

Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, director and producer, is working on a film for Fremantle Arts Centre’s 2017 ORANGE exhibition. www.poppyvog.com

Matsu, director of photography, is in Japan shooting a music video. www.matsu.photography

Rob Woods, editor, is preparing a musical for 2017 Fringeworld Festival and working for Sandbox Post Production. www.hollandstproductions.com

Interview: December 2016

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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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Djarliny – Burdiya Mob

Djarliny means “listen” in Noongar and is about listening to Elders when they are trying to tell us about their land and culture.

Length: 00:03:31

Director / Producer: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

About the writer, director and producer:

Poppy van Oorde-Grainger is an Australian filmmaker and artist specialising in collaborating with communities. She has made work for Nickelodeon, Perth International Arts Festival, London International Festival of Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu in China and Macrobert in Scotland.

Key cast: Young people from Narrogin WA

Looking for sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists

Made in association with: Community Arts Network

Release date: 25th November, 2016

Where will it be screened in the next month? Online via CAN’s Vimeo, Tone Deaf and Triple J Best videos of November