On the 29th July 2014 Glen Turner, a compliance officer with the Office of Environment and Heritage, was shot four times and died on the side of a lonely public road 60 kms from the town of Moree. Glen Turner was murdered trying to stop illegal land clearing, now Australia is heading towards stepped up land clearing, habitat loss and species extinction, and the government is making it legal.

Interview with Writer/Director Gregory Miller

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Why are you making your film?

Passion for the environment and investigating the underlying tensions in the bush, which led to the tragic death of Environmental Officer Glen Turner.

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

Human interest, Suspense- the film has a "True Crime" feel, environmental concerns.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Life and death by the side of the road in Moree, the clash of country and city values, and of environmentalism vs pro-development in Australia and globally.

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

The personal struggle of Glen Turner's family, through the two years following his death, waiting for the murder trial and justice, is very much at the emotional core of the film now that Gregory has developed a close relationship with Glen's widow, Alison, and sister Fran.

Cultivating Murder - The victim Glen Turner's partner Alison McKenzie and his sister Fran Pearce outside the Supreme Court Sydney, where Ian Turnbull had just been convicted of murder.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Very good, important film, wide audience interest.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Not really, a little in regard to the idea of presenting the murderers point of view (or the farmers' grievances more generally)

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

To help our Crowdfunding campaign and Documentary Australia Foundation profile: we are seeking tax deductable donations to help fund the film.

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

Grantmakers, crowdfunding supporters, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists

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

We want the film released by September as there is a proposed bill to wind back environmental protection in NSW on the table currently, and the film will inform debate around the proposed bill. We hope it will ignite support for farmers and ecologists concerned about wide spread land-clearing and its impacts.

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

At the centre of the murder trial is a mystery, not “Who did it?” but “Why did he do it”? Ian Turnbull, one of NSW’s wealthiest farmers, had previously been prosecuted for repeated large-scale illegal land clearing, and thought the Office of Environment and Heritage were
persecuting him and his family business.

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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

Cultivating Murder

Length: 80 mins, & 52 mins

Director: Gregory Miller

Producers: Film Projects (Gregory Miller & Georgia Wallace-Crabbe & Sensible Film (John Moore, Lisa Horler)

Writer: Gregory Miller

About the writer, director and producer: Film Projects Pty Ltd and Sensible Films Pty Ltd, are in co-production to produce. They make feature documentaries for television and theatrical release and have worked with many of the top international broad-casters and distributors to reach wide audiences.

The director, Gregory Miller has produced and directed many documentary films and series and has been working on this production for the last 18 months.

The producers John Moore, Lisa Horler and Georgia Wallace-Crabbe have been producing award-winning local and international documentaries for many years.

Lisa Recently produced CHASING ASYLUM, Georgia recently produced, THESE HEATHEN DREAMS.

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

Funders: TBA, Crowdfunding Documentary Australia Foundation

Made in association with: Sensible Films

Release date: Late 2016