European Short Film Festival - For My Friends In Detention
For my Friends in Detention explores the impact refugee activism in Australia has on people on both sides of the fence. It draws upon several years of observational footage, including Sarah’s first experience of a detection center and her relationship with Cali, a Tamil refugee.
Interview with Director Zebedee Parkes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In early 2011 I joined a refugee convergence, called “The Caravan of Compassion” to Leonora detention centre — which is over a day's drive out in the middle of the desert. It was the first time I saw a detention centre, refugee children waving over fences and guards intimidating them. It was also Sarah’s first time protesting and visiting refugees at a detention centre. Sarah is one of the main characters in the documentary. I made a film of the convergence and since then have been filming the refugee rights campaign.
There are many amazing stories in the campaign, from the protests outside detention centres and people deciding to get arrested for the first time to the collaboration between activists outside and refugees in detention and the relationships formed. Having filmed dozens of hours of protests, meetings and social events around the campaign I wanted to make a documentary. Something more meaningful than just protest footage spliced together with fancy editing.
A film that could tap into the stories of communities formed and reasons that drive people to be involved for years on end — and hopefully by doing so inspire others to get active in the campaign.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
There are a lot of films about refugees and the detention system in Australia. Many do a great job of exposing and provoking a reaction to the horrific conditions. But they rarely give audiences a sense of agency or hope that they can take actions that make a difference. It is not enough to know about and even disagree with the indefinite detention of refugees. You have to get active.
I feel this film encourages people to get active as it tells a story of why activism is important on a personal level and how it does make a difference. If you ever wonder if it's worth getting active or the energy you put into social justice causes is worthwhile — you should watch this film.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Love and friendship are core themes in this film. Particularly friendship, while in many ways it is a love story — the connection, the friendship between people protesting outside and people in detention and how this inspires each other to keep going is at the core.
There are numerous stories of refugees post detention saying how activism outside and the connection with those activists was the core thing that kept them going, gave them hope. Activists who’ve spent several years or more in the campaign often say the thing that keeps them going is the connections they have with people in detention. Their friends in detention. I really wanted to explore this in the film.
Being about refugees locked up indefinitely without charge or trial obviously has overarching themes of freedom and justice. However I’ve found by telling someone why it is an injustice, even if they agree with you is still not enough to inspire people get active. I think that’s where friendship in how it shows the positive personal effects people's actions can have is really import.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
From the get go I had a 12 minute time limit for the film. Even though I probably had enough material to make a feature documentary.
Originally I did a few treatments on different angles and people in the campaign, with more of a focus on a group of students being active at their university as an entry point to the larger campaign. I don’t think I used a shot of the footage I filmed of refugee activism on campus.
One interview is with Cali, a Tamil refugee who knew how to tell a story. His story - from why he had to leave Sri Lanka, to the time he spent in Australia’s in detention and then when he got freedom and became involved with the refugee activist groups - went for over two hours. The other two with activists went for about an hour each. On top of that there is all the footage of them speaking at rallies and doing vox pop interviews. Oh and there were other people I half planned on interviewing as well.
Safe to say it was obvious we had way too much footage then. I listened through all the interviews, wrote all the key points and actions people spoke about on cards and put them on a corkboard. There was nearly one hundred cards. Then it became a constant struggle to build a narrative out all the footage and hours of interviews.
It was clear we needed a concise and specific story in the campaign and cut away everything that was not contributing to that. From the start the relationship between Sarah and Cali, the love story, if you like, between an activist and a refugee was the story. We re-edited the second act of the film a few times before we got it right. I had to accept cutting pieces out that I really felt the film needed, but it all worked out.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Apart from one lecturer at university, who did not like the fact we used music to influence emotions or that we used a chronological narrative structure as opposed to putting all the nice stuff first then the heavy stuff next, it was mostly positive. I was initially worried if it would make sense to people not in the campaign, but they responded really well and didn’t feel there were any major holes.
Most people in Australia have some idea about refugees and detention, in this sense they have a context to the place and the story. Or at least the ones that would come to the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The film has played to supportive audiences — I’m not sure how it would go in front of people hostile towards refugees. But they aren’t the audience and I’m looking to get people already concerned active, not change peoples minds completely.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Ideally more exposure for the film that leads to community screenings and hopefully inspires more people to get active in the campaign. Since I got it into its first festival, It gave the film more legitimacy and has led to a couple of community screenings being planned.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
If there are people interested in collaborating on a feature documentary or web series around refugee rights activism, then that would be great. In some ways I see the short as a step towards a longer version. Otherwise people and organisations who can host community screenings of the film would be great.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
People to get inspired to be a part of the refugee rights campaign.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I don’t think its going to spark a debate over whether detaining refugees should happen — I think the audience watching this film are already convinced of that. Instead I think the core question is can activism make a difference? Is it worth being involved in the refugee campaign?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Right now I’m working a greenleft weekly, a social justice and environmental publication in Australia doing online videos, paper production and regularly writing about the refugee campaign.
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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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For My Friends in Detention
For my Friends in Detention explores the impact refugee activism in Australia has on people on both sides of the fence. It draws upon several years of observational footage, including Sarah’s first experience of a detection center and her relationship with Cali, a Tamil refugee.
Length: 12 minutes
Director: Zebedee Parkes
Editor: Karl Ford
About the writer, director and producer:
Zebedee Parkes is a filmmaker and activist is currently working at greenleft weekly creating video and photo content and writing about the refugee rights campaign.
Key cast:
Made in association with: Murdoch University, Western Australia.
Release date: December 2015
Where can I watch it in the next month?
It has screened at the Global Impact Film Festival. Upcoming festivals screening the film are The Wandering Reel Traveling Film Festival and the European Short Film Festival. Refugee rights groups are also screening it on and off.
More info about the film: https://filmfreeway.com/project/846724/