Melbourne Documentary Film Festival - Seven Women Nepal: The Birth Of A Social Enterprise
Seven Women Nepal - The Birth of a Social Enterprise is a documentary that examines how one Australian created a successful social enterprise with the disabled women of Nepal and what is truly possible with a willingness to learn from mistakes and the right people to help. This is a great documentary for anyone who has ever dreamt of making a difference through education and empowerment.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Claire Stone & Gaby Purchase
Main photo: Transforming lives through empowerment.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We were both studying Screenwriting at RMIT and one of the subjects involved choosing a documentary to make. Gaby had met Stephanie Woollard and heard about the work she was doing with Seven Women and this seemed like an interesting topic.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The documentary is a unique insight into how social enterprise Seven Women was started, the hurdles that had to be overcome and what it takes in terms of support from family, friends and volunteers to make it work.
We meet the remarkable, disabled women of Nepal and how through Seven Women they challenged the long held stigma of being disabled.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The disabled women on Nepal are an amazing group of women and the documentary explores the difficulty of overcoming stigma that has its roots in long held religious beliefs. The documentary is about the efficacy of financial empowerment in improving lives and the importance of finding your people.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The creators were given footage from Nepal to work with initially without it being translated. We worked with volunteers on the translations but what was missing was the narrative link to hold it all together.
We then began again and filmed the story of how the organisation Seven Women started and the disabled women who were integral to its inception. We then scripted the story, largely in the editing suite.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We won an AWGIE for best short documentary in 2016 which was an unexpected but lovely surprise.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It takes one person so start an organisation but then an army to sustain it. We understand this even more now.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We think it’s a great opportunity to let people know about the film and share it with a wider audience.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would love the documentary to be picked up by film festivals and educators who work with students, particularly in the area of international studies.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
That the audience come away with a better understanding of how courageous these women are and what this type or work entails.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why has Seven Women flourished where other social enterprises have failed?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Gaby has a feature film in development with a US TV Director and Claire is reading for a Film Financier and developing her slate of feature and television screenplays.
Interview: June 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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Seven Women Nepal - The Birth Of A Social Enterprise
Seven Women Nepal - The Birth of a Social Enterprise is a documentary that examines how one Australian created a successful social enterprise with the disabled women of Nepal and what is truly possible with a willingness to learn from mistakes and the right people to help. This is a great documentary for anyone who has ever dreamt of making a difference through education and empowerment.
Length: 33 minutes
Director: Claire Stone & Gaby Purchase
Producer: Claire Stone & Gaby Purchase
Writer: Claire Stone & Gaby Purchase
About the writer, director and producer:
Both graduate RMIT Screenwriting students.