Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2019 – Rock With The Doc
Jeff 'Dr Flouride' Mclaughlin teaches local kids of Tennant Creek how to build and play their own instruments as a part of the summer school session provided by Barkly Regional Arts.
Interview with Director/Editor William Thomson
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
So this film was a part of a funding by Territory Families, which asked our work (Barkly Regional Arts) to provide a program for kids of Tennant Creek during the January holidays of 2018.
Jeff McLaughlin, or his stage name 'Dr Flouride' (the spelling mistake is intentional, it gets brought up every time, but he's adamant on living with his spelling mistake) a music nut (mixer, producer, musician, you name it), suggested the idea as a way to bring on more interests into music around the community. Jeff works and has worked with many around the Barkly area (central Northern Territory) for up to 12 years, and wanted to inspire a new generation of musicians.
We usually find that making a film or documentary about the experience is much more entertaining than just documentation bookwork.
It was really about having a fun output for not only funding bodies to look at, but for the general public as well.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Well I think the most interesting part about the documentary is it's a part of Australia that isn't thought about much, Tennant Creek isn't exactly the first thing that comes into your mind when you think 'Australia', it's either Sydney, Melbourne, Beaches, or vast Desert.
Tennant Creek is overlooked, and I think that's a bit of a shame, as there are fun and interesting aspects about this place has to offer.
It's a great insight into just a town that is just trying to get by.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
What I especially like about this film, is the everyman aspect of it. Jeff presents himself and nobody else, he doesn't need a suit, or need to talk in corporate jargon.
To me, this a completely refreshing, some of the films we produce have to be corporate-friendly, as that's our audience (funding bodies).
I've always grown up being inspired by the flaws of my favourite films or music, it makes me go "I make those mistakes, I could do this" and I suppose that's what I wanted to do, say "I can do it" regardless of how out there your idea is, just start doing it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Like most documentaries, the story is found in post, I was filming every day for about two weeks straight from 3pm-6pm. I would have had about 9 hours of material.
I started by going chronologically and figuring what the quickest way to explain the situation, I type-casted and simplified my characters. Jeff would be everyman protagonist, and Tash Evans (who is a good mate of mine) would be the expert, she would give all the dry information and context, while Jeff would show the process.
Rule no 1 for me was to be entertaining and flowing, I didn't want it to feel drawn out at parts and I never wanted it to feel dry. My idea is if the film is entertaining, it'll be effective.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
This was back when I just beginning at Barkly Arts, I had two months before that in 2017, but this was the first 'BIG' project. And I think not many expected it to be what it became.
Jeff claims that I 'made him look good' when all I did was observed him and just cut the boring bit. I had councilors and random locals compliment me on the work, hoping it would be a piece to help Tennant Creek's image.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I honestly didn't think it would be popular, I was surprised when the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival accepted it in its first wave of selection (or so the email said), I thought it was a neat video, but not this level.
I'm just happy that Tennant Creek is getting its positive representation.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Well, I just want word of the Barkly region and Tennant Creek to be a positive place, we're smack bang in the middle of the Territory, let the place be heard.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I just want more people to know this place exists, just knowing about Tennant Creek is enough.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My first selfish thought is to make people jealous "Damn, I wish I got to make my own guitar when I was young"
But I guess I've expressed my view in my previous answers, it's about Tennant Creek.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What good things are happening in the outback?
and this film should be one of the many answers.
Would you like to add anything else?
Just that I'm honoured that this film has been put onto a higher platform, and I want to thank The Melbourne Documentary Film festival for selecting this film, and Jeff has expressed his sincere happiness for the film's recognition.
We're happy to be amongst the big leagues, haha.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Barkly Regional Arts are still kicking, and hopefully for many years to come. We have a music video for our local band 'The Barkly Drifters', which are about to be a part of the Sand Track tours, and are having an album launch during our Desert Harmony Festival.
We've just released a short Documentary on a gospel exhibition held by our art centre manager Georges Bureau and a debut album released by local gospel singer Jameson Casson.
We're also continuing to organise local events for Tennant Creek and doing our bit.
Interview: June 2019
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
Rock With The Doc
Jeff 'Dr Flouride' Mclaughlin teaches local kids of Tennant Creek how to build and play their own instruments as a part of the summer school session provided by Barkly Regional Arts.
Length: 8:38
Director: William Thomson
Producer: Barkly Regional Arts
Writer: Jeffery McLaughlin, William Thomson, Kathy Burns
About the writer, director and producer:
Growing up in rural Victoria, Australia, WILLIAM THOMSON had a keen passion to entertain. He realized his passion by Studying Film and TV at Swinburne University. Will then set sail to central Australia, where he's been working at Barkly Regional Arts since late 2017.
BARKLY REGIONAL ARTS (BRA) is the regional hub for the arts in the Barkly region (central Northern Territory, Tennant Creek). Its remit to deliver arts programs and initiatives in the region is as large as the region itself. BRA has evolved from a project-driven to a program-driven arts organisation. Critical to these programs are that BRA provides an interface between mainstream and Indigenous cultures that reaffirm core BRA values including a celebration of and respect for cultural diversity and recognition of a unique Indigenous demographic.
Key cast: Jeffery 'Dr Flouride' McLaughlin (Cast), Tash Evans (Cast)
Looking for: journalists, distributors
Facebook: Barkly Arts
Hashtags used: #rockwiththedoc #territoryfamilies #Tennantcreek #northernterritory #barkly
Website: barklyarts.com.au
Made in association with: Barkly Regional Arts, Territory Families
Funders: Territory Families
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Melbourne Documentary Film Festival - July 22nd 8:30pm @ Backlot Studios, Melbourne; Online at anytime on Vimeo and Youtube