When WW1 brought Australians face to face with mass death a Red Cross Information Bureau and post-war graves workers laboured to help families grieve for the missing.

Interview with Writer/Producer Lucinda Horrocks

Watch The Missing here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

It was a combination of very personal factors. At the time we were thinking about making this film Australia was coming to the end of the ANZAC Centenary and we wanted to say something about the toll and the aftermath. Fred Cahir, our executive producer had been researching his grandfather’s experience working in the war graves unit after WW1. At the same time, I had come across a letter written by my great-great-grandmother's to the Red Cross Enquiry Bureau seeking information on her missing dead son. So a story evolved about mass death, grief, loss and the unsung work of a group of men and women volunteers who tried to help mourning families find their missing loved ones.

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

The film is skillfully crafted and edited by director Jary Nemo. It is a moving and visually rich reflection on war, grief, commitment and loss, a fitting vehicle to commemorate the centenary of the Great War’s aftermath. It features rarely seen historic images from the Victorian RSL and Australian Red Cross Society archives and it includes interviews with Professor Melanie Oppenheimer and Dr Bart Ziino. It also has a very beautiful soundtrack featuring original music by composer Richard Chew.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This is about grief and death and the way societies cope with mass disaster. This is universal and also very personal. It is also a story about everyday heroes - the ones who step up in the face of humanitarian crisis. It is a lovely story.

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

Our films always evolve from concept to shooting script to final version- documentaries are about telling a true story, so the more you discover, the more the story evolves.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's all been positive. Most people are really surprised - they thought they knew everything about the First World War and here was a story they'd never heard.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Not yet but there's always time!

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 like people to watch it and share it.

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

We hope this adds to the rich layers of our national story about war and grief.

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

What is the true legacy of the First World War?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We've just finished two history projects in the regions. Because of COVID-19 we have been doing a lot of work in remote recording and drawing on our back catalogue of content. We are looking forward to having a bit of a break.

Interview: June 2020

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

The Missing

When WW1 brought Australians face to face with mass death a Red Cross Information Bureau and post-war graves workers laboured to help families grieve for the missing.

Length: 11:21

Director: Jary Nemo

Producer: Lucinda Horrocks and Jary Nemo

Writer: Lucinda Horrocks and Jary Nemo

About the writer, director and producer:

JARY NEMO is a director, producer and co-founder of the independent Australian production company Wind & Sky Productions. He has directed over 30 short films which engage audiences and are of social relevance, including the award-winning films Seeing the Land from an Aboriginal Canoe, 2015, Highly Commended MAGNA Awards 2016, and The Savoy Ladies Group, 2014, Winner, Best Film Cultural Diversity, Setting Sun Short Film Festival 2016.

LUCINDA HORROCKS and JARY NEMO are an award-winning writing-producing team. Co-founders of the independent Australian production company Wind & Sky Productions, they have written/produced over 30 short films which engage audiences and are of social relevance.

Key cast: Melanie Oppenheimer, Bart Ziino

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

Facebook: Wind & Sky Productions

Twitter: @lucinda_windsky

Hashtags used: #themissing

Website: windsky.com.au

Funders: Victorian Government

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Melbourne Documentary Film Festival