Dig Deeper
Four divergent Aboriginal artists use their dual heritage and historical injustice as a driving force to break through and create powerful contemporary urban art.
Interview with Director Mark Street
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to explore how first nations artists in Australia dealt with, through their art, the fact that one side of their family as colonizers were in part responsible for the displacement of the other side of their family as Aboriginals.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The four main artists are fascinating people all expressing themselves in unique ways - being provocative, being generous, reclaiming old practices and forging new ones. Questions were raised like how do you talk about the things that have happened to you and from your history? Are you angry? Does it stir passion and emotion in your work? Can you engage in a deeper, more fundamental way and focus more on the regeneration of cultural practices? They are entertaining, humourous, insightful and enlightening. And their work is amazing.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Urban art deals with social and cultural issues and makes important political statements focusing on, for example, the stolen generation, land rights, and reconciliation. There also tends to be a probing nature to the art: a questioning of identity or a challenge to colonial accounts of Australian history.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The film evolved over the course of the shooting as we got to know each other more and more. Personal stories came out and things were revealed. The artists won major awards during the filming period and had exhibitions internationally. They grew in fame and stature over the 18 months of production. That couldn't have been predicted at the start.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback from the artists themselves was very positive which was very important. There have been several reviews which were all positive. The premiere screening will be in July 2023 so we will see what the general public thinks then.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not Yet. It's early in its distribution. Positive feedback is great but hopefully, it will create room for discussion and education.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The contemporary Aboriginal urban art movement is growing rapidly in Australia but I think not so much overseas. So I hope to find outlets for these artists and their art movement in general around the world.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are hoping to garner interest from sales agents, distributors etc to show their audiences something different and insightful, uniquely Australian.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope people will get excited about the artworks and be surprised by the ideas and themes behind the works. There's a depth of history and injustice that people only barely understand. It is an eye-opening look into the world of contemporary Aboriginals in Australia who express themselves through art.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
When I decided to make the film it was because I felt like I should know about the first nations people of my country in a deeper way and art was my way in.
Some of the artworks are political and provocative and others suggest another way of making a point. The film shows that the trauma of historical injustice is very much alive today and the fight goes on.
Would you like to add anything else?
The four artists in the film are incredibly raw and honest. They put themselves out there in the film and I respect them enormously for that. There is, obviously, no film without them.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
F-Reel Film and TV is run by Producer Fiona Cochrane and has several projects on the go including a 7 part series on Australian photographers, and a feature documentary on Melbourne comedic legend Rod Quantock.
Interview: July 2023
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
Dig Deeper
Four divergent Aboriginal artists use their dual heritage and historical injustice as a driving force to break through and create powerful contemporary urban art.
Length: 53:00
Director: Mark Street
Producer: Fiona Cochrane
Writer: Mark Street, Blak Douglas, Maree Clarke, Penny Evans, Ben mcKeown
About the writer, director and producer:
Director/Writer MARK STREET has worked in the film and TV industry for 25 years as a producer, director, camera operator, editor and sound designer. Most of his work has been at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on a variety of productions in drama, comedy, and documentary. As a part of the Arts department, he has produced segments for both on-air and online. His recent feature documentary Can Art Stop a Bullet? won awards at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, ATOM and AACTA as well as at festivals Internationally. Mark wrote the questions and ideas explored in the film Dig Deeper in collaboration with those featured in the film.
FIONA COCHRANE, F-Reel film and TV, is the producer and her multi-award-winning documentary films have covered topics such as social issues (teenage mothers, teenage drug use, young people and the law), women’s issues (child sexual abuse, sexual assault), indigenous issues, musical themes (musical appropriation, music therapy, music and the brain) and art. In 2019, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the visual arts as an independent film producer.
Key cast: Blak Douglas, Maree Clarke, Ben McKeown, Penny Evans
Looking for: distributors
Facebook: Documentary "Dig Deeper
Website: www.digdeeperfilm.com.au
Made in association with: F-Reel film and TV, Melbourne, Australia
Funders: Screen Victoria, Screen Australia
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
The film has been entered into various film festivals and we are awaiting confirmation.