Through the Fog
A mother details her struggles with addiction after the loss of her son.
Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Mark Hellinger
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
After meeting the film's subject Julie-Anne, I wanted to tell her story of resilience and fighting back from addiction and tragedy.
I wanted to tell her story to make people understand what leads people to addiction and show how we can always help and support others having a tough time in life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film helps tell the story of addiction and what can lead someone to become homeless. Often when people see others sleeping rough, there is judgment toward the person. But this is another story showing that good honest people can fall on hard times and we should all have empathy and compassion and try and help those who have a tough time in life.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Resilience is a theme of this film, how people with help can overcome all types of obstacles. This film shows how those who helped Julie-Anne made such a difference in her fight back. This is why now Julie-Anne tries to help others.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As the film evolved, the more time I spent with Julie-Anne, the more I wanted to know about her journey. Where she came from, the ups and the downs and where she is now in her life.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film has gotten very positive feedback, particularly from those people who know the film's subject Julie-Anne, which is great. As every time someone gives you the privilege to help tell their story, you always wish to do them justice.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has been great, in terms of helping tell the story of addiction, people with experience in that field have been very encouraging and have said this film can hopefully help educate others on what the journey back from addiction is like.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To get people to come to see the film as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival at Cinema Nova on Sunday, 30 July at 1.30 pm.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Would love people to come to see the film, be they producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, or journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd love the film to be well received and for those seeing it to be more empathetic to those struggling around them.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What leads people to addiction and how can we help bring people back from it is an important question, which I hope the film helps tackle.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for the opportunity to talk about this film, hope people can check it out as well as many of the other great films as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently working on a film about siblings surviving the War in Europe in the 1940s.
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
After the Fog
A mother details her struggles with addiction after the loss of her son.
Length: 5:01
Director: Mark Hellinger
Producer: Mark Hellinger
Writer: Mark Hellinger
About the writer, director and producer:
MARK HELLINGER is a Melbourne-based filmmaker who has directed and produced several award-winning internationally and locally broadcast films. Mark’s work predominantly focuses on the multicultural nature of Australian society and how sport and art can help people find their feet.
Looking for: distributors, film festival directors, journalists, producers
Facebook: Mark Hellinger - Filmmaker
Twitter: @m_h1234
Instagram: @hproductions_au
Hashtags used: #throughthefog
Website: hproductions.com.au/portfolio/through-the-fog/
Other: YouTube
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
The film will be screened at Cinema Nova on July 30, as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.