Passengers on the Sydney Rail Network are asked "How did you get here?"

Interview with Director Belinda Lopez and Director Rocco Fazzari

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

As the children of migrants, documentary makers and artists, we have long observed the rhetoric around immigration and refugees in Australia, including the focus on the 'mode of arrival' as a deciding factor for one's legitimacy to be in this country. We wanted to playfully toy with that question by asking random strangers on trains 'How did you get here?'. Belinda Lopez recorded interviews with those who agreed to take part, while Rocco Fazzari animated the final compilation. The assumptions people made about that question - i.e. whether we meant 'How did you get to this train' or 'How did you get to the country' revealed the different ways people move through the world and the questions that are regularly asked of them.

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

To see a very short film that blends comedy and documentary to reveal deeper political questions about identity, migration and inclusion.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The film is called Australian Mongrel but it has received a great reception around the world. It speaks to a sense of belonging, complex personal histories, and the bravery of immigrants and refugees.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Immense support from film festivals around the globe.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

We were heartened to see how universal these themes really are, beyond Australia.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Our aim is to illustrate the many journeys by which people come to be Australian or in Australia, and hope the conversation can continue here.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We'd love to speak to more journalists!

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

What does it mean to be Australian?

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

Rocco Fazzari is a multimedia artist and painter working on several projects in various mediums. Belinda Lopez is a documentary maker, anthropologist and journalist working as an executive producer on investigative narrative audio podcasts. They hope to collaborate on another short feature before long.

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

Australian Mongrel

Passengers on the Sydney Rail Network are asked "How did you get here?"

Length: 2:15

Director: Belinda Lopez and Rocco Fazzari

Producer: Belinda Lopez and Rocco Fazzari

Writer: Belinda Lopez and Rocco Fazzari

About the writer, director and producer:

BELINDA LOPEZ is a documentary (audio) maker, journalist, writer and researcher. Her work has been shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award, the Australian Human Rights Awards and Amnesty Media Awards, and awarded prizes from the United Nations and the New York Festivals.

ROCCO FAZZARI's cartooning and illustrative work appeared in Fairfax publications for 30 years. He is now an independent multimedia artist and is also a passionate painter.

Looking for: journalists, film festival directors

Facebook: Belinda Lopez

Twitter: @belle_lopez, @roccofazzari

Instagram: @roccofazzari

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival