MDFF 2021 - Painting My Canvas
A man with a history of mental illness, drug abuse, and homelessness finds solace through art.
Interview with Director/Producer Mark Hellinger
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The initial premise of “Painting My Canvas” was to make a documentary about the elderly homeless. But upon interviewing my first subject for this documentary, Stephen Whittaker, and hearing his story the idea changed. Stephen has endured more than most people and details how his childhood or lack thereof shaped his life. From time spent living on the street, in jail and drug affected it wasn’t until much later in his life did he find peace.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film's subject Stephen Whittaker is a very charismatic figure who had a very tragic childhood. It’s important to see how art can help heal people. It's also interesting to see how someone creates art for no other reason but to distract their mind and with no intention showing anyone can create such incredible work.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Trauma is a big theme of the film. Showing how Stephen’s childhood led to his history with crime and living on the street. Stephen explains in the film how living on the street changed his perception of other homelessness and thinks we should all help people struggling as you never know what trauma they may have gone through.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It was very difficult to distill someone's life into a short film. So the challenge was making a very impactful film talking about homelessness, crime and trauma whilst also paying tribute to Stephen's extraordinary life. Much time was taken to edit this project to try and tell a short impactful story that does all of those things.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback from the film has been very positive. People have told me that it is very impactful and helps teach important lessons. But most importantly Stephen and people associated with Stephen liked the film. I have been told it did a good job of showing him as a person, which is what I wanted to achieve.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Any positive feedback is great. Particularly feedback where people tell you that the film has changed their thoughts on something like addiction or homelessness. So the feedback has challenged me to create more projects like this in the future.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want to promote the messages around the film and encourage people to come to the screening as part of Melbourne Documentary Film Festival at Cinema Nova on September 11.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message
I would love film festival directors to come and board and program the film at upcoming festivals, as I think the messages told in the film are important. I would also love journalists to come on board and help tell Stephen's story. As it is important to tell stories such as this which explain how someone goes from being an innocent child to homeless and drug affected and show how they come back from that.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want people to understand the plight of many people who suffer from addiction is often due to traumas that they have been through. I also want people to empathise with people living on the street, to stop and help them when they can, as at one time there were just innocent children too.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How much of the way we are is impacted by our childhoods?
Would you like to add anything else?
Creating art is what helped Stephen find peace. The art Stephen made was never meant for public view, but just a thing to relax him. Unfortunately Stephen passed away during the production of the documentary, but I feel humbled to have the opportunity to tell his story about resilience and hope his words and art can live on.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently working on a film how Australian Rules football is taking off in India. It follow the first-ever Indian team to compete on home soil in an Australian Rules match.
Interview: August 2021
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
Painting My Canvas
Length:
5:44
Writer/Director/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.
Key cast:
Stephen Whittaker (film subject), Mark Hellinger (Director/ Producer/Editor), Rod Th’ng (Cinematographer), Nick Campbell (Cinematographer), Artie Blakeney (Sound recordist/mix)
Looking for:
film festival directors, journalists
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MarkhellingerFilm
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hproductions_au/
Hashtags used:
#paintingmycanvas
More info:
http://hproductions.com.au/portfolio/painting-my-canvas/
Where can I see it?
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival as part of Short session 1 at Cinema Nova, 10.45 Saturday September 11.