United Nations Award
PROJECT
COPYRIGHT
According to the Australian Copyright Council, the expressions which have been made as a result of participation in co-production which have taken form in this project as photographs, film, and derivative of other digital media are automatically assigned the copyright to those subjects involved. To learn more about copyright as it pertains to the restrictions of use of any /all of the United Nations Award project please refer to our Copyright Policy on this website.
OVERVIEW
Filmmaker and Distinguished Scholar, Magali McDuffie was awarded first place in the United Nations Association of Western Australia’s “Short Film Competition” in the Indigenous Culture category for the film ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’, held on the 24th August 2019 at the Camelot Outdoor Cinema: Arts and Event Venue; Theatre, Cafe Bar in Modman, Western Australia. The story through the film is told through the voice of Dr. Anne Poelina, Nyikina Traditional Custodian and Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council of the Kimberley Region, Western Australia.
The film presents the case under Article 3 United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People for the protection of the Mardoowarra (Fitzroy River) and features Dr. Anne Poelina, Nyikina Warrwa Traditional Custodian, Jeannie Warbie, Senior Nyikina Elder, and Kyle Lawrence, Nyikina Aboriginal child.
BUDGET
This project was conducted as a short-term fee-for-service, contracted by Dr. Anne Poelina, Madjulla Incorporated, and Magali McDuffie from Oethica Group Productions as co-editors and co-producers of the film ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’.
CONSENT
All subjects who appear in the film ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ provided consent on film. This means Oethica Group Productions expressly sought and was granted consent to distribute co-creations under the respective copyright and related attributions of those individuals.
CO-PRODUCTION
Each and every subject was provided an opportunity to be involved in the co-production and final approval of the film prior to full public release. All further reproductions, distribution, and future works derivative of the original creations for the Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo project are protected under an Attributions 4.0 International (CC-BY) license, as described and agreed with each subject
SCOPE
The project was focused on the production of a short film, ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ utilizing existing footage. Oethica Group Productions provided consultation with project team members and the decision to submit the film as part of the UNAWA Film Festival in 2019 provided the impetus to update the original film footage into a robust narrative.
TEAM
Jeannie Warbie
Senior Nyikina Elder
Subject in ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’
Dr. Anne Poelina
Nyikina Warra Elder & Traditional Custodian
Subject in ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’
Dr. Magali McDuffie
Principal Partner, Oethica Group Productions
Researcher, Filmmaker for ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’
BUDGET
The film was financed by Madjulla Incorporated on a short-term fee-for-service basis. Additional editing time and attendance at events were provided pro-bono by Oethica Group Productions. No additional funding nor sponsorship was raised for this project.
DELIVERABLES
This project engaged the service of Oethica Group Productions to:
Consult with key subjects as depicted in the film production;
Negotiate changes to the original film score and audio tracks according to a project plan;
Edit film, render, and provide for subject feedback;
Adjust film, re-render, and export final film to load to film repository;
Present film online and to a physical audience.
COMMUNICATIONS
A combination of communication methods was employed to achieve editing of the film over distance including web conferencing (Skype), teleconferencing (phone), and multiple exchanges through email. Magali McDuffie provided multiple editions to the principal subjects for ratification and final approval for public release.
A range of different messages were prepared, approved, and released promoting the film to virtual audiences through social media including Twitter and Facebook.
DETAILS
Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo originated from the first short film made in 2014 and titled Anne Poelina: My Story, which was screened in a presentation for the Peter Cullen Trust that year. With the ever-growing, impending threats to the Mardoowarra, Fitzroy River, Dr. Anne Poelina and Dr. Magali McDuffie felt that Kimberley Aboriginal people's continued fight to protect the river from invasive and unethical development should be framed around the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The updated film was selected as part of the Inaugural United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division) Short Film Festival (2019) and won the Indigenous Culture category. It was screened at the Camelot Cinema in Perth.
OUTCOMES
The ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ film project presents the case under Article 3 United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People for the protection of the Mardoowarra (Fitzroy River) and features Dr. Anne Poelina, Jeannie Warbie, Nyikina Traditional Custodian, and Kyle Lawrence. The film was awarded first place in the United Nations Association of Western Australia’s “Short Film Competition” in the Indigenous Culture category for the film ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’, held on the 24th August 2019 at the Camelot Outdoor Cinema: Arts and Event Venue; Theatre, Cafe Bar in Modman, Western Australia.
Every effort was made for the subjects in the film to be present at the award. Filmmaker and Distinguished Scholar, Magali McDuffie, Principal Partner at Oethica Group Productions, and Alexander Hayes were in attendance at the event.
Introductions by UNWA representatives at the Film Festival.
KEY LINKS
ATTRIBUTION
Cultural attribution is noted for all contributions to the ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ film project and ensuing connections that continue to grow as a result of this important historical narrative across First Nations in a global context. All communications in this regard must be directed to Dr. Anne Poelina, Cultural Advisor and Producer for the ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ film.
Attribution for event photography and promotional collateral is given to Alexander Hayes, for the ‘Bookarrarra Liyan Mardoowarra Booroo’ film project. Key photos for the project can be viewed at Oethica Group Productions Flickr account, also licensed as CC BY Attribution Sharealike.
