Twelve emerging Indigenous filmmakers from remote communities across the Top End are in Darwin this week to participate in a five day documentary making workshop focussing on refining their skills and developing documentary stories for television.
Northern Territory Film Office (NTFO) Director Penelope McDonald said NTFO is collaborating with ABC TV, the Australian Film Commission (AFC), National Indigenous Television (NITV) and the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) in an exciting new initiative to produce several five minute documentaries for Yarning Up, a series set to broadcast on ABC TV.
‘At the end of the week long workshop participants will have a developed story idea to present to broadcasters, and three will be selected for production on ABC Television.
‘Yarning Up is focussed on communities in the Top End, and gives participants the opportunity to build on their skills and experiences and we are hoping that the documentaries will be in production and completed by the end of the year.’
‘This is a great opportunity for new Territory stories to be shown to audiences around Australia. Territorians love seeing their stories on the screen, as do audiences right around Australia.
Ms McDonald said Yarning Up, a program funded by NTFO, AFC, NITV and DEET is an initiative about employment and skills and aims to develop production skills in Indigenous communities in the Territory.
‘The workshops feature an impressive line up of experienced program makers from around the country,’ Ms McDonald said.
The week long workshop is taking place at the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) from Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October 2007.
[release from NTFO]