thestoriesproject.com.au

"This film, Mamu, it's about right, it's about wrong. It's about the past and the future, the new and the old." - Curtis

In September 2010 the Desert Stories crew embarked on their first professional short film project under the guidance of filmmaker mentor Platon Theodoris. Curtis Taylor speaks about his experience of directing his first narrative based short film, with some sneak peaks of Mamu in between.

The video is made up of interviews with Curtis during the post production phase of Mamu and was filmed on location in Newman and Lake Dora, Punmu Community.

Filmed by: Curtis Taylor & Dave Wells
Edited by: Mark Taylor

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

Learn more about The Stories Project at thestoriesproject.com.au

Learn more about CuriousWorks at curiousworks.com.au

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"For Australia to become like this - to have Villawood transformed into that is painful." - Maria

A well-known end point and starting point for those who leave their country seeking asylum in Australia is Villawood Detention Centre – formerly known as Villawood Hostel. Two women who were faced with the choice to flee share their story with their sons.

There are a few things that separate the arrival of Maria and Zahoor at Villawood: ten years, a few policy reforms and two very large fences.

Villawood Mums
Release: October 2010
Location: Villawood Detention Centre, Western Sydney

Producers: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
Directors: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
1st Assistant Director: Alan Lao
Directors Photography: Guido Gonzalez and Saif Jari
Editor: Anna Lam
Sound (Shoot): Shane MacDonald
Sound (Post) and Music: Saif Jari
Production Assistant: Lazare Nyembo

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks.

Learn more about The Stories Project at thestoriesproject.com.au

Learn more about CuriousWorks at curiousworks.com.au

thestoriesproject.com.au
vimeo.com/channels/storiesproject

“For family, woman, man and child, going back to the land they know.” Billy Landy aka Butler

Catch a slice of Martu life in 2 minutes.

On a return to country trip to Durba Springs in June this year, Martumili artist Yankura paints his traditional home Puntawarri. The backing track, performed by Butler is also about Puntawarri, a longing to return to their ancestral home.

Producer: Dave Wells
Directors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Directors Photography: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John, Carol Macdonald
Editors: Curtis Taylor, Anthony Gibbs, Owen John

Sound: Anthony Gibbs
Music: courtesy of Billy Landy aka Butler, “Puntawarri”, recorded live

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks.

Learn more about The Stories Project at thestoriesproject.com.au

Learn more about CuriousWorks at curiousworks.com.au

thestoriesproject.com.au/
vimeo.com/channels/storiesproject

"Candombe is a very emotional experience ... you feel your ancestry when you play."
- Leo Santalucia, Urumbe

Catch a slice of Western Sydney life in 90 seconds.

The candombe drums hold cultural importance for both the Uruguayan and African communities in Fairfield. Just as it provided relief for the African slaves who brought this rhythmic drumming from Africa, it continues to remind South American migrants of the difficult social, political and economic hardships that caused their families to migrate.

On 29th May 2010, Fairfield saw its very first Afro-Latino festival that celebrated the shared cultural heritage of African and Latin American communities. A love of soccer, music dance and food was shared by all who attended the event.

Candombe
Producer: Guido Gonzalez
Director: Lazarius Nyembo
1st Assistant Director: Alan Lao
Director Photography: Anna Lam
Editor: Shane MacDonald and Elias Nohra
Sound: Saif Jari
Music: Urumbe Drumming Group (recorded live at the AfroLatino Festival)

Thanks to festival organiser Laura Luna

The Stories Project
Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Mentors: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

The Stories Project is presented by CuriousWorks.

Learn more about The Stories Project at thestoriesproject.com.au

Learn more about CuriousWorks at curiousworks.com.au

thestoriesproject.com.au
vimeo.com/channels/storiesproject

The strangest thing is to walk on concrete. We normally walk on soft sand.
- OJ

Within days of arriving in Sydney, the Desert Stories crew began lamenting their distance from home and rueing the pace of the city.

Inspired by the buskers he saw everyday at Central Station, OJ brought a song about his desert home and his people to the endless parade of city-folk moving through the Railway Square tunnel. He made $20.

OJ On Broadway
Directors & Cinematographers: Morika Blijabu & Curtis Taylor
Performer: Owen Gibbs
Sound: Cassandra Nanudie
Boom: Jeremy Sammy
Editors: Desert Stories crew

Creative Director: Shakthidharan
Supervising Producer: Eleanor Winkler
Supervising Filmmakers: Elias Nohra & Platon Theodoris

Music: Living in the Desert by OJ & the Punmu Lakeside Band

Content by the Desert Stories crew is produced in partnership between CuriousWorks and Martu Media, a division of Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Learn more about The Stories Project at thestoriesproject.com.au

Learn more about CuriousWorks at curiousworks.com.au