'Songs of the Mission' selected for Wave Rock

25 September 2007

Organisation

FTI member Shelley Craddock’s short film ‘Songs of the Mission’ has been selected for screening at the 2007 Wave Rock Weekender. The 24 hour festival is on the long weekend at the end of September.

The film takes a different perspective on the stolen generation. Five women sing in language the hymns which gave them courage and hope. Their stories reveal the history of Mount Margaret, a sanctuary from the terror of early 1900’s when children were taken and never seen again.

The film sprung from an idea of former Mount Margaret resident Helen Skiasdis who wanted to record the hymns being sung in a native language, participant Josie Boyle thought of filming the event. Josie is well know to many local filmmakers through her feature role in Janine Boreland’s work ‘Talkabout Walkabout’.

Josie teamed up with Director Shelley Craddock and the idea expanded to include the stories of the women involved.

The central to the films storytelling is archival footage that was provided by Elizabeth Miller who had brought her tapes to one of the recording sessions. getting permission to use the footage hopwever was one of the many challenges the team faced, Shelley Craddock explains,

“Initially, she was very hesitant to let us use the films, as the church had born the brunt of so much negative publicity. Trust and mutual respect developed slowly over many cups of tea, lunches, funerals and sing alongs. Eventually she realized this was the chance to tell her side of the story.”

Shelley, a wife, mother and former doctor who has embraced filmmaking says this project made her appreciate the importance of good planning and preparation, when she joined the project their was no script, documentation or plan – meaning the fiolm was largely made in post production, a rather back to front scenario. Craddock is eager to repeat the process though,

“The project took over my life for months, but I made some wonderful friends. They trusted me. I think I repaid that trust.”

To find out more about The Wave Rock Weekender click here

To find out more about Bench Top Productions click here