A web documentary project based on the heart-warming stories of people living in vibrant regional communities in South Australia and Cambodia will premiere to a global audience on Thursday March 3rd at Adelaide’s Mercury Cinema.
Big Stories Small Towns 2 is a unique web documentary project filmed in Murray Bridge, Raukkan and Port Augusta in South Australia and Ban Lung in Cambodia, bringing personal stories full of humour and hope to the screen.
Following the websites world premiere launch on March 3rd, the series of short films, digital stories and slide shows will be available for viewing online at www.bigstories.com.au.
The first Big Stories Small Towns project, launched in 2009, featured stories from the community of Port Augusta, in regional SA.
It was showcased at the prestigious DocLab at Amsterdam’s International Documentary Film Festival and at the Sheffield Docfest.
Big Stories 2 premieres as part of the 2011 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival and sees the original creative team of Jeni Lee & Sieh Mchawala (filmmakers), Anna Grieve & Martin Potter (producers) and Nick Crowther (interactive producer) reunited as, Big Stories Co.
Since 2009, producer Martin Potter has split his time between Adelaide and Cambodia. The team’s geographical spread (Sieh & Jeni are based in Echunga, Nick in Adelaide and Anna, Melbourne) has given the project a national and international context.
“Our production motto is ‘local stories, global impact’,” says producer, Anna Grieve.
“The aim is to inspire people to make a connection with the local heroes who care for and shape their community. By including Martin’s experiences with the people of Ban Lung in Northern Cambodia, alongside the stories Jeni and Sieh created in Murray Bridge and with the Ngarrindjeri community of Raukkan – we’ve created a diverse and surprising picture of life in small towns. Now we’re ready to expand our online platform to include stories from people in communities around the world.”
The original Big Stories website has undergone extensive development by Nick Crowther and the Big Stories web development team. The new site is more interactive and accessible from a wider range of mobile devices (iPhones, iPads & Android phones). Content is enriched with new and archival footage and ongoing prompts about themed and complementary viewing options.
Big Stories 2 will still feature all the stories from Series 1, plus new highlights including films on the Murray Bridge chapter of the Longriders, a Christian motorbike club, digital stories from old and new settlers to Murray Bridge and stories from the elders and community of Raukkan.
“Jeni and Sieh made an amazing connection with the Longriders, who have a great long term relationship with the local Indigenous community,” says Anna.
“The Raukkan stories are equally compelling. This town is the birthplace of Aboriginal author, inventor and political leader David Unaipon and home to Raukkan Church, both of which appear on Australia’s $50 note. Raukkan means ‘meeting place’ and Ngarrindjeri clans have always met here. It’s a very welcoming community and their home is in the most beautiful location on the shores of Lake Alexandrina.”
From May 14 – June 13 the Murray Bridge Regional Art Gallery will present a curated exhibition showcasing the 2010 making of Big Stories in Murray Bridge and Raukkan.
Big Stories Small Towns 2 will begin at 5:30pm on Thursday March 3rd at the Mercury Cinema, there are no bookings taken so arrive early to ensure admission.
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