First Impressions (June 1999)

• When I first came to drama class I was really shy......
• Excited - a crowded room with indigenous blood.....
• I was excited, enthusiastic and I couldn't wait to start.....
• Good atmosphere, fun, friendly, enjoyable, different, interesting....
• Hopefully some of the Kooris that get involved in the project would be able to acieve one of their dreams.

12th July 1999 (After 4 weeks of workshops)

• The class is full of directed people channelling both their happiness, frustrations and oppressions into creative stuff....
• Thoroughly enjoying the opportunity of learning about the industry. Good warm-ups and the company of the class. Enjoying seeing the crew each Monday and Wednesday nights.
• Enjoying the workshops in general......
• I look forward to Monday and Wednesday nights to join in the fun. The other students are great, really nice people and supportive and it will be great to see this project come together at the end......
• I rocked up to this place, like only a stone's throw from the Block at Redfern. There were so many kids running around I didn't know what to think - this is a shambles! But we went up to this room and John (Blair) gave us the spool of what we were in for - I was excited, cos it was something that I'd never done before and I was about to learn. There was a good vibe in the air and I went with it....

26/7/99 After 6 weeks of workshops

• The workshops are socially and dramatically charged......
• Totally enjoying the excitement that is building as we move into the next stage of getting closer to finalising the script. Just love being around a mob of dudes who sweat creativity from every pore, that builds on their forehead and leaps off.....
• I enjoy turning up each week. Not only do you learn things but you have lots of fun doing these classes. I get a warm feeling with all that is in the group. That is really good for me because I feel very relaxed and comfortable. I really like that cause I know I can be myself and everyone accepts that.....
• Over the past weeks of the project it has been really good to see how well yous have been to keep it culturally sensitive. The questions that you have asked have been straight to the point and always asked with sincerity and respect. It's great to work with people not of Aboriginal descent and still see the interest and input coming from different nationalities not just white European. The script seems to have a good start so well done Matt, I can't wait to see what you come up with. It's been great to see us having an input into the scripting process as we get to have a say on cultural issues. It's been excellent so far......
• It's good coming in. I like the concept of bringing Aboriginal People together with a common focus - as it's so evident that there's good energy coming out from what we put in. Haven't been a part of this type of creative process before and it's interesting to see how it (can) operate. Fun experience - Stoked.......
• The workshops have been very interesting so far. Though the process is slow, ideas that have come about seem promising. Mine are deadly!....
• When I first came to these drama classes I felt very shameful. As the weeks have gone by I've met heaps of lovely people. I'm glad to say I've been enjoying myself and will be very sad when it's all finished. I enjoy doing drama very much.......
• Well the process so far has been interesting and working with the crew and everybody has been good. Looking forward to the next step of the production. Would liked to have a better understanding and overall picture ot the outline of the story that you'd be submitting to SBS. But overall, it's been Really, Yeah!....

Residential Weekend. 19, 20, 21 November (Salvation Army Collaroy Centre Team Building, Technical Workshops and finalising the script. The casting for the film is decided)

• It's been great to meet this group of young people who are innately interesting and inspiring. The social, talkative aspect of the project has helped us bond and tell stories and make it enjoyable and organic in bringing out ideas. We spend a lot of time standing around talking but it's all good.......
• I feel respected by Enda, Catriona and Jacqui and I especially liked seeing Leah's work and her energy during her workshops........
• I'd like to see more films similiar to what we're doing. Lots of tea and biscuits and talking. I think the script's a lot more believable now and the casting appropriate and I'm looking forward to the experience of shooting it.......
• Well what can I say I've been given a opportunity that I've been dreaming about, as a dancer which I've been doing for 7 years I needed something else to challenge my over artistic mind and soul. To be black is not a gift nor is it a burden but to be black and on TV is to be able to show the world that us Koories are equal and when given the opportunity we're a lot more deadly than Gubbas. Anyway the overall project is pretty tight except for the knowledge of what day to day living is like for us mob. But I s'pose this is a step towards the right way (our way). Ever since I was little I knew I could act and perform in front of people. Also being able to play with my emotions and other's. The weekend has been a trip for me, it's so different watching a movie and then being in the process of making one WHOEE. Because society lives in movies, they feel effected by it so I think this is what Koorie people in the entertainment industry should take advantage of......
• So far the weekend away is really cool. It's given us a chance to get to know one another a little bit better. The reading of the script flowed a lot better this time. The characters seemed to be actually going somewhere. You can start to see their relationships evolve. The project itself is working really well. I have to say though, but this is not a complaint or anything, but it would have been better to get a bit more culture there, I thought we wanted to show a positive side about the stolen generations or young indigenous people around Redfern. I feel we have only really seen violence etc. We have only seen how tempted and angry Aboriginals can get when provoked............
• I've liked the energy we've created and built upon - bringing us together has been fun. Weekend away here (so far) has been great - productive - excellent getting to work with professionals - stuntman, sound recorder and boom chick, another way of life, how they work in scheme of making a film......
• Liked how the story has changed a bit. I like how some of the things in the earlier workshops have been used, like quoted directly........
• All our teachers (type people) have been sweet. Enda plays a mean game of pool.....
• Feel like it's family around, cos we've been working together for quite a while. That's important, cos I know things may possibly get a bit stressful during the shooting, so we need this time together to find out who all of us are........
• Hope we pull it off real smooth- can't be doing a shame job on national TV. Here's to an end product that leaves us with a smile..........
• I haven't been a part of the project from the beginning but in the time that I have been involved I have found the whole thing extremely interesting and exciting. Though it has been a bit of a drawn out process I am convinced it will be worth it in the end. I'm also starting to think that while the end product will be good (sorry great) it's the process of getting to that point that, for someone like me, is most fascinating. During our weekend in Collaroy I really started to see things coming together. It gave me a heightened sense of anticipation but also made me kind of realise that Hey! these people (Catriona, Enda etc. ) are deadly serious which makes me a little nervous.
• 

Were you happy with the way the script turned out?

• I'm happy with the way it turned out and I wouldn't want to change anything......
• I was happy with the end product, but I would have liked to work more from the script instead of improvising......

Have you had any direct benefits from the project?

• When auditioning for NAISDA (National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association) they seemed to be impressed that I had committed myself to the project which was a contributing factor to my gaining admission.......
• I was offered an acting job but due to being unavailable at the time I had to turn it down....
• I'm starting a film and TV course next month!

Has being involved in the project improved your self-confidence?

• Yes, it has shown me what I can do and helped me realise that I can be really good at it.....
• Yes, finding out about skills you didn't think you had is always a bonus......
• Definitely. I was shame before but now I have none. I've seen myself on screen and I look good......
• Absolutely. I enjoyed the challenge and feel now that I can continue on to do bigger and better things......

Has being involved in the project changed anything about the way you feel about the place of Aboriginal people in Australia today?

• I feel that now we are getting a voice that it can only get louder......
• I think that it illustrates that Aboriginal people aren't dissimiliar to the rest of the Australian population, in that everyone wants a fair go. I know I want a fair go - it shouldn't matter just cause I'm Koori should it?........
• To be given a go by non-indigenous people, and there wasn't a hint of racism was good but I think a lot more has to be done on both sides. This is the first step to the future of reconciliation. Us Blackfellas can do anything, just as good if given the chance. The hard work broke my code of hate. Thank U for the opportunity.