I AM NOT AN ALIEN

I AM NOT AN ALIEN

I AM NOT AN ALIEN

For decades I believed I had come from the stars. What I believed to be memories waned in my 30’s, re-surfaced in my early 50’s and came to a necessary halt around the time I turned 56. But it was that first decade when the backyard walks of my childhood fired my imagination so much that Zandor’s adventures across the cosmos lived both in me and the stories I would share with my younger brother and sister. Our mother would have us bed down early — as children we slept in the same room as our parents — and I would recount my outer space memories.

Published on Medium – I AM NOT AN ALIEN

When Copyright Stymied Christmas

When Copyright Stymied Christmas

When Copyright Stymied Christmas

Synchronisation rights and its impact on community filmmaking

Once a year on the northern fringes of Melbourne 60 singers from multilingual, multi-faith and inter-generational backgrounds gather for 10 weeks of rehearsals to perform a single concert. In 2015 I was invited to mentor a youth theatre group with whom we made a film about this unique choir, a choir that only sings songs about Christmas. This Choir Sings Carols is a moving story about a community that came together through song, embracing young and old, new arrivals and those with disabilities. However, when the film was completed we were unable to screen it. Anywhere. This article describes why.

Published on Medium – When Copyright Stymied Christmas

Thanks to Dr Rebecca Giblin, ARC Future Fellow, Law Resources, Monash University and media and entertainment lawyer Shaun Miller for their comments on earlier drafts.

This article and the final edit of This Choir Sings Carols was financed through an Australia Cultural Fund initiative with special thanks for their generous contributions to Pepper Pearce, Mirranda Burton, Kitt Loughman, Carmela Baranowska, Elliott Bledsoe, Robyn Becker, Robert A Garnsey, Jessica Coates, Patricia A Aufderheide, Peter Martin, Kylie Pappalardo, Kimberlee Weatherall, Rebecca K Giblin and the City of Whittlesea.

The Smart Village of Chandauli

The Smart Village of Chandauli

The Smart Village of Chandauli

In 2014 Facebook’s Mark Zuckerburg visited the village of Chandauli. It was said to be the first digitally literate village in India. What does a digitally literate village look like and what do digitally literate villagers do there?

Duration: 11:09 mins
Director: Andrew Garton
Completed: October 2018

Download the book [PDF 2MB] – Right to Know – India’s internet Avant-garde. Published by the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the Australia India Institute.

Purchase the Soundtrack – Music, field recordings and soundscapes

Produced with the assistance of the Digital Empowerment Foundation. A production of Secession/Films.

A talking drum finds refuge on the Internet

A talking drum finds refuge on the Internet

A talking drum finds refuge on the Internet

Twenty generations of the Khan family have played the Bhapang or ‘talking drum’, but their music and poetry are in decline. The rapid urbanisation of their village has seen a decline in their music and poetry. Few remain who can transfer the songs of their ancestors to forthcoming generations. But they have found refuge for the culture on the Internet.

Duration: 13:25 mins
Director: Andrew Garton
Completed: October 2018

Download the book [PDF 2MB] – Right to Know – India’s internet Avant-garde. Published by the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the Australia India Institute.

Purchase the Soundtrack – Music, field recordings and soundscapes

Produced with the assistance of the Digital Empowerment Foundation. A production of Secession/Films.

Weaving a Social Enterprise

Weaving a Social Enterprise

Weaving a Social Enterprise

The ancient city of Chanderi, India, is home to four and a half-thousand cloth weavers. The city is consumed by the sound of looms. In a 15th century palace, a small group of weavers are breaking from tradition.

Duration: 27:52 mins
Director: Andrew Garton
Completed: October 2018

Download the book [PDF 2MB] – Right to Know – India’s internet Avant-garde. Published by the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the Australia India Institute.

Purchase the Soundtrack – Music, field recordings and soundscapes

Produced with the assistance of the Digital Empowerment Foundation. A production of Secession/Films.