timeLINE of a feature film
the making of like my brother
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
BY PRODUCER SAL BALHARRIE
I set out to make this film because I believe everyone
– irrespective of anything – has the right to dream.
If there is a political angle to be found, it’s super simple and it is this – let’s take a moment to consider fairness of access and equity of opportunity - that’s it. If others read in alternate political messaging – brilliant – such is the power of storytelling. LIKE MY BROTHER is a joyful story of what it takes to dare to dream and the choices we must make as we awakening to the reality of obstacles. Ultimately the film shines a light on the depth of love and community that exists on our doorstep, in an ancient culture, a culture that is there, on tap for all Australians to share along with hope for the future.PRODUCTION OF THE FILM BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2018
Here’s an insight into how it got made.
MARCH, 2016
My partner stills photographer Mark Chew visits the Tiwi to document the Boys Football Academy at Tiwi College but what he notices is the incredible skills of the girls kicking footballs on the sidelines. And I couldn’t shake an image from my mind - the photo of a girl drinking water while holding her Sherrin. Such a great photo…little did I know this image would be the spark of LIKE MY BROTHER.
FEBRUARY 3, 2017
FIRST AFLW GAME
I’m at the inaugural AFLW game and see something super exciting but also something super white. Having grown up in a home where footy was our family glue, I knew about Essendon and Michael Long and the magic of the Tiwi – a mythical place of sporting legends.
Sitting in the stand surrounded by 25,000 excited footy fans, I began to wonder, if I was an indigenous girl with real Aussie Rules talent, how could I end up out there on the field, playing with those girls? What would it take? What might stand in my way? I remembered the pic of the girl with the Sherrin. I thought about how the girls don’t want more, they just want the same, they just want to be like their brothers...