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The idea of 'wilderness' has been hotly contested for a very long time, both in Australia and internationally.
Many indigenous people see the notion of wilderness as an affront to their relationship with the land because it denies them a connection to their homeland. Environmental philosophers and activists recognise that, as a concept, wilderness has been useful in helping to galvanise the struggles of the environment movement. Those who seek to develop wilderness often view it in a more biblical sense, as a desolate landscape, devoid of life and ready to be exploited. And for many tourists, wilderness might just be the subject of a selection of scenic photographs.
In Film Australia's Wilderness, many notions of wilderness are explored through films, stills and interviews with a diverse range of commentators. The two DVD set presents a whole raft of ideas, both contemporary and historical, that could not have been covered in a single linear documentary. Although it is not intended to be a definitive history of wilderness, it does track the key historical developments in Australian wilderness thinking-from a landscape to be avoided to a landscape that must be preserved.
The interface for the DVD works on the premise that what you think of wilderness depends on where you are. Our menu is a signpost with pointers featuring the words Struggle, Homeland, For Sale and Imagine. These take the viewer to a surprisingly broad range of themed films and interviews around each wilderness idea.
Although many of the films featured on the DVD do not overtly set out to make strong points about the nature of wilderness, they all contribute to the debate through their powerful depictions of environment and landscape. It was important to find titles that epitomised views that prevailed during the times when the films were created, rather than just choose films that support current 'green' attitudes. The criterion for selection of titles was a simple one: does the film contribute to our understanding of wilderness and wilderness-related issues?
Films selected include Frozen Images, an archival look at the work of Antarctic cinematographer Frank Hurley; Among the Hardwoods, a classically shot, black-and-white documentary from the 1930s that looks at the timber-getters in Western Australia's giant karri and jarrah forests; and From the Tropics to the Snow (1962), a perennial Film Australia favourite featuring a young Reg Livermore in search of the perfect tourist destination.
We also chose several more contemporary films. Kakadu Man (1990) is a tribute to the wisdom of Indigenous elder, Bill Neidjie. In the film, Bill's poetic words resonate above the ancient and majestic landscapes of Kakadu. He makes a convincing case for retention of the old ways and respectful attitudes to land and 'country'.
Lake Pedder (1997) is a lament for a paradise lost when an idyllic lake in Tasmania's southwest wilderness was flooded to create a massive hydro-electric scheme. In an ironic twist, the struggle to stop the inundation resulted in the formation of the world's first Green party and the creation of the Wilderness Society.
A more personal view is gained from The Edge of the World (1998), a wonderful tribute to the life and work of Western Australian author, Tim Winton. In the film, Winton talks about his lifelong fascination with coastal wilderness and how this has permeated his writing.
Jeannie Baker's animation Where the Forest Meets the Sea (1987) provides a lyrical counterpoint, with its organic three-dimensional style and simple narrative based on the development pressures on the Daintree of far north Queensland.
The major film on our two DVD set is Wildness (2003), an internationally award-winning tribute to the work of two outstanding Tasmanian wilderness photographers, Peter Dombrovskis and Olegas Truchanas. Wildness is accompanied by interviews with writer/director Scott Millwood and producer Michael McMahon.
Roar Film's home state, Tasmania, has been at the forefront of the Australian struggle to save wild places since the early 1970s and we have included a range of material from the Tasmanian Archives. This includes Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson's poetic film, Franklin River Journey (1980), made at a time when Australians were beginning to grapple with the idea that wilderness might need to be preserved for future generations.
After we had viewed the surplus of riches available to us we decided to compile Wild Fashion, a light-hearted look at the changing fashions worn by people who have ventured into the wilderness over the years. This entertaining film takes us from the hessian and hobnailed boots worn by early bushwalkers to the space-age gear that is now a must for any wilderness adventurer.
After the films had been selected we set out to find interviewees with the knowledge and authority to comment on the issues raised. Cartoonist and philosopher Michael Leunig provides a thoughtful commentary on the importance of wilderness to his life and to people in general. Mak Mak women Nancy Daiyi and Linda Ford, from the Northern Territory, talk about their problems with the use of the word 'wilderness' to describe their own country.
Environmental philosopher, poet and teacher Dr Peter Hay gives us a number of marvellous insights into the future of wilderness and environmental planner Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick talks about the rise of ecotourism and what he terms 'scenery mining'. Naturalist and author Tim Low reveals how the current thinking on 'wilderness' has led to a devaluation of the rich natural habitats within our urban environments. Environmentalist Steph Cahalan discusses the events that led to her moving from armchair environmentalist to frontline activist on Tasmania's Tarkine campaign and sawmiller Pav Ruzicka talks about his belief that wilderness and logging can co-exist.
Art critics David Hansen and Peter Timms offer compelling insight into how ideas of wilderness have influenced the work of 19th century painters like John Glover and W.C. Pigenuit, as well as outstanding contemporary artists such as Peter Booth and William Robinson. They also comment on the current approaches to wilderness photography. Vogel award-winning novelist Danielle Wood talks about how her work has been informed by the sea and coastal wilderness.
Celebrated filmmaker Bob Connolly gives a wonderful interview about the making of Franklin River Journey, and we were able to locate and interview botanist Antonius Moscal, who is the film's central character.
The DVD's interface features an outstanding series of wilderness images sourced from organisations such as the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Australian Antarctic Division and the Film Australia archives. Award-winning landscape photographer Matthew Newton provided the project with many superb wilderness stills from his own collection. The interface signpost was created by 3D animator Adam Walker and the design and editing was supervised by Roar Film's Raef Sawford.
Working on Film Australia's Wilderness was a fantastic opportunity to create a unique, media-rich and multi-layered DVD that features an extraordinary collection of wilderness related material. Whether you are a tourist, educator, politician, adventurer or just interested in wilderness, it highlights for all of us the crucial importance of our diminishing wild places.
Steve Thomas
Producer/Director
Roar Film Pty Ltd
March 2005