By Paul Benedek, Mel Barnes, Jill Hickson and Robynne Murphy
An inspiring story as rich in humour as in rebellion, Jobs for Women shows how solidarity can not only overcome the biggest hurdles, but can change the world.
[Jobs For Women protesters in the early 1980s]
Yet this amazing true story of liberation is virtually unknown.
We need your help to turn this inspiring, humorous and moving story into a dramatic feature film.
A film about equality, justice, solidarity and camaraderie.
A film full of action and conflict, twists and turns, passion and humour, that deserves to be seen.
A film who’s heroes are not politicians nor celebrities nor figureheads, but ordinary working class women, from diverse backgrounds, who work together to challenge a seemingly unbeatable foe.
A film that will anger and inspire us, and will make us laugh and cry.
Join us to help make Australia’s answer to Pride and Made in Dagenham!
So making an inspiring and entertaining feature film will itself be a battle not unlike the against-the-odds struggle to be depicted in the film. This will be a people-powered film – you are that power!
[Protest outside BHP Annual General Meeting]
To entirely fund the film, we need to raise between $300,000 and $500,000 from all sources. Sounds like a lot, right? In the film world, that’s microbudget. It needs to cover development, script, casting, actors, rehearsals, technical crew, feature film equipment hire, catering, locations, props, music, editing and other post production, royalties, insurance, legals, marketing & much more.
Your funds are essential! The $25,000 will mean:
* $6000 can be used to finalise research and complete the script
* $4000 can cover script workshoping, auditions, rehearsals, and shoot preparations
* $5000 will pay for at least half our professional feature film equipment costs (camera, lighting, audio)
* $5000 will allow us to start hiring technical crew
* $5000 will allow us to start securing actors for the film
Essentially, you’ll be getting us to the point where our finger will be poised over the record button!
You’ll also be providing a foundation for the film, and showing that people want this film made.
This will be a huge help to secure other funding including through:
– cultural grants from a range of arts bodies
– funding and offsets from film organisations such as Screen NSW and Screen Australia
– contributions from social justice bodies such as women’s rights groups, trade unions, legal aid and anti-discrimination organisations,
– substantial donor individuals and potential investors in the film
– fundraising events and merchandise
In a sense, your contribution could be doubled, tripled or more!
Your funds will ensure that the Jobs For Women film will be a thoroughly professional, high quality, must-see production that this story deserves.
Crucial to the team are key participants from the campaign, who have long wanted to make this film, and are a driving force behind the project. Having taken on BHP and fought over 14 years, they are pretty awesome to have on our side!
The filmmakers in the team made the 2014 award-winning Radical Wollongong, voted ‘best in festival’ at the Canadian Labour International Film Festival. Between them there is decades of experience in making both short and long form films, especially around social justice issues including women’s rights, Aboriginal justice, and international works from Palestine to East Timor. Some of the filmmakers also work at Art Resistance, an organisation that makes videos for health, education, welfare, community and women’s organisations and trade unions.
Writers in the group have written screenplays and authored books, including a soon-to-be released book on the Jobs For Women campaign, plus books on feminism, politics, trade unions, history and more.
All those involved are passionate about the Jobs For Women story, and the project to bring it to life in film. Check out the Jobs For Women team on our website.
The biggest challenge to get that story out is the funds needed to do the film justice. Much sweat, tears and hopefully a limited amount of blood will be expended for the film in a volunteer capacity. Yet there are considerable costs – for full time crew, for key actors, for first rate equipment, for real life locations, for proper production, and much more – that simply have to be paid.
By assured that, no matter what, we WILL make a Jobs For Women film! If we can’t get the backing needed to make the feature drama, the team is 100% committed to making a feature doco-drama, which would still be a ripper film.
However our preference is to truely bring this story to life as a dramatic film, and to get it to the broadest audience possible. The funding challenge is also an opportunity. By the ‘crowd’ kicking off the project, and by seeking support from other avenues, we are eager for many partners and supporters to come on board the exciting journey to make this film.
Sydney, Australia Message
Activist and filmmaker, co-director of Radical Wollongong (winner Best in Festival at the Canadian Labour International Film Festival), helped found Green Left TV.
Wollongong, New South Wales
Sydney, Australia