New chapter for Indigenous storytelling begins in Alice Springs

The first Centralised Online Series Development Initiative was held in Alice Springs recently with Indigenous screen practitioners, online content creators and vloggers from the Northern Territory and South Australia.

Filmmaker Tamara Whyte said the new collaborative initiative 'Centralised' had been "invaluable." Picture: ALYCE MOKRZYCKI

The first Centralised Online Series Development Initiative was held in Alice Springs recently with Indigenous screen practitioners, online content creators and vloggers from the Northern Territory and South Australia.

Held in partnership with the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), the four-day Web Series workshop provided networking and screening opportunities, as well as a pitch session in front of broadcasters, YouTube, state and federal film agencies.

Centralised Ambassadors Elaine Crombie, SA, and Dylan River, NT. Picture: ALYCE MOKRZYCKI

Centralised Ambassadors Elaine Crombie, the South Australian star of Top End Wedding, Kiki and Kitty and Black Comedy, and Territorian film maker Dylan River (Sweet Country, Robbie Hood) said the initiative is ground-breaking for Indigenous screen creatives.

“As an ambassador for Centralised I’m excited and intrigued for our storytellers from SA and NT to have this opportunity. I would personally love to see our generations both young and old have the chance to share their stories, whatever they may be. My brief is that anything is possible and with this initiative, you will soon see why,” Ms Crombie said.

“As a proud Territorian filmmaker I welcome this opportunity for screen makers across the NT and SA to develop and produce their work. I started my career directing Buckskin, about South Australian Aboriginal Leader Jack Buckskin, and without that chance to make my first work, I would not be working on series like Mystery Road or features like Sweet Country,” Mr River said.

Filmmaker Tamara Whyte said the new collaborative initiative 'Centralised' had been "invaluable." Picture: ALYCE MOKRZYCKI

Originally from the NT, Indigenous mentee and filmmaker Tamara Whyte shared her experience “growing up in a white neighbourhood” in Queensland.

“I didn’t even see myself in the neighbourhood let alone on-screen,” Ms Whyte said.

“There were a couple of black kids at the school, but because I was adopted people kept asking how long until my real parents turned up.”

Acknowledging how easy it is as a creative to feel isolated in your ideas, Ms Whyte said the Web Series workshop had been invaluable.

(Back row L - R) Amanda Duthie, Cieron Cody, Kyas Sheriff, Penny Smallacombe, Elaine Crombie, Dylan River, Wayne Blair, Sebastian Angborn, Kelrick Martin. (Front row L - R) Adele Vuko, Alyce Adams, Graeme Mason, Christiaan Van Vuuren, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Jennie Hughes and Melanie McClure. Picture: ALYCE MOKRZYCKI

“I’ve already talked to someone that had a similar personal story and now we’re talking about doing a podcast together,” she said.

“I think just to put faces to names, to know that there is a cohort of people out there at the same level that you are with all these amazing ideas is really important.”

Developed by the SA Film Corporation & Adelaide Studios and Screen Territory together with collaborating partners Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, Documentary Australia Foundation, AFTRS Indigenous (Australian Film, Television & Radio School), ABC and NITV, Centralised is committed to mobilising Indigenous storytelling as created and curated by Indigenous people.

(Back row L - R) Christiaan Van Vuuren, Adam Jampijinpa Young (NT), Eduardo Crismani (SA), Warren Milera (SA), Issac Lindsay (SA), Colleen Raven (SA), Kellie Kerin (NT), Wayne Blair, Josh Trevorrow (SA), Adele Vuko. (Front row L - R) Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Viviana Petyarre (NT), Elaine Crombie, Tamara Whyte (NT), Dylan River, Liam Jampijinpa Alberts (Northern Territory) and Alyce Adams. Picture: ALYCE MOKRZYCKI

“Stories and narratives with the wrong beginning, the wrong middle and the wrong end are still being churned out,” Ms Whyte said.

“If you want to talk about Reconciliation, there’s a load of work that needs to be done and Centralised is one of the threads.”

Speaking to the shift in consumption and rise of digital micro-storytelling, Ms Whyte believes filmmakers are cognisant that medium is as critical as message.

“If you’ve got five minutes to sit down and hear a story that’s your story, how amazing is that going to be?”