14

The day before yesterday I had the opportunity to show one and half hours of footage to David and discuss where I’m going. His questions and insight are invaluable. It seems clear now that I need to include myself as present in the film. My voice off camera asking questions is not sufficient. David suggested that I go through my written journal and choose 10 observations along the way which were key points in my journey of understanding.
On the one hand I think of theatrical issues like the difference between upper and lower body, the formal attributes of the boards and masks and the kinds of movements and gestures the masks make. There is the people’s love of wangga. Then there is the crux which is gaining a knowledge of how to feel corroborees.
Along my journey I’m asking ‘what is crucial?’
How did I become interested in these masks? What was the starting point?
The audience ought to be able to identify with my interests and I ought to be up front with intellectual questions.

Today I presented 27minutes of footage in the first meeting of the CCRs Ph.D. student film discussion group. From this showing it appeared that one of the central figures I had been working with is the best person with whom I might share the journey. This is in fact what happened on the ground. This man died last weekend in Kununurra. I feel a deep sense of loss and my thoughts drift all over the place as I review the footage of our time together.
As he is such a wonderful character and human presence I feel that it is important to keep working on his part in the film. In a celebration of his life I hope his family will be happy to see and hear his images once the period of respect has ended. I’m not sure how long that may be.

We discussed that I find my way through the film, as a participant, as my discoveries unfold in a not so coherent or smooth journey.