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An all to brief weekend back in Melbourne...

BEACONSFIELD on air

We had a media screening for Beaconsfield a couple of weeks ago. The miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb who's real life experience the film is based on were there and they watched the film for the first time. I can't imagine what it would be like to sit in the comfort of a cinema and watch (a version of) the worst experience of your life playout in front of you.

I was a little nervous, not about the media seeing the film for the first time, but of what Todd and Brant might think. They were the only ones who experienced it all first hand and lived through it, so in the end, it's their opinion I value the most.

I wasn't worried about getting all the rescue procedure and technical details right, but more about how both men go through quite extraordinary and emotional journeys while they are buried alive and many of these details have never been revealed or discussed publicly. Todd and Brant are not 'emotional' guys, Todd in particular is a man of few words and as stoic as they come. So I suspect the idea of  your lowesest emotional point broadcast across the country isn't that exciting for either of them. And from past experience if they see or read something that isn't right, they speak up and be rather direct about it.

But thankfully, they really liked what we have made. In fact they were really moved by it. Both Todd and Brant feel we captured the atmosphere and the emotional state of the fourteen long days and nights they spent trapped side by side a kilometre underground in a truthful and realistic way. Brant told me he had no idea how we crammed so much emotion, the highs and lows, the anguish and even laughter into two hours. Todd gave me a firm handshake and said we had '..done good mate'.

Perhaps the nicest compliment I received was from Todd's wife Carolyn. She has never been in the limelight and remained very much out of sight during the whole ordeal but is of course now featured in the film (played beautifully by Michala Banas). I asked Carolyn after the screening that even though "...it's not you on screen or your house, your furniture, your kids, your words etc... but was the film kind of what it was like?" and she said "Thats exactly what what it was like. The whole atmosphere and the feeling is right...'. Good enough for me.

And good enough for the media as well,  and I say with a sign of relief. As seen here on Hoaxville, Beaconsfield was a really tough film to make creatively, financially, logistically and physically, so it's nice to feel some love after all the blood, sweat and tears. There was a great feature review in The Australian (above) this weekend and some other nice words have popped up here and there.

Beaconsfield airs on Channel 9, Sunday, April 22nd.

UPDATE : Just saw this A Current Affair story chatting to Todd and Brant after they saw the film...

NZ#3

FIRST DAY

A little off topic for Hoaxville but today was a big day in our house as Rosebud had her first day at school. Big for her and perhaps even bigger for her Mummy and Daddy. We felt quite good about Ollie going to school, in fact we counted down the days in anticipation for both he and we were ready for it! But little Rosie, our baby, it just doesn't seem right to be dressing her in a uniform and taking her to school. She is so little and so innocent and so sweet! I'm very conscience of time passing. I'll never say "they grow up so fast...".  I constantly take in the moment with both Rosie and Ollie taking detailed mental snapshots of how big they are, where they are and what they are doing. But for some reason its very tricky to get my head around Rosebud heading off to school...

She literally ran to school, dragging us by the hand to get her there quicker.

But once in the classroom and surrounded by new faces there was a moment of hesitation...

But as the wave of nerves passed a smile appeared and all was well. She was happy.

Nat and I lingered (in denial) for as long as we could. Finally slipping away when she focused on an activity. As I was walking out the door I turned to see her one last time. One of those bitter sweet moments. My heart breaking, because everything changes from here on in, but also proud to see her so eager to step out and into world and all it has to offer.

The house was very quiet today, especially for Nat.

But a long 7 hours and 30 minutes later...

I know I'm a gushing proud parent. But check out the 'blue checked uniform details' on that drawing! Genius!

Last night, last week, last month, last year

(FAMILY) ROAD TRIPPIN'

Back from 3500kms of family road trip fun. Xmas good. New Years good. Country air, ocean air, afternoon naps and eating and drinking way to much with family and friends.

"Are we there yet... Are we there yet...?"

Vladivostok Skate Kids

The group show at the Centre For Contempory Photography I have been part of here in Melbourne ends this week and goes on a two year gallery tour around Australia. The images I had in the show form part of a larger series of photographs I made last year in Vladivostok, a remote city in the far east of Russia. The boys were skating in a park on the edge of town that featured a large statue of King Neptune. They were like kids anywhere else in the world hanging out, killing time.  But to me there was something about these boys that represented a city and a country in transition.

Exhibition tour dates and more images of the CCP show after the break.

Documentation photographs by Andrew Burford.

Tour Itinerary for the eighth CCP Documentary Photography Award

COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 27/10/11 – 11/12/11

LOGAN ART GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 04/04/12 – 12/05/12

GLADSTONE REGIONAL ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM

EXHIBTION DATES: 19/05/12 – 30/06/12

HERVEY BAY REGIONAL GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 09/0812 – 22/09/12

WAGGA WAGGA ART GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 05/10/12 – 09/12/12

BENALLA ART GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 26/01/13 – 10/03/13

MUSWELLBROOK REGIONAL ARTS CENTRE

EXHIBTION DATES: 22/03/13 – 12/05/13

ORANGE REGIONAL GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 31/05/13 – 07/07/13

ART SPACE WODONGA

EXHIBTION DATES: 19/07/13 – 10/08/13

SWAN HILL REGIONAL ART GALLERY

EXHIBTION DATES: 15/08/13 – 29/09/13

MILDURA ARTS CENTRE

EXHIBTION DATES: 04/10/13 – 17/11/13

40!

CCP EXHIBITION

I've had four images selected for the Documentary Photography Award exhibition at CCP (Centre for Contemporary Photography) here in Melbourne. The four photographs selected are of some skate kids I met in Vladivostok, Russia last year. From the CCP invitation...'The CCP Documentary Photography Award is a biennial showcase of contemporary Australian documentary photography. Since the inaugural exhibition in 1997, this event has grown in profile and significance. It represents a unique, national initiative in support of documentary photography, providing a rare opportunity to assess the themes, styles and ideas that characterise this fascinating genre. This year's exhibition demonstrates the breadth of contemporary approaches to documentary practice from traditional black and white narratives through to vibrant colour recordings, all of which have been achieved without digital manipulation. Themes range from the effects of war on US Marines through to dog shows, roller derby and the annual Miss South Sudan Australia pageant.'

For anyone who'd like to come along, the opening night is this Thursday the 27th of October at CCP, 404 George Street, Fitzroy. Exhibition details and more here...

I found the shots below buried in my Aperture files of the sorting process back when I was submitting the work.

Canberra

Travelled to Canberra this weekend to see my wife Natalie dance in a show, which was great. Arrived after the seven hour drive from Melbourne at the venue to find a metal kid, an 80's thrash kid and a skin head kid drinking beer together directly in front of where I parked. I looked around thinking there must have been a photo shoot taking place or a film being made near by. These kids were styled so perfectly. Got to love Canberra!

HERE AND THERE

BEACONSFIELD. Again, Again.

Spent the weekend back down in Beaconsfield shooting pick-ups for the film. Locking off the cut this week...

BOBBY D

Thanks to the cool guys who stuck these B/W photos of Bob up in their front windows in Carlton. I saw them as I walked past and they made me go home and listen to Dylan records.

IF NOT HERE, THEN WHERE?

GHOSTS FOR SALE

Saw these baby ghosts for sale during the week...