Pinnaroo, Mallee region SA, June 2007 to May 2008
CHALLENGE: Kade Richardson and Sam Long were finalists at the 2007 Document Your World competition, hosted by the Australian International Documentary Conference. They were 1 of 5 Australian youth teams who pitched their film ideas in front of a large audience, to a panel of broadcasters. ABC were on the panel and commissioned this mini-series for JTV. Over the following 6 months the Hero Project team conducted a series of master classes with the ‘Oo in Pinnaroo’ team to produce 10 kooky episodes about life in Pinnaroo.
Pinnaroo Surfer
‘I don’t reckon you can see Pinnaroo in one day, unless you’re driving through.’ Kade shares his wisdom about bush life, local landmarks and stuff.
Buy the complete Pinnaroo Surfer series on DVD here.
PARTNERS: Arts SA Health Promotion through the Arts; Country Arts SA Regional Arts Fund; Tallstoreez Productionz; ABC TV; Mallee Health Service Inc; Australian International Documentary Conference; Australian Childrens Television Foundation; Apple Australia
SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
2010 Lahore International Children’s Festival, Pakistan
2009 ABC TV broadcast Pinnaroo Surfer series (Jan – Feb)
2008 Little Big Shot Film Festival for Young People, extensive Australian tour and world-wide
2008 Art At The Heart Regional Arts Australia conference, Alice Springs
2007 MyHero International Film Festival Los Angeles USA – 3rd Prize, High School Category
2007 Come Out Youth Film Festival at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide
2006 Pinnaroo Surfer forms part of the award winning Directing the Hero Within DVD resource
10-part ABC TV series: Pinnaroo Surfer
1. My Watering Hole Watch
Kade grabs his swag and heads to The Woolshed, the best country pub in town. It’s super real, like a giant scrapbook full of Pinnaroo landmarks, bush nostalgia and a mechanical bull.
2. High Noon Watch
‘This town ain’t big enough for the two of us.’ Or is it? In the name of Country and Western, Kade and Tommie settle a score, Pinnaroo style.
3. Big Things Watch
Sometimes ‘Big Things’ reflect what a town’s biggest passion can be, but does size matter? Kade travels the Mallee region to size up the local ‘Big Things’.
4. Camping’s the best! Watch
Kade packs his swag, tent and all the survival skills his Dad has taught him and heads into the Pinnaroo scrub. When he forgets the matches he uses his bush ingenuity to save the trip.
5. In Competition Watch
This year Kade wants to win the blue ribbon at Pinnaroo’s most prestigious and oldest Show event, the ‘Best Polished Boot’.
6. Painting a Masterpiece Watch
Art isn’t just for snobs, it’s heaps cool. Kade tries everything to win a prize at the Pinnaroo Show and his ‘Best Decorated Biscuit’ entry is in a class of its own.
7. Heavyweight Champion Watch
‘Move over Rocky Balboa, I’ve got you licked.’ Kade trains to become the champion speed ice-cream eater at the Pinnaroo Show.
8. The Fish Whisperer Watch
‘If you want to catch a fish you need to think like a fish’. Kade enjoys the Zen of fishing and has found the secret Pinnaroo spot everyone is raving about.
9. Thinking Man Watch
‘I like to call myself a thinker, that can think.’ Kade travels through time to a magic billabong to practice the art of deep thought.
10. Football Legend Watch
‘You need to be in the right frame of mind if you want to become a legend, like Ben Cousins.’ Kade is arguably the best player on his team, if not second best.
Pinnaroo Surfer – the original Watch
Kade loves the Beach Boys, surfing’s the best. Pinnaroo might be 300 km from the ocean, but that doesn’t stop him surfing.
OUTCOMES:
Both Kade and Sam were selected for Flinders University Screen Studies. Kade has supported others in Pinnaroo to get their stories out, shared his laconic humour on ABC radio in Broken Hill and is working on several film ideas. Sam is now producing videos for a range of community organizations in Murray Bridge. Channel 9 commissioned his services as a local stringer at the age of 16!
Tags: art, festival, international, regional, youth