I’ve been gestating a few things lately: yeah, this little forthcoming baby, but other things too. Big projects, a couple of new documentaries, some essays, and more. To ‘gestate’ has meaning beyond carrying in the womb. It’s to think of and develop something — an idea, an opinion, a plan — slowly in the mind. More and more that appeals to me: a deliberate act of ruminating in our trigger-happy, reactionary times. I know it’s super earnest, but I think most antidotes to this culture need a bit more sincere conviction, and a bit less cynical rushing.
LAKE OF SCARS
I’ve been a story doula for a couple of projects lately (I wrote in Note Aug 18 no. 1 about this (also earnest!) mission statement I’d titled myself with).
I’m the story consultant on Lake of Scars, a film documentary currently being developed, and I feel really excited about the project. Directed by Bill Code, it’s “as much a portrait of a hidden facet of Australian history and environment as it is a musing on what reconciliation can look like in Australia”. It’s also about a race to save the beautiful scarred trees at Lake Boort in Victoria. Here’s the gorgeous trailer-in-progress:
You can find out more about the film and how to support it here.
UNRAVELING THE COURTS
Worked again with the ABC’s true crime unit, Unravel on their new podcast Last Seen Katoomba (itunes). It explores the shadow side of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney through the story of Belinda Peisley, a young mother who disappeared in 1998. I’ve spent a lot of time in the mountains, (as much in the bush as in town) and the podcast manages to capture the complexity of mountain life without ever resorting to caricature. Hosted by Gina McKeon, we get an incredible front row seat at Belinda Peisley’s inquest, where six main persons of interest are forensically examined each episode.
While I was working with the team on these episodes, I was also listening to season 3 of Serial, a dissection of the American justice system, as told through the courts of Cleveland. Both Unravel and Serial are proof of how audio can viscerally demonstrate the power and limitations (and drama!) of the justice system — but unfortunately, in Australia, recording in several courts is severely limited or banned entirely. I wonder how much better we’d understand where the law was getting it wrong if these stories and voices could be heard more often, not just read. (Of course, shout out to the great Australian non-fiction writing that has illustrated these fault lines for us— thinking of the wonderful Kate Rossmanith’s Small Wrongs, Chloe Hooper’s The Tall Man, plus just google Helen Garner everything).
DOUBLE RAINBOW
I went camping this month and I can’t tell you how glorious it was to spend just one day not in front of a screen, after a couple of months of intense writing and editing. An enormous storm broke out, complete with thunder, lightening, more drama! And then… A DOUBLE RAINBOW. I wasn’t quite high on weeping like the other double rainbow guy, but on the inside, it got close.
TAKEDOWNS
I consume a lot of media these days, but more of the kind that needs stewing on rather than directly linking to, so I have little to offer you right now. Just two take down pieces. Or rather, the take down piece of a take down. I cackled through both of them. You might have seen them doing the rounds. This one on taking down a leader of the righteous online mob and this on a suspense novelist’s own life of twist and turns were so great. Also, not a takedown but a recommendation for you: the Jakarta-based journo Erin Cook is running a pop-up newsletter on the upcoming Indonesian election, Ayolah, and I really like her takes and tone. Recommend a sign up.
REPLY NOTES
This is maybe a little too Australian music STAN-y for most of you, but last Note I shared an article I’d written for The Guardian about my love of watching old people dancing. Out of the blue, I got a message from Andy Kimber, the very nice Dad of the muso Sal Kimber, whose songs I have adored for years. He said: Hi Belinda – just read your lovely Guardian piece on watching old people dancing – Singer songwriter daughter – Sal Kimber, put out a song and video a few years back with a gorgeous bit of oldie dance material”. I hadn’t seen the video clip for ‘Beat Gets Louder’ before— adding it to the champion dancers playlist. Thanks Andy!
Wishing you so many double rainbows this coming month
Bx