Our Story
Our Story is just one of the many stories that have come as a result of the 2011 Queensland floods. 19 year old Student Filmmaker Forrest Douyere-Pate himself was a victim of the Brisbane floods and the film is an inner expression of the experience, in particular how the experience changed him as a person. The flood bought him to the realisation that possessions mean nothing. Losing everything means very little as long as you still have your family, the people who love you the most.
Now in its late pre-production stages, with filming commencing mid July, Forrest and 7 other students have made it their prerogative to produce it as their graduating film from Griffith Film School. Most importantly they have taken it upon themselves to tell a story from the floods to give voice to the loss of the flood for the first time.
Film Synopsis
When they were young children two brothers, Lincoln and Jamie created a fantasy world to play in together. For fun as well as to escape from their real life problems. They created a great bond together though when their family is torn apart, the brothers are separated & their fantasy world is forgotten.
Years later the brothers are reunited because of the threat of the 2011 Brisbane Floods. One brother returns to the family house to help the other evacuate. Finally they are able to come to terms with the separation and the betrayal of years past. They find a box that contains all their bits and pieces they played with as children in their imaginary world destroyed by the flood. The destruction bring them full circle as they lament their lost childhood, the force of the destructive flood and the end of the world they made together.
The Hope
The hope for this campaign is to raise money to help this film become the best it can be so that a flood victims story can be told as well as possible to the most people as possible. Letting this film make it to the national, international and most importantly the state stage, so that others can share this story as well as their own to help in the aftermath of the flood.
The hope is to tell but one story of the flood to help others tell theirs, whether through film, other media or just for a shattered flood victim to open up about their experience to others. To help everyone move on and possibly receive the help they so desperately need in the aftermath of the flood.
Fund Spending
This film may just be 10 minutes long nevertheless the budget isn't the smallest one, especially for 8 undergraduate university students. All up our film needs approx. $7000 to get itself made and off to festivals to be told. This money would go straight towards funding the basics of the film and relieving the group members own personal contributions.
Camera Hire
Actor's Compensations
Transport Costs
Production Design
Festival Funding
Every cent contributed does count and help us on the way to a better film.
Other Ways You Can Help
Not everyone has the means to donate money today, but there are other ways to help. Tell others who might be interested in helping bring a flood victims story to life. May it be a donation or just interest, all we wish is to tell our stories of the flood, one of many that need to be voiced for the people of Queensland.
Flood victims are crying out for help, it might not be on the nightly news or over the internet, but everyone is suffering for what they lost in the flood, how little or important, loss is still loss. Spreading the word of the film is but a small step. If you really wish to help donate to the flood appeal. You can keep in mind as you are warm in your beds tonight that there are many who are waiting for the luxury to return to their houses, which used to be a safe haven, now a symbol for destruction. To remember that for the last 6 months families have had to put their lives on hold to simply survive. Most importantly if you do want to help all you have to do is listen to the stories of the flood or tell your own story, let them know it is okay and all they have to do is hold on. Thank you.