Mamu
Short Film
2014
“If you share their secrets, the Mamu will get you.”
Bobby Jay, a young Martu man, has dismissed the warnings. He takes photos of sacred rock paintings and posts them on his Facebook site.
Curtis Taylor, a CuriousWorks filmmaker from the Martu mob in remote Western Australia, has produced an eerie and spiritual short film of the implications for the character of Bobby. The film was made with the enthusiastic involvement and cooperation of the Martu community and many others from their area.
In particular, we would like to recognise the actor Corey Flatt who played ‘Bobby’. He has sadly passed away since the filming on Mamu.
Mamu has been broadcast nationally on SBS, still regularly appears on NITV, and gained international recognition by being accepted into the 2014 imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival in Canada.
Watch the short film here.
Sypnosis
Mamu explores the Martu concept of yulupyidi, that in the Jukurrpa (the Dreamtime) “how it was is how it always will be”. Traditional beliefs still exist in a contemporary setting and Bobby Jay’s disregard for his culture brings serious consequences that stand as a warning for others. This film asks the question of the audience, “How will the Jukurrpa continue to exist in today’s world?”
Mamu was created as part of The Stories Project. It, in turn, was an element of our community program, through which we develop cultural leaders from marginalised communities into entrepreneurs that can make professional creative media for the consumption of mainstream Australia as their full-time job. These young leaders eventually take over CuriousWorks’ role in their community and are the centre of a hub of media and arts activities in their region.
Director's Vision
“This film, Mamu, it’s about right, it’s about wrong. It’s about the past and the future, the new and the old.”
Curtis Taylor speaks about his experience of directing his first narrative based short film.
BEHIND THE SCENES
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PERSONNEL
Key Crew
Writer, Director: Curtis Taylor
Producers: Dave Wells, Eleanor Winkler
Director of Photography: Platon Theodoris
1st Assistant director: Dave Wells
Production Design: Poppy Van Oorde-Grainger
Editor: Craig Anderson
Assistant Editor: Elias Nohra
Executive Producers: Shakthi Sivanathan, Naomi Bower
Key Cast
Corey Flatt – Bobby Jay
May Brooks – Nana
Corbin Clause – Friend
Cast
Tamisha Clause – Mamu1, Shonelle Atkins – Mamu 2, Charlotte Frank – extra, Justina Charlie – extra, Beverly Rogers – extra, Godfrey Watson – extra, Curtis Taylor – extra, Poppy Van Oorde-Grainger – attendant at service station, Dave Wells – extra, Clive Samson – man at service station, Michelle Jackman – women at service station, Anita Ellis – Police officer 1, Aimee Kell – Police officer 2, Kylie Ainger – Police officer 3, Jenna Lewis – Police officer 4
Secondary Crew
Casting – Hayley Atkins, Cassandra Nanudie, Translation – Hayley Atkins, Curtis Taylor, Art Department – Poppy van Oorde Grainger, Curtis Taylor, Corbin Clause, Tamisha Clause, Shonelle Atkins,Cassandra Nanudie, Corey Flatt, Cultural Approvals – Josh Booth, May Brooks, Sound – Owen Biljabu, Dave Wells, Cassandra Nanudie, Michelle Thomas, VFX – Craig FX
Supports
Special thanks to The Martu Community, Sharon Walsh, Craig FX, Sgt Sadler and the Newman Police Station, Nicki Everson, Newman Fuel Services, Martumili Artists Warren Ford, Fred Ryan, Wendy Charmichael, Jessica Anderson, Music – Fred Ryan, Eddie Blonde, Jonathan Tunkin
Funders
Australia Council for the Arts, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, The Shire of East Pilbara, Country Arts WA.
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government.
Contact
Contact us here
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Fairfield City HQ
17 Kenyon St,
Fairfield, NSW, 2165,
Australia
Mail us at:
PO Box 112,
Liverpool, NSW, 1871,
Australia
View our visual story to know exactly how to find us
02 9602 9568
ABN 49 717 992 269
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Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
Our office is located on Darug land at Fairfield City HQ. We would like to acknowledge the Cabrogal Clan of the Darug Nation, the traditional custodians of the land. Our work takes us across Darug, Dharawal and Eora lands. Sovereignty was never ceded.