Last year, 2015, was the 100th Anniversary of the ANZACs landing in Gallipoli. The school taught about WWI and my son, then 8 years old, was enthralled and saddened by what he learned. My children often ask me to make costumes for them to create small films since I make period costumes for a living and they love making movies and stop motion films. So it was no surprise when Hamish asked for 3 WWI Army uniforms to make a little film. Once he had worn me down I agreed but then he told his class mates, took a form for them to fill in and I was then told there were to be 12 children in the cast.

After a bit of arguing but hearing the premise of his film I told him that if I was to put in that much effort with costumes then he had to match me with a well thought out script. He did. I was very impressed and showed it to Linda Hewell, a filmographer and photographer whom I'd worked with before.  She was very enthusiastic and thought it had potential.  I showed a few more colleagues in the film and stage industry who all supported it and before long we had make up artisits, composers and others all keen to be on board.  Now we have this great project which will have original graphics and an original score as well.

This film is in NO WAY an excuse for a "shoot-em-up" game or a glorification of war. Hamish has put a lot of thought into this and made a series of vignettes highlighting the hardships the soldiers faced in the trenches. I'm so very proud of him and how he sees this event.

It's exciting and terrifying to put this together but all of us are so very enthusiastic to see a great final product. I look forward to updating you with the project and delivering a worthwhile and well made product to you all to watch.

This film is mostly set on location so we don't have too many expenses in terms of set decoration but here is what we'll mainly be spending our pledges on:
- costumes all researched and made from scratch
- catering (10 children and 6 adult crew and several parent onlookers - that's a LOT of munchies and drinks)
- props all as historically accurate as possible
- special effects
- make up
- camera hire
- an original music score for the film.  (We're so excited about this.)

If we achieve our fund target then we will be able to pay our cast and crew who are all super wonderful and happy to be a part of this project without monetary recompense - which is all the more reason for wanting to pay them.  

The hardest thing to date is timing - getting both the cast AND the crew in the one place at the one time. The children are children and, not being actors, this will be a mighty task to keep them all focused, hydrated and as "professional" as possible given that a lot haven't done anything like this. They have, however, been rehearsing with every chance they have and are putting their whole hearts into this production. Given that there is not a lot of dialogue the acting will mostly be in the reactions and great cinematography.

We have not yet needed to ask permission from any sectors of the public but may encounter some challenges with the local RSLs (Returned Services Leagues) or people worried that children are glorifying war. I can assure them that this is not the case here and that this is as direct about the issues of war from 100 years ago as a child can be.

Hopefully, being a film made by and starring children, there will be some interest and sympathy from the general public to give it a chance. :)