Monkeys and mateship combine for fresh look at road safety

25 Nov 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: 25th November 2009

Monkeys hanging from trees and mateship in wartime feature in two new short films that call on young people to look after their mates on the road.

The films, Insignia and This is Bulls**t, are the latest offerings from the TAC’s Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) short film competition.

2009 MAFMAD winners Carmen Knox and Bill Irving were chosen from more than 300 entrants to develop their film concepts, which are linked by the theme ‘Your Mate’s Life is in Your Hands’.

Bill’s film combines unusual elements like monkeys hanging from trees and cavemen avoiding frisky wild pigs, to tell a serious message.

“I’ve lost mates in car crashes, so the message in this film is really important to me and my friends,” Bill said.

Carmen said her film was targeted specifically at people that she comes across at parties and pubs, who didn’t always appreciate the consequences of their actions or their power to help each other make smarter decisions.

"It’s really about empowering the individual to make a brave choice for their mate’s sake, as well as drawing a parallel between mateship throughout Australian history," Carmen said.

Bill and Carmen’s films were launched on November 25 and will screen across Victoria this summer at cinemas and at events such as the Big Day Out, Falls Festival and the Meredith Music Festival.

The film-makers will also be sharing their films online, to get their fresh perspective on the road safety message out among young people.

To see Insignia and This is Bulls**t and find out more about the 2010 MAFMAD competition go to www.mafmad.com.au.