This crowdfunding campaign has been conceived to raise money to complete the animation, but also to benefit those whose stories and journeys are at the heart of the film. A minimum of $3000 of the pledges for the project will go into charitable donations to helping those in Manus and Nauru processing centres.
In October 2014, director Lukas Schrank, made phone contact with the men, who were able to tell their stories from within the compound. Their interviews offer a chilling insight into the reality of life for the 2200 people currently being held in Australia’s offshore detention centres.
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Our detainees speak of their struggle for survival, and attempts to avoid persecution in their home countries by seeking refuge in Australia. But like so many others, their journeys are ill fated.
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Their stories are the voice of the film, guiding the animation through the back-streets of Jakarta, across the sea, and deep into the fenced facility of the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre - the regrettable home for the men for the last 17 months.
On February 17, 2014, the Centre erupted in violent conflict between the locals and the detainees. Hundreds of detainees experienced serious injury, and 23 year-old Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati lost his life. Nowhere Line tells the untold story of that night from inside of the facility’s fences.
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By illustrating these journeys and giving air to their stories, this documentary short illuminates the compelling personal side to the human rights crisis faced by those seeking asylum in Australia. It reminds the audience that the search for asylum is but the search for survival.
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Whilst conducting the research and interviews for the film, a simple need became clear. The detainees spoke at length of the struggle of daily life in detention, but also of the anguish and depression caused by inactivity and boredom. To help to make a difference, we are partnering with Good Hood, a community engagement organisation, and Humanitarian Research Partners to spend 20% of the funds raised for the film on sending items such as novels, language books, portable DVD players, toys and textbooks to the detainees. It is our hope that through providing these simple commodities, we will also provide those detained with the comfort of knowing that they are not forgotten.
How The Funds Will Be Used
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The rest of the money will go into completing the animation. We have a team of Illustrators, animators and matte painters working all over the world on the project. Many people involved are donating their time or are working for very reduced rates as they support the project, but with any animation created in a short space of time, some external costs are inevitable.
It is also important that the scenes are visually rich and engaging in order to tell the story – endless hours of work go into creating shots for the film, from hand painted backgrounds to frame-by-frame animation. Alongside this, the sound design is equally important in creating a world that feels realistic and immersive.
Rough budget breakdown:
Illustration: $2000
Animation: $3000
Sound design, mix and music composition: $3000
3D modelled environments: $1000
Compositing and colour grading: $1000
Contributor fees: $1000
Admin/production costs: $1000
The Challenges
Thank you!
– A big thank you on our Facebook page – Plus $2 of your pledge will be a contribution towards gifts sent to Manus and Nauru
Big thank you + postcard
– A big thank you on our facebook page – A personally written limited edition postcard featuring artwork from the project sent to you – Plus $5 of your pledge will be a contribution towards gifts sent to transferees of the Manus Island or Nauru detention centres (For example, children's toys sent to families on Nauru, books/phonecards sent to men on Manus).
Digital download
– A big thank you on our facebook page – A personally written limited edition postcard featuring artwork from the project sent to you – Digital download of the film upon completion – Plus $10 of your pledge will be a contribution towards gifts sent to transferees of the Manus Island or Nauru detention centres (For example, children's toys sent to families on Nauru, books/phonecards sent to men on Manus).
Postcard + download + DVD
– All of the awards above plus a limited edition DVD of the film – Plus we will send gifts to the value of $20 to transferees of the Manus Island or Nauru detention centres (For example, children's toys sent to families on Nauru, books sent to men on Manus).
Unique art print + DVD
– All of the rewards above and a completely unique signed print sent to you, featuring artwork from the film, professionally printed on fine art quality archival paper. (please note the prints are not framed). – Plus we will send a gift to the value of $40 to transferees of the Manus Island or Nauru detention centres (For example, portable DVD player, children's toys sent to families on Nauru, books sent to men on Manus).
Framed political cartoon
– All rewards above plus a signed limited run original cartoon by award-winning political cartoonist Peter Schrank (Economist, Independent on Sunday). The cartoon is being created especially for the campaign and will be signed and framed. – Invite to launch event/screening in Melbourne – Plus gifts to the value of $100 to transferees of the Manus Island & Nauru detention centres (For example, portable DVD player, books, children's toys sent to families on Nauru, books sent to men on Manus).
Executive Producer
In addition to everything above, you will be credited as Executive Producer in the film's credits/IMDB etc. You donation will make a huge difference to the film and also to the lives of people in Australia's offshore detention centres. $200 worth of gifts will be sent to Manus Island and Nauru.