community,

Two weeks of filming has wrapped up, and a film project featuring local Indigenous youth is now in production. Desert Pea Media run and create programs focused on reinvigorating traditional storytelling culture through the mediums of music, song, film and performance. They came to Forbes in October, urging members of the Indigenous community to share their talents and be part of a music, song and film project. CEO, Founder and Project Director Toby Finlayson said the project was amazing and really engaging. During the first week that Desert Pea Media were in town they hosted conversations with the local Indigenous community about culture, community, history, young people and mental health. In the second week, they went to various locations around town and filmed a music video and two short films in collaboration with members of the Indigenous community. Twenty Indigenous students from Forbes High School were part of the two-week project. The students were able to workshop and create the song which forms the core of the music video with the members of the Desert Pea Media crew. Forbes High School Aboriginal Education Officer Barry Merritt said the project was a real positive for young Indigenous students. Mr Merritt said the project was aimed at helping the students reconnect with the Indigenous culture and to get them out of their comfort zones. “We look to promote our Indigenous youth to go and do amazing things in our community,” he said. Mr Merritt is hopeful participation in the project will help the students, and others like them, to go in a different direction in their future careers. “It could be an awakening for where they want to head in life and careers,” he said. Forbes High School student, Le’kiesha-Lee Bowden said she took away a connection to a meaningful culture through the experience. Fellow student Jerri Tomkinson said getting involved in the project got her out of her comfort zone as it was something she normally wouldn’t do. Ben Molloy said he was able to put his interest in rapping into practice through the project, where he collaborated on the song-writing and singing components. Mr Molloy said he enjoyed the whole film side of the project and how it had a community aspect to it. Mr Finlayson said the community had lots of good feedback for the project. “It was a really wonderful thing to be part of,” Mr Finlayson said. The project will have a public screening at the Town Hall on November 29.

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