Documentary Brief:
On finding meaning.
A short film about men finding meaning in their complex lives.
Our Purpose:
To promote positive mental health in men by creating a short documentary. This documentary would follow a small group of men as they explore finding meaning in their lives during a four-day hike in Western Australia’s southwest. It would capture how they have found meaning in their lives, the challenges and insights they have encountered along the way, and their aspirations for the future.
Our Audience:
We would aim for this film to be initially shown at the WA Made film festival in late Feb 2027, from there showings and distribution would be negotiated with the participants. Filming will likely be conducted in September 2026.
The audience for this film is primarily men of all ages who struggle to and/or aim to find meaning in their lives, and who find strength and comfort in nature. Ultimately it’s aimed at anyone who would like to make their lives or the world better through meaningful contemplation.
The Budget:
There is no budget for this film, we may seek a small amount of funding to help cover editing and technical costs but the people working on this film are volunteering their time and equipment to this cause. There is no renumeration for the participants in this activity, all participants are asked to please cover all of their own logistical costs.
How It Will Look:
The style of the film will be a upbeat and authentic. It will aim to show the participants discussing their lives and how they interpret their challenges and actions with each other as the hike progresses. This is not an expose style and the participants will be filmed and edited in a way that is positive and flattering.
Logistics:
The hike will likely be along the Bibbulman track around the Nannup area in September 2026 from a Friday to Monday. We would camp at the huts on the track but otherwise carry everything we need, including bedding, food and cooking equipment. There will be an experienced facilitator in the party who would ask questions of the participants in order to best furnish productive discussion.
