Storytelling is in Brendan Blacklock’s blood. His is an oral culture, reliant on stories passed down through the generations.
But as a First Nations cinematographer Brendan remains something of a rarity, and his proudly Aboriginal-owned boutique film and video media production house somewhat unique.
It makes for interesting contracts and demanding schedules. “There aren’t a lot of people like me and I am stretched thin,” said the Ngarabal and Biripi man and UNE alumnus.
Earlier this year Brendan made a whirlwind tour of Australia to produce 26 videos for the NAIDOC committee’s annual NAIDOC Week award coverage broadcast on the ABC. In recent months he’s again been on the road, documenting significant sites as part of a Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance campaign urging stronger national protection laws.
“All our history and stories are oral,” he says. “Video is the next evolution of that. By telling Aboriginal stories, I’m trying to give my people a positive voice, to create awareness and bring communities together, which is a hard thing to do these days.”
While Blacklock Media film and video projects take up most of his time these days, Brendan has worked as a camera assistant on Australian film, TV and documentary productions including Redfern Now and Cleverman. His cinematography has also featured on ABC’s Compass and Looking Black, Filthy Rich and Homeless and Backtrack Boys.
Enabling First Nations peoples to tell their own stories is Brendan’s primary objective. “In the past, production companies, documentary film-makers and news teams have done the wrong thing by Aboriginal people, taking photographs and sharing stories without permission, or pretending to make a positive documentary and putting a negative spin on it; there is massive distrust within Aboriginal communities,” he says. “As an Aboriginal film-maker, people know you are mob and will look after them. There is a level of camaraderie that you don’t get with non-Aboriginal production companies, and you get better results. The people you interview are more open and honest and tell a better story. It’s very important that I give a voice to our people because they have been unheard for so long.”
Brendan established his business 10 years ago, after completing a screen and media course at Armidale TAFE and an Advanced Diploma in Cinematography at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He had previously been intent on becoming a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger, which is where the Advanced Diploma in Science at UNE comes in.
“I started studying for a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management at UNE at the age of 24, as part of my NPWS cadetship, but just six months out from completing I broke my back,” Brendan says. “I couldn’t sit for long periods, I was in such chronic pain, so I had to be content with the Advanced Diploma.”
However, study had other, more personal rewards. “I was very shy and it brought me out of my shell,” Brendan says. “It taught me how to research, how to apply that research and how to socialise and interact with people from all walks of life and all levels of education. UNE taught me how to live and communicate and be a positive member of society. Those research skills are absolutely vital to what I do now.”
“Recently, when a Traditional Owner took us to a very special waterhole in Kakadu and called out to his ancestors, then welcomed us to his country, the rush I got was almost evangelical. These kinds of experiences are life-changing.”
While carrying around heavy equipment still tests his back, Brendan says the passion to tell Aboriginal stories drives him every day. “I love being out with Aboriginal people on country, and capturing them in their landscapes, especially with natural light,” he says. “Recently, when a Traditional Owner took us to a very special waterhole in Kakadu and called out to his ancestors, then welcomed us to his country, the rush I got was almost evangelical. These kinds of experiences are life-changing.”
Brendan Blacklock in the field
