Steve GannWhite Man's Burden
December 3rd 2006 09:26
Falling in Love with My Own Creation
With White Man's Burden, I am looking to do is explore some of the issues now getting exposure on where Aboriginals stand in relation to Australian urban society as a whole.
In the relationship between the two key characters, Liv and Michael, I want to show his ignorance and growing awareness of the situation as representative of our whole society.
It may be that we look down on Koori society and blame them for their disadvantaged situation. I also want to explore the theme that if the Koori population as a whole is going to have any chance at all of striving towards a thriving and dynamic network of
communities then they must be given the power and resources and control them themselves.
I'm not intending to have the series put these ideas out on a soap box. What I do intend is to show how individuals, both Koori and Euro-Australian can become casualties of a society that doesn't encourage mutual support and communication with one another.
SYNOPSIS WHITE MAN'S BURDEN
Does reconciliation have any real meaning or is it as dead as a bandicoot on a freeway on Friday night after the pub closes? Does Mabo hold any hope of healing some of the wounds? Violence and racism in
Australia -- this in the land of Neighbours and Home and Away -- How could it be? Michael and Liv both recognise the ironies in their situation and it is not only that they have different racial and
cultural backgrounds.
Michael Kavanagh a successful lawyer, has been looking for a new direction where he he can stretch himself. With developing conflicts over native title legislation; rural lease holders, local councils and
mining conglomerates have combined to launch a new incentive so that they can negotiate directly with the various native title owners. Michael is offered the position of CEO of the new organisation which
already has a core of personnel set up to get things underway. Agreeing to take the position, he meets the Koori negotiating team headed by Tom Garland and his chief negotiator, Liv Kelly.
Michael and Liv start very warily with one another. Before too long there is banter going on between them, but behind this is steel resolve on both their parts to win the best result for their respective sides.
But there are also sparks of a different nature. As negotiations progress, Michael takes Liv to lunch and later to dinner. He drinks too much to drive home and she drives him to his apartment. The next morning
he wakes to find Liv with him. He was too drunk for anything to transpire which she teases him with. They agree to see each other again but, for to keep their relationship secret.
I am looking at creating an entertainment tsunami here. For one thing the key character of Liv (Olivia) is someone I have fallen in love with. How can I/you not, she is sassy, sexy, smart - and on the surface at least, strong and impulsive. She is so determined to fight for her people on ALL levels and then she goes and falls for her opposing number -- a white fellah! Their relationship is full of the seeds of conflict but that is only part of the fire and smoke that grows between them. We see the story mainly through his eyes -- Kav -- Michael is bowled over inside but on the surface tries not to show too much of his feelings. Oh sure and that really works too!
Then there is Liv's mother Ros. She is a character full of opposing forces. She has driven most people she feels strongly for, away from her, including Liv. Why this has happened she has some understanding of but it hasn't stopped her from building walls -- building a situation where she has become more and more isolated as her life progresses. She has fought to gain her independence, but in the process lost contact with her tribe and extended family.
Anyway, if you want to find out more, you'll have to read the script.
So there you have a taste of it. A synopsis and commentary. I am looking at about 10 to 12 episodes each running for about eighty minutes. Within that frame work I am looking at Michael and Liv coping with their conflicts, Michael making some radical changes in direction. There will be at least one confrontation which leads to a break up, a reconciliation and lots of problems that Michael has to overcome, particularly with Liv's extended family.
I am looking for a format where the main story - the on-going saga of Liv and Michael - is punctuated with short stabs of narrative. These 'little' stories will be shared recollections, things that happen in the press, urban conflicts. What I want to look at is collecting stories from various Koori and Ozzie communities which provide extra backgroud and a 'relief' from the normal narrative, but giving an extra depth to what is being said.
I am looking for a producer who can help realise this as a fully blown project.
With White Man's Burden, I am looking to do is explore some of the issues now getting exposure on where Aboriginals stand in relation to Australian urban society as a whole.
In the relationship between the two key characters, Liv and Michael, I want to show his ignorance and growing awareness of the situation as representative of our whole society.
It may be that we look down on Koori society and blame them for their disadvantaged situation. I also want to explore the theme that if the Koori population as a whole is going to have any chance at all of striving towards a thriving and dynamic network of
I'm not intending to have the series put these ideas out on a soap box. What I do intend is to show how individuals, both Koori and Euro-Australian can become casualties of a society that doesn't encourage mutual support and communication with one another.
SYNOPSIS WHITE MAN'S BURDEN
Does reconciliation have any real meaning or is it as dead as a bandicoot on a freeway on Friday night after the pub closes? Does Mabo hold any hope of healing some of the wounds? Violence and racism in
Australia -- this in the land of Neighbours and Home and Away -- How could it be? Michael and Liv both recognise the ironies in their situation and it is not only that they have different racial and
cultural backgrounds.
Michael Kavanagh a successful lawyer, has been looking for a new direction where he he can stretch himself. With developing conflicts over native title legislation; rural lease holders, local councils and
already has a core of personnel set up to get things underway. Agreeing to take the position, he meets the Koori negotiating team headed by Tom Garland and his chief negotiator, Liv Kelly.
Michael and Liv start very warily with one another. Before too long there is banter going on between them, but behind this is steel resolve on both their parts to win the best result for their respective sides.
But there are also sparks of a different nature. As negotiations progress, Michael takes Liv to lunch and later to dinner. He drinks too much to drive home and she drives him to his apartment. The next morning
he wakes to find Liv with him. He was too drunk for anything to transpire which she teases him with. They agree to see each other again but, for to keep their relationship secret.
--------------------------------
I am looking at creating an entertainment tsunami here. For one thing the key character of Liv (Olivia) is someone I have fallen in love with. How can I/you not, she is sassy, sexy, smart - and on the surface at least, strong and impulsive. She is so determined to fight for her people on ALL levels and then she goes and falls for her opposing number -- a white fellah! Their relationship is full of the seeds of conflict but that is only part of the fire and smoke that grows between them. We see the story mainly through his eyes -- Kav -- Michael is bowled over inside but on the surface tries not to show too much of his feelings. Oh sure and that really works too!
Then there is Liv's mother Ros. She is a character full of opposing forces. She has driven most people she feels strongly for, away from her, including Liv. Why this has happened she has some understanding of but it hasn't stopped her from building walls -- building a situation where she has become more and more isolated as her life progresses. She has fought to gain her independence, but in the process lost contact with her tribe and extended family.
Anyway, if you want to find out more, you'll have to read the script.
------------------------------------------
So there you have a taste of it. A synopsis and commentary. I am looking at about 10 to 12 episodes each running for about eighty minutes. Within that frame work I am looking at Michael and Liv coping with their conflicts, Michael making some radical changes in direction. There will be at least one confrontation which leads to a break up, a reconciliation and lots of problems that Michael has to overcome, particularly with Liv's extended family.
I am looking for a format where the main story - the on-going saga of Liv and Michael - is punctuated with short stabs of narrative. These 'little' stories will be shared recollections, things that happen in the press, urban conflicts. What I want to look at is collecting stories from various Koori and Ozzie communities which provide extra backgroud and a 'relief' from the normal narrative, but giving an extra depth to what is being said.
I am looking for a producer who can help realise this as a fully blown project.
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