About this project
Our Film:
Why Is No One Listening documents Djalu Gurruwiwi, Australian Aboriginal elder, leader of the Galpu clan, and world-renowned didjeridu master, as he fights for the future of his family and his community. Alcoholism and drug abuse run rampant, while a ravenous bauxite mining company continues to swallow up sacred land and precious resources. Armed with his yirdaki (didjeridu), and a mixture of Aboriginal spirituality and adopted Christianity, Djalu struggles to maintain his culture and traditions within the tiny mining community of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory.
The future of Djalu’s Galpu clan remains uncertain. Despite Djalu’s intentions to preserve tradition, his open heart, and his willingness to speak to the Western world are frowned upon by other clan leaders. Without a clear successor to his leadership, Djalu, in his eighties, is uncertain as to who will carry on his legacy and sacred knowledge of traditional didjeridu.
With unprecedented access into the daily lives of Djalu and the Gurruwiwi family in Australia’s Top End of Arnhem Land, this compelling documentary provides a unique examination of the experience of the modern aborigine and reveals crucial challenges to a clan’s survival. Shot on location, Why Is No One Listening is a mystical journey of discovery, giving voice to an ancient wisdom essential to the world’s cultural heritage.
Our progress:
The film is currently in the production stage. We have shot 150 + hours of footage over the last 10 years, but we need one more trip to complete and round out this amazing story of Djalu, his family, and the Yolngu community of Northeast Arnhem Land.
As this project has been totally self-funded so far, we need your support to make this film a reality. By donating to this project, you enable profoundly disenfranchised indigenous Australians a chance to be heard. Your support will help carry the voices and music of the Yolngu out into the world, preserving one of the oldest living cultural traditions.
Our need:
Funds raised through Kickstarter will go toward the production budget of the film, including equipment rental, travel expenses to Australia and Arnhem Land, and initial post-production expenses such as hard drives and translation costs.
We cannot do it without you!
Additional Resources and Press:
Djalu Gurruwiwi has received press and recognition from around the world. Below is a list of additional information that can be found on Djalu, the didjeridu and the Yolngu:
Djalu’s Website
http://www.djalu.com/djalu.html
Djalu’s Complete biography
http://www.djalu.com/files/djalu_biography.pdf
Australian Didjeridu Cultural Hub
Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Center
http://www.yirrkala.com/index.html
Thank you so much for pledging your support.
Sincerely,
Joshua Bell
Photos: August Thurmer
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
147
Backers
$21,069
pledged of $20,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 14, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a digital download of the film.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier + a book of photographs from Arnhem Land assembled by August and director/producer, Joshua Bell.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier + a book of photographs from Arnhem Land assembled by August and director/producer, Joshua Bell + dinner with August and Joshua in Los Angeles.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier + a book of photographs from Arnhem Land assembled by August and director/producer, Joshua Bell + dinner with August and Joshua in Los Angeles + an original bark painting from the community in Arnhem Land.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier + a book of photographs from Arnhem Land assembled by August and director/producer, Joshua Bell + dinner with August and Joshua in Los Angeles + a traditional yirdaki (didjeridu) handmade by the Gurruwiwi family.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
You receive our sincere gratitude + email updates + an invitation to a donor screening + a hard copy & digital download of the film (expected release 2012) + a special, heartfelt "thank you" in the film’s credits + a limited edition poster + a signed and numbered photograph from Arnhem Land by cinematographer, August Thurmer + an invitation for you and a guest to the premier + a book of photographs from Arnhem Land assembled by August and director/producer, Joshua Bell + dinner with August and Joshua in Los Angeles + a traditional yirdaki (didjeridu) handmade by the Gurruwiwi family + an invitation to visit with the Gurruwiwi family and the filmmakers in Arnhem Land during production. Travel, food and lodging not included.*
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Joshua Bell is a filmmaker and musician living and working in Los Angeles, CA underneath the banner of Digital Gypsy. Having received his Masters of Fine Arts in Film Production from the University of Southern California, Joshua has dedicated the last twelve years to documentary filmmaking as a director and producer. Joshua’s most recent documentary short, “A .45 at 50th,” received significant acclaim at top-level festivals internationally and within the press, including The New York Times and The Huffington Post.
