Bustard Head
June 2021
Bustard Head is a historical re-enactment documentary directed by Lucy Lakshman. Exploring the horrors of life at Australia's most gruesome lighthouses, telling the story of Nils Gibson and his family. Shot entirely in a studio and using constructed sets, it takes a theatrical approach to documentary filmmaking.
First developed in 2019-2020 but cancelled due to COVID19, Bustard Head was finally able to move into production in 2021.
My Role as Director
Skills and capabilities developed through this project
It was my responsibility to oversee the project and execute the artistic vision. This gave me the opportunity to develop and practise my skills as a creative thinker, leader and collaborator.
I knew I did not want to take the traditional documentary route and therefore had to not only push myself creatively but lead my crew in the process. Leading a crew of 30+, on an artistically demanding project, I had to trust in myself and my creative intuition.
To read more about my creative journey, check out the link below for my director reflections.
A Production Shaped by COVID19
The Road to Bustard Head.
This project has been shaped by the impacts of COVID19 and its grip over the film industry.
After being green-lit in 2019 for a 2020 production, COVID19 devastated the world during the project's pre-production.
I decided that this would not be where the Bustard Head documentary would die. After discussion with the faculty, we agreed to return later in the year to re-pitch the idea as a 'wildcard' and try our luck again in the 2021 documentary slate. And that we did. We re-pitched with the new and improved concept, far removed from the stuffy traditional documentary we first pitched, as the restraints and limitations of the COVID19 restrictions allowed us to push ourselves artistically and let the project evolve in an unexpected way. Which as a creative was an incredibly invaluable experience. Leaning into the re-enactments but pushing it further by devolving into the realms of German Expressionism and Brechtian theatre.
We were selected again. With only one COVID19 scare sending the state into a three day lockdown the week before our shoot window. The rest was history.
What's next?
Bustard Head has kicked off its festival run making its international debut at the 2022 Berlin Lift-Off Festival.
Stay tuned to see where it shall be screening next.