I have chosen to discuss the burning down of Footscray’s ‘Little Saigon Market’ pitch. Despite not having a full presentation on the day I was, and have always been, intrigued by Jordan, Andy and Ellie’s pitch. The reason being that the story is a tragedy of the monumental sort. People lost their jobs, their purpose and an important symbolic part of their community. Highlighting this tragedy from a personal, community-based perspective could be extremely fascinating. Beginning before the fire and ending in the aftermath, the story arc is one that is hard not to be captivated by. Ellie’s short interview with one of the former vendors of the market gave a unique insight into the impact the fire made on a person who was reliant on Little Saigon to make a living. The short video was interspersed with shots of Footscray and the land where the Little Saigon Market used to stand, but we never saw the woman speaking. As Paul pointed out, I would have liked to have seen her face and visibly observe the emotions she must feel about the fire. Furthermore, what could be challenging about this pitch is gaining access to the land and exploring it. It would be necessary to get multiple shots in and around the location. Another important point to consider are the interview subjects, as past vendors or locals reliving the trauma of losing an essential part of their lives will be emotional for them but if handled delicately, very powerful.
Their film should involve the community and emphasise its uniqueness, to bring us into their world in order for us to truly feel what they felt. I believe there is a fantastic story here and if executed correctly a brilliant film can be made.
