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Category
Original Music / Song
Annual ID
OS23_MS041M
About the Work
The Reluctant Shanty is the first shanty written from the experiences of former refugees, who’ve embarked on dangerous journeys by sea and survived to tell their story.
Inspired by a 400-year-old genre of music developed by sailors, the use of original music here subverts the genre in pursuit of a single fact: Today, not all sailors want to go to sea.
The song was developed through interviews held with five refugees, each of whom had undertaken a journey to Australia by boat. It was then carefully rehearsed over a period of weeks, and captured on the film set to have the performers fully immersed in the lyrics and situation.
The director worked through each performer’s sensitivities carefully, helping them emotionally engage with their history through their singing. The important thing for the director was not the technical perfection of their voices, but that they could communicate the full emotional weight of their time searching for a new home – on set, this meant placing personally significant objects near the camera; reminders for the performers of great hardship, and also hope. Singing to camera always feels heightened, so great emphasis was placed on emotionally engaging each performer’s strength and resilience.
This song was launched through TikTok star Nathan Evans on World Refugee Day. Evans became an overnight sensation for his modern renditions of classic sailing shanties, and afforded this song a place in contemporary culture.
2023 Awards
Total Points: 3
Merit
Credits
Agency
BMF / Sydney
Production Company
Finch / Sydney
Music / Sound Production Company
Rumble Studios / Sydney
Post Production Company
Atticus / Sydney
Art Director
Jack Robertson
Copywriter
Robert Boddington
Chief Creative Officer
Alex Derwin
Creative Director
Douglas Hamilton
Director
Kyra Bartley
Director of Photography
James Brown
Editor
Delaney Murphy
Executive Producer
Loren Bradley
Photographer
David Collins
Producer
Nick Simkins
Bryce Lintern
Account Director
Rebekah O'Grady
Agency Producer
Jessica Vella
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen McArdle
Chief strategy Officer
Christina Aventi
Head of Art & Design
Lincoln Grice
Head of TV
Jenny Lee-Archer
Managing director
Corey Esse
Post producer
Kani Saib
Production Designer/Art Director
Janai Anselmi
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