About
The documentary It Starts With Us follows a group of teenagers from Frankston North, Victoria, as they participate in a transformative arts-based prevention program designed to break generational cycles of violence..
With mentors including family violence prevention advocate Rosie Batty, they use art to unpack the social pressures that lead to gender-based violence. Through songwriting workshops, the teenagers – who struggle with housing instability, bullying, exclusion and low self-esteem – find a way to turn the stories of their lives into powerful lyrics that give voice to their often-invisible experiences. Together they explore how to build safer futures and practice respect, equality, independence and leadership. When they perform their original song at the school’s awards night, they surprise their families and even themselves with what they’ve learned. It Starts With Us reveals the powerful and real-world impact of prevention in action.
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Background
It Starts With Us grew from Project O, an arts-based primary prevention program that Big hART ran for ten years in six locations nationally, supporting young people in communities with high rates of family violence.
Project O worked with young people in creative workshop programs, supporting them to build the confidence and skills to become change-makers in their community, andcontribute to building safer futures. Frankston North in Victoria – where It Starts With Us is set – has the highest rates of family violence in Metropolitan Melbourne (Crime Statistics Agency).
Big hART is Australia’s leading arts and social change organisation, telling Australia’s most invisible stories and creating social impact through art. Founded in the north-west of lutruwita/Tasmania 32 years ago, Big hART has worked with over 64 communities in regional, remote and urban Australia to great acclaim, receiving over 47 awards.
A BIG hART FILM
Created with Young People from Frankston North Victoria, and Rosie Batty
Directed by Amelia Tovey
Produced by Sophia Marinos • Executive Producers Genevieve Dugard & Deanne Weir • Creative Producer Larissa Behrendt • Community Producer Fallon Te Paa • Director of Photography Petra Leslie • Editor Sally Biasiutti • Cinematographers Bonita Carzino, Nisa East & Hossein Khodabandehloo • Sound recordist Ben Bomitali • Composer Jessica Dunn • Motion Graphics Monica Higgins • Post Production Zig Zag Post • Featuring artists & musicians Jen Cloher, Jay Jarome, Mark Leahy & Fallon Te Paa
Special thanks
to the many guest artists, producers and incredible young people
that have been part of Project O in VIC, TAS, NSW and WA
Film credits
A BIG hART FILM
Created with Young People from Frankston North Victoria, and Rosie Batty
Directed by Amelia Tovey
Produced by Sophia Marinos • Executive Producers Genevieve Dugard & Deanne Weir • Creative Producer Larissa Behrendt • Community Producer Fallon Te Paa • Director of Photography Petra Leslie • Editor Sally Biasiutti • Cinematographers Bonita Carzino, Nisa East & Hossein Khodabandehloo • Sound recordist Ben Bomitali • Composer Jessica Dunn • Motion Graphics Monica Higgins • Post Production Zig Zag Post • Featuring artists & musicians Jen Cloher, Jay Jarome, Mark Leahy & Fallon Te Paa
Special thanks to the many guest artists, producersand incredible young people
who have been part of Project O in VIC, TAS, NSW and WA
Our supporters
Deep thanks to our funders and partners:
WeirAnderson Foundation, Shark Island Foundation, Screen Australia, Nelson Meers Foundation, Respect Victoria, Screen NSW and the Robison Family Fund through the Australian Communities Foundation.