About
The film
It Starts With Us follows a group of teenagers living on the frontlines of Australia’s family violence epidemic, as they come together in a prevention program aimed at stopping violence before it starts.
This unique program, Project O, fosters connections between young people, artistic mentors, and advocates like Rosie Batty, giving young people the rare opportunity to be heard. Through songwriting workshops, the teenagers – who struggle with housing insecurity, 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 break generational cycles of violence 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
Project O and Big hART
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 on creative workshop programs to build the confidence and skills to become change-makers in their community and to contribute to ending family violence. 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. bighart.org
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 • 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 • 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
Our funders and partners
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.