Being Reel Films was founded with a vision to produce real life stories of humanity to counterbalance an increasingly commercialised and impersonalised world. Being Reel Films is humanitarian, progressive, enabling and empowering, and is driven by universal values of peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights and human dignity, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights half a century ago. The purpose of Being Reel Films is to create films, documentaries and social impact projects with stakeholders that disrupts and creates positive change with real-world outcomes.
The producers
John Swatland – Producer and Director
John is co-founder and director of Being Reel Films. The kernel of an idea for the Scattered People documentary came from a chance conversation with one of John’s chiropractic patients, GANGgajang lead guitarist Robbie James who talked about his project of creating an album with asylum seekers. John offered to help Robbie promote the album and the interviews with Robbie and the asylum seekers, Saha and Mas, so profoundly affected John and his wife Lizzi that they committed to taking their stories to the widest possible audience. From there Being Reel Films and Scattered People – the documentary was born.
John’s previous experience in filming, editing, producing live presentations and interview-based projects was initially for special interest groups and then for his chiropractic practice and finally for professional business associates. With a clear vision and strong intention to tell this important story with sensitivity and depth, John hopes this project will help to reframe the national conversation toward embracing diversity and multiculturalism as well as re-personalising and giving voice to people seeking asylum.
Lizzi Swatland – Producer
As a co-producer of Being Reel Films, Lizzi Swatland feels she has found her calling in telling deeply personal stories to a wide audience to bring about social change. Lizzi’s experience in communicating with depth, sensitivity and compassion has resulted in her finding her niche interviewing people in a way that allows her subjects to reveal themselves both naturally and intimately. With her partner John behind the camera, Lizzi is passionate about this story of music and people seeking asylum.
Co-producing and promoting a full-length feature documentary with the intention of engaging and inspiring audiences to a deeper emotional awareness of this extremely important topic, has become a personal quest to help encourage humanity to live together more harmoniously.
"I wanted to hear their stories. I have always loved listening to people’s stories; about their lives, where they live, what they do, their family and friends, their loves and their losses. I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to listen to these stories and create something that could be shared in the wider world and provide an education toward something that is so important today." - Lizzi Swatland
Editor
Lindi Harrison - Editor
The Scattered People film would not be the lyrical, crafted work of art that it is without Lindi. After a long phone conversation, Lindi decided to take a big chance on a couple of enthusiastic but committed first-time filmmakers with a compelling and important story.
Just as we were moved to tears and silence by Saha and Mas’ experiences after recording their interviews, we wanted our audiences to be deeply and quietly moved … and then to feel empowered to act.
We knew what we wanted and Lindi built the story from over 40 interviews, 10 live concerts and a long list of songs by the Scattered People band and well-known artists. The recognised and beloved musicians would amplify and add weight to Mas and Saha’s experience.
We can’t thank Lindi enough. Without her professionalism, love and passion for her craft, skills and experience and exquisite perception, Scattered People would not be the film that it is today.
JOHN AND LIZZI SWATLAND