AustLit

'When British ships first arrived, seeking a new Paradise in what they called Van Diemen's Land, the island was already home to hundreds of Aboriginal families who called it lutruwita. But the British took little interest in Aboriginal culture. Lieutenant John Bowen, who was in charge of the first outpost at Risdon Cove in 1803, pronounced before ever seeing an Aborigine that they would not be 'of any use He thought he would be fortunate if he never saw them.'  (Introduction)

'Moving from idea, to concept, to libretto, to score, to production is always an extraordinary ride. A Tasmanian Requiem was something else again.' (Introduction)

'While filming around Tasmania, I slept many nights in my van, some outside it. I saw more stars than in previous years, and everything seemed crisper, clearer — not only due to upscaling from a HD to a 4k-resolution video camera. The intensity increased as the deadline approached. Michael Gissing and I collaborated on making a nine movement, 84 minute film as the back-drop of A Tasmanian Requiem.' (Introduction)