Add Category
Farmer Mitchell East is used to playing with passionfruit, not plastic toys, on his farm in Manjimup in the South West of Western Australia.
The town, which until recently was known for its timber industry, is also referred to as the food bowl of the South West.
Mr East participates in a writer's workshop to format and refine story ideas. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
Instead of being on his Willarra Gold property, the third-generation farmer gave up a weekend to brainstorm stories using a range of children's toys.
Mr East was part of a team that attended a writer's workshop, planning a television series to highlight their region's resilience and dedication.
"Filmmakers are here helping draw out the creative juices in someone like me — a farmer," Mr East said.
The passionfruit producer has been appointed the production liaison officer, describing himself as the link between the farmer and filmmaker.
"Although we are a small pocket of the world, we want to show on our screens how farmers are dealing with the constant challenges and changes in our industry," Mr East said.
"This series could give us the opportunity to have a say, but not in a way where we are just having a whinge, we want to educate and entertain people."
As part of the creative process, potential scenarios were acted out using children's toys. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
Getting from farm to film
Mr East said the project would be driven by community spirit.
"I went from thinking about the idea in my tractor to taking it to the Southern Forest Food Council board room," Mr East said.
"We have some of the best in the business looking to me and others in the community for advice on what our television show should be about — it's so cool!"
Farmers and their produce will feature in a new pilot episode to be filmed around Manjimup. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
The Southern Forest Food Council secured the funding through the state government's Native Forestry Transition Community Small Grants Fund.
The food council is a not-for-profit organisation that works to represent local farmers and agribusinesses in the Southern Forest region.
Laura Bolitho is the general manager of the food council.
"We're in the process of transitioning through the closure to the native forestry program, it was a major industry in our area," she said.
"So now we've got development funding to create either a documentary or TV series and then film a pilot.
"These grants are opportunities to bring some vibrancy back into our community."
Ms Bolitho helps promote local producers in the region. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
The regional 'echo-chamber'
The Southern Forests Food Council were able to appoint a production team through the funding.
Having grown up on a farm herself, producer and director Bec Bignell said she'd always been interested in telling regional stories but wanted to see a wider audience reach.
"What I've seen working with farmers in the regions, there's this real frustration that these stories are just staying in the regional echo chamber," Ms Bignell said.
Ms Bignell is in charge of weaving together the farmers' stories. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
"There's a disconnect in the city; they're consuming, eating, wearing without really knowing where it's come from."
The Kojonup-born creative said the writer's workshop over the weekend was a chance to hear personal stories from the region.
"It's making sure we can optimise this, so it's not just another glorified ad campaign," she said.
"We are looking at different people and different perceptions, we want long-term impact to come through our story, whatever we choose to showcase."
Ms Bignell wants to highlight the value farmers provide to a global audience. (Supplied: Astrid Volzke, Homespun. )
Pitching your pilot
Having already created film and television before, Ms Bignell said the pilot episode they pitched to major media organisations needed to be high-quality and compelling.
It's stories like those of local commercial bee producer Mikey Cernotta, which the team wanted to hear.
"I didn't come from your usual agricultural farming background, it's just something that I fell into," Mr Cernotta said.
"I was an underground miner in the Goldfields, it was my wife who wanted to have a single beehive, then I became totally fascinated by what beekeeping can offer."
Mr Cernotta produces and packs monofloral honey in the South West. (ABC South West WA: Jon Daly)
Even though being behind a lens was not the honey producer's favourite past time, the owner of Pemberton Honey Co wants to see what a project like this could do for both regional and metro audiences.
"It's easy to pick something off the shelf and not understand what's gone into producing that," he said.
"Hopefully this series can highlight what we do as farmers.
"You'll also hopefully meet some great characters who you can resonate with, because that's what makes this region: genuine, from-the-heart people."