Well, the bright sparks at immigration are going to dabble in some quick film making to create a piece to further 'deter' folks who think Australia looks like a good option (compared to war or famine, for instance). I guess endless years in immigration detention, a shit scary boat journey, the odd riot, increased chances of mental illness and no secure future are not enough of a deterrent to some persistent people who simply must illegally board a boat (but it's not the people per se we are addressing through these extensive measures, but rather the naughty smugglers). Oh, I forgot. That's only the Australian option. Now that's off the cards, people actually just get turned around and sent back to Malaysia anyway. Problem solved. There, they will have the chance to 'work' slum-style, so it's not as though their livelihoods have been completely brushed over by a rushed policy. They have a future.
Anyway, back to the movie. The Australian Government is going to film the passage of some unwitting movie stars embarking on the first return journey to Malaysia and upload it to You Tube (the international platform for conveying all types of messages - no English required).
Hmm. Many questions have been whirring around my mind since hearing this today. Firstly - will there be a sign at a relevant transit point similar to the ones I occasionally see at Customs to inform me that Ch 7 is there filming Bogan, sorry Border Security and if I did not wish to be filmed, I should inform 'them' (I have never understood who 'they' are, or indeed seen a phone number). Do asylum seekers enjoy these same wonderful rights (ie. you WILL be filmed, but please inform us if you do not wish footage to be aired). And secondly, who is directing these films? Did the Australian Government put the opportunity out to tender, inviting AFTRS grads and others? I am thinking that it should probably be shot in a realistic/docco style, I hope they don't over-produce it too much (like Ch 10 has done with Masterchef - completely ruined a great format). But say they do decide to adopt a genre approach - what will the soundtrack be? If they try to make it look happy/appealing - suggest they go with Holiday. If they go with slightly more poignant, drama style - suggest Leaving on a jet plane. If they decide the message is best conveyed in shoot-em-up action genre - suggest Am I ever gonna see your face again. In any case, there is no doubt in my mind that a soundtrack can only enhance the messaging. Suspect there may be an outside chance that film crews/voiceovers used for Border Security may even be consulted to assist with this important project for Australia's immigration policy (given how proud immigration senior execs are of the commercial success of that program).
So many possibilities! Expect that whoever had this assignment land on their desk last Friday at immigration (let's be honest, it couldn't have been much before then if it's in the news today) cannot believe their luck. Hopefully it will be in the hands of an artistic young departmental graduate who always thought they had more colour/pizazz than Canberra had to offer and throws themselves into the project with a zeal and vigour their drab colleagues did not know/expect they possessed.
Oh, and one more question. Will the faces of asylum seekers have that chequered thing (you can still make out the face if you squint) to protect identity? They are, after all potentially seeking protection from persecution/war/hostile regimes/other nasty things that may want to kill them or their families - and it probably wouldn't be very cool to broadcast their face to the world as they try (and fail) to seek asylum in Australia.
I cannot wait! Almost more exciting than the final Harry Potter release.
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