The Queensland Government's Premier's Anzac Prize sends young Queenslanders to the Western Front during the Anzac Day period to experience military history and remembrance firsthand. We were engaged to document the journey across Belgium and France, following students through the Menin Gate, memorial sites, cemeteries, battlefields, and Anzac Day commemorations at Villers-Bretonneux.
International documentary production always carries logistical pressure, and this one added tight timelines, limited crew size, and emotionally significant moments that couldn't be repeated. A two-person crew. Departure Saturday morning, back the following Saturday. One week, multiple countries, continuous filming. Four nights of booked accommodation across a seven-day assignment. The production needed to remain lightweight without compromising quality, and fast enough that content could be delivered while it was still relevant.
The production stayed deliberately observational, following students through genuine moments of reflection and discovery rather than directing them. With ten years of Army service behind the camera, the project carried a personal understanding of ceremony and the emotional weight of these places. Editing began on the return flight. A draft was sent from Singapore Airport during the layover. Changes were completed in the lounge. The final film was delivered before the crew landed back in Brisbane.
A documentary that captured the emotional connection between young Queenslanders and the history of those places, delivered on a timeline that matched the significance of the moment.
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