The documentary Flyways – the untold story of migratory shorebirds combines film maker Randall Wood’s love of birds, film making and his roots in the Redlands.
The film will be screened for free at Capalaba’s Event Cinema at 6pm on Saturday, August 5.
Four years in the making, the film traces the annual migratory path of birds including the Far Eastern curlew and their various stops including sites in China, America, Russia and Moreton Bay. One of the locations featured is Cleveland’s Toondah Harbour.
Mr Wood is the grandson of Hilary and Betsy White who owned Mount Carmel Orchards at Redland Bay and proved to be a great inspiration.
“My grandmother loved birds,” he said.
“I spent a lot of time at the farm. So one day I asked my friend, an award-winning young lawyer (Revel Pointon) for a suggestion for a documentary that touched on the environment, biology, conservation and the law.
“She said it had to be on shore birds or koalas and Toondah Harbour was the current topic.
“The documentary was a natural fit.”
Mr Wood said making that documentary had made a profound impact on him and he had visited about 20 countries and spoken to multiple scientific experts to complete it.
“I started to unpack an Australian story, but it is really international – with footage in Africa, China and Russia. I have made three trips to Alaska,” he said.
The film has been made in conjunction with Randall’s company Storyland, PBS in America, FHMI, Arte in France, PTS Taiwan, Screen Australia and Screen Queensland.
Mr Wood said he also followed his grandfather’s legacy.
“My grandfather (Hilary) was a film maker himself.
“He has footage of the orchard and particularly on his interest in growing avocadoes the 1940s in the National Film and Sound archives.”
Mr Wood’s access was through music, having studied piano at the Queensland Conservatorium.
In this film, Randall’s music underscores the credits.
Book for seats to the documentary on eventbrite.com.au.
