Modern Witches and Paganism in Aus
Donation protected
Modern Witches and Paganism in Australia is a film that explores the diverse lives and ideologies of Witches and Pagans including Druids, Shamans and many other nature-based beliefs in our contemporary Australian society. The film will give an insight into what goes on behind the closed doors of covens and other Pagan groups which usually remain secret.
http://www.modernwitchesdocumentary.com
The story of the project
Modern Witches and Paganism in Australia is a feature length documentary about witches and pagans living and practicing in our contemporary society, misunderstood or unknown to the majority of the general public. I am investigating who these people are, how they have preserved ancient traditions and how they have reworked it into their daily lives. The Documentary explores pagan and Wiccan beliefs and practices and outlines the history of witchcraft.
Modern witchcraft is a subject that in contemporary society is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Accordingly, it is a subject that is yet to be exposed authentically to mass audiences. As with any documentary, the aim is to expose and educate; broadening the understanding of “real” witches living amongst us, practicing magic. Most people that I have surveyed and talked to about this topic have very stereotypical ideas and ideologies about "Witches", most commonly reflective of pop culture and films such as Harry Potter. Yet when the topic is explored, what is revealed is the impact Wiccan rites have had. Exemplifying this is the knowledge I have gained on the way concerning how Christian celebrations have appropriated elements from pagan festivals. Nearly everything in our contemporary society has been reworked from earlier generations and we can see elements from pagan practices in many new age religions and medical treatments. Although the life of a pagan may seem foreign to most people, we are actually surrounded by arts of the craft in our everyday lives. Meditation, natural healing, new age self help, crystals, herbs and psychic readings are all arts of witchcraft. It is highly ironic that in our society people who do not consider themselves witches are actually involved in these practices without even knowing.
Meet The Crew
Director / Producer
Brittany McCowan is a young aspiring documentary filmmaker from Lennox Head, Australia. Brittany graduated from the Foundation Diploma at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. Currently Brittany has been directing her first feature length documentary called Modern Witches and Paganism in Australia and is also freelancing for the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council.
Filmography:
2014 – Modern Witches – Director/ Producer
2014 – Pluck – Prop maker/ behind the scenes cinematographer
2014 – Chop – First AD
2014 – The Merlin Wall- Costumes/ Hair & makeup/Production Designer 2014 – Frame – Production Designer
2014 – Camp Cove – Production Designer
Paganism Background
My sister has been a pagan for several years and I have learnt a lot about Pagan practices from her. Over the last few months I have been meeting regularly with a coven of witches who have been teaching me the arts of the Witch and I have also been attending the pagan festivals and embracing the pagan ideologies in my own life.
Editor
Antony Robinson plans to further develop as a filmmaker and a storyteller whilst expanding his abilities in both production and post- production.
Animator
Nicole Louise is a young student/director living in Sydney. She is a self-taught artist of seven years and primarily uses animation in order to tell her stories. She has a huge passion for costume design, make up, sound design and composing.
Work:
2014 – Through the Eyes of a fox – Make up
2014 – Zombro – Make up
2014 – The Oyster – Costume
2014 – Pluck Directed 2014 – Mimesis - Producer
2014 –Timeline- Producer
2014 -A very short film – Animator
2014 - Tri Terra - Animator
2014 - Best Before - composer/sound design
Cinematographer
Jaydn Gosselin is a writer/director who was born in Australia and will be moving to New York to continue his studies in filmmaking. He has made several short films, which have won various community awards, with his latest being the dark, surreal drama, "The Oyster". Jaydn is committed to working collaboratively with people and developing a career-long team of filmmaking partners.
Documentary Stills
What Is Paganism?
"Paganism is a religious movement without hierarchy or even a charismatic leader, whose members are widely scattered throughout the country, and even throughout the western world. This is a movement that is not centred around a basic doctrine or theological assumption; rather, it is based on a pervasive ideology with its own dynamic, at first kindled by an individual's interest in the non-material world, sparked by the imagination and fired by a fascination with the occult. It incorporates in its worldview the weaving together of current issues of concern, such as the environment and women's issues, with very ancient ideas, such as polytheism, animism and mythology."
- Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia by Lynne Hume
How the funds will be used
Your kind and awesome donations will go toward the following:
•$5,720 goes directly to the Camera, Lens, Sound and Lights.
•$5000 goes to the crew fees for the Editing, Filming and animations.
•$4000 goes to the travel expenses such as petrol, flights and accommodation.
•$915 goes to the 5% GoFundMe fees.
•$700 goes to the festival costs
•$1000 goes to the licensing for sound and events.
•$1000 goes to the marketing such as creating DVDs.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are short on funds but love our idea and motivation then you can share our movie with your friends by posting it on your social media . You can also like and share our websites or simple tell as many people as possible. If you go to our website you can also give us your email and we can send you updates of the project.
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ModernWitchesandpaganisminAustralia
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ModernWitches3
Follow us on Tumblr:
http://modernwitchaus.tumblr.com
Check out the Website:
http://www.modernwitchesdocumentary.com
HashTag #ModernWitches
http://www.modernwitchesdocumentary.com
The story of the project
Modern Witches and Paganism in Australia is a feature length documentary about witches and pagans living and practicing in our contemporary society, misunderstood or unknown to the majority of the general public. I am investigating who these people are, how they have preserved ancient traditions and how they have reworked it into their daily lives. The Documentary explores pagan and Wiccan beliefs and practices and outlines the history of witchcraft.
Modern witchcraft is a subject that in contemporary society is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Accordingly, it is a subject that is yet to be exposed authentically to mass audiences. As with any documentary, the aim is to expose and educate; broadening the understanding of “real” witches living amongst us, practicing magic. Most people that I have surveyed and talked to about this topic have very stereotypical ideas and ideologies about "Witches", most commonly reflective of pop culture and films such as Harry Potter. Yet when the topic is explored, what is revealed is the impact Wiccan rites have had. Exemplifying this is the knowledge I have gained on the way concerning how Christian celebrations have appropriated elements from pagan festivals. Nearly everything in our contemporary society has been reworked from earlier generations and we can see elements from pagan practices in many new age religions and medical treatments. Although the life of a pagan may seem foreign to most people, we are actually surrounded by arts of the craft in our everyday lives. Meditation, natural healing, new age self help, crystals, herbs and psychic readings are all arts of witchcraft. It is highly ironic that in our society people who do not consider themselves witches are actually involved in these practices without even knowing.
Meet The Crew
Director / Producer
Brittany McCowan is a young aspiring documentary filmmaker from Lennox Head, Australia. Brittany graduated from the Foundation Diploma at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. Currently Brittany has been directing her first feature length documentary called Modern Witches and Paganism in Australia and is also freelancing for the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council.
Filmography:
2014 – Modern Witches – Director/ Producer
2014 – Pluck – Prop maker/ behind the scenes cinematographer
2014 – Chop – First AD
2014 – The Merlin Wall- Costumes/ Hair & makeup/Production Designer 2014 – Frame – Production Designer
2014 – Camp Cove – Production Designer
Paganism Background
My sister has been a pagan for several years and I have learnt a lot about Pagan practices from her. Over the last few months I have been meeting regularly with a coven of witches who have been teaching me the arts of the Witch and I have also been attending the pagan festivals and embracing the pagan ideologies in my own life.
Editor
Antony Robinson plans to further develop as a filmmaker and a storyteller whilst expanding his abilities in both production and post- production.
Animator
Nicole Louise is a young student/director living in Sydney. She is a self-taught artist of seven years and primarily uses animation in order to tell her stories. She has a huge passion for costume design, make up, sound design and composing.
Work:
2014 – Through the Eyes of a fox – Make up
2014 – Zombro – Make up
2014 – The Oyster – Costume
2014 – Pluck Directed 2014 – Mimesis - Producer
2014 –Timeline- Producer
2014 -A very short film – Animator
2014 - Tri Terra - Animator
2014 - Best Before - composer/sound design
Cinematographer
Jaydn Gosselin is a writer/director who was born in Australia and will be moving to New York to continue his studies in filmmaking. He has made several short films, which have won various community awards, with his latest being the dark, surreal drama, "The Oyster". Jaydn is committed to working collaboratively with people and developing a career-long team of filmmaking partners.
Documentary Stills
What Is Paganism?
"Paganism is a religious movement without hierarchy or even a charismatic leader, whose members are widely scattered throughout the country, and even throughout the western world. This is a movement that is not centred around a basic doctrine or theological assumption; rather, it is based on a pervasive ideology with its own dynamic, at first kindled by an individual's interest in the non-material world, sparked by the imagination and fired by a fascination with the occult. It incorporates in its worldview the weaving together of current issues of concern, such as the environment and women's issues, with very ancient ideas, such as polytheism, animism and mythology."
- Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia by Lynne Hume
How the funds will be used
Your kind and awesome donations will go toward the following:
•$5,720 goes directly to the Camera, Lens, Sound and Lights.
•$5000 goes to the crew fees for the Editing, Filming and animations.
•$4000 goes to the travel expenses such as petrol, flights and accommodation.
•$915 goes to the 5% GoFundMe fees.
•$700 goes to the festival costs
•$1000 goes to the licensing for sound and events.
•$1000 goes to the marketing such as creating DVDs.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are short on funds but love our idea and motivation then you can share our movie with your friends by posting it on your social media . You can also like and share our websites or simple tell as many people as possible. If you go to our website you can also give us your email and we can send you updates of the project.
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ModernWitchesandpaganisminAustralia
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ModernWitches3
Follow us on Tumblr:
http://modernwitchaus.tumblr.com
Check out the Website:
http://www.modernwitchesdocumentary.com
HashTag #ModernWitches
Organizer
Brittany McCowan
Organizer
Canada Bay, NSW