Page 4 - RD_2015_12

Letters to the Editor

WANTED: A copy of THE WESTERN WAY (1923)

I am currently undertaking PhD research in to the development of photography and film in
Western Australia between the two World Wars, and I am searching for an early film titled The
Western Way produced by Westralia Films in 1923.

The Western Way (1923) narrates the arrival of immigrants in Albany aboard the SS Themisto-
cles and their subsequent journey to Perth. The Western Way was Western Australia’s contribu-
tion to the British Empire Trade Exhibition of 1924, filmed specifically for general display to
the British public.
I have searched high and low in archives, libraries in Australia and Overseas. Is there a way my
query could reach collectors, maybe through your magazine?
Kind regards

Paola Anselmi, PhD Candidate, UWA School of Design
paola.anselmi@research.uwa.edu.au
…...............................................................................................................
Hello Mike,

My name is Sari Braithwaite, and I'm a Melbourne filmmaker working largely with archival
material. I am an historian by training and part time filmmaker. I'm currently making a docu-
mentary about late Anne Deveson. She was a dear friend who passed away late last year. I am
hoping for the film to be broadcast on ABC at the end of this year, if I can get the funding to
finish it. I'm wanting to use amateur, home movie material in this film. I was very keen to come
along to the recent fair held in Seddon in Melbourne, but was unable to make it.

I'm very interested in tracking down amateur/home movie footage in 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm of
architecture, public and private life in: Perth in the 1940s, London in the 1950s, Sydney in the
1960s-1980s, Any protests, feminism etc. in 1970s

Is this something your members might be able to help me track down, or maybe they might
have in their collections?

I've visited the National Film and Sound Archive, but to use anything in their collection is very
expensive! I can certainly pay the price for digitisation if your members have suitable footage
and are willing to let me use it in this film.

Thanks so much. All the best

Sari Braithwaite
sari.braithwaite@gmail.com
Ed note:
The above letter to the editor was received as an email by the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of
Australia (CATHS). It has been slightly edited and is printed here in the hope that a RD reader may have
suitable material to assist Sari with her project.
4 REEL DEALS June 2017