This January 26 is an especially important day in the long history of Australia. This year, Australia before white settlement and Australia after will come together in way they have not done before. And that is the result of more than two years of work by R/GA and the First Nations social enterprise it developed with Yuin artist, producer and radio host, Nooky, We Are Warriors.
We Are Warriors, R/GA and Entropico will hold the world premiere of the documentary, Through The Fire, on Invasion Day (January 26, 2023) at The House of Blak Power, at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. The documentary film is dedicated to inspiring, equipping and empowering Indigenous youth to succeed by connecting them with First Nations role models. It reveals and harnesses the power of Indigenous achievements across music, fashion, sport and beyond.
Around it, We Are Warriors is inviting all ages and backgrounds to a free evening of live music, contemporary and traditional dance, film, art and panel discussions, as Blak Powerhouse turns a day known for great loss and sorrow into one of power and positivity.
It aims to be a day of empowerment for Australia’s Indigenous community and a day of discovery and understanding by the community that has come to call Australia home since January 26, 1788.
Nooky explained, “Through The Fire is a piece of art that tells the story of a new age movement informed by a story as old as time, our black cockatoo story, which is significant to my birthplace Nowra. The story of the black cockatoo is a white cockatoo who sacrificed himself by flying through fire in order to help people. Going through the fire was painful and tortuous, but he made it out on the other side. He didn’t give up, he sang the rain. Carrying the lessons and scars, which changed his coat from white to black, he is now a symbol of hope and selflessness. In its essence, it’s a tale of persistence, unwavering strength and resilience. I went through the fire and We Are Warriors is what I carried with me. Believe me when I tell you though this is just the beginning.”
Ben Miles, vice president, executive creative director, brand design & consulting APAC at R/GA, added, “Through The Fire unpacks the uncomfortable truths faced by First Nations People, but more importantly, it shifts the narrative and becomes an inspiring story of bravery, resilience and Blak excellence. The film is told through the lens of Nooky and our founding Warriors with a raw, fierce and empathetic tone — seamlessly blending the past and the present through contemporary storytelling and rap. It’s a reminder that against all odds, anything is possible. We hope it inspires Indigenous youth and reinforces that they too are Warriors.”
Director Gabriel Gasparinatos, commented, “It was a unique and exciting chance to partner with Nooky again and tell this part of his story. I hope we’ve created something that will connect with First Nations youth around the country, and continue to elevate those voices. Collaborating with talented creatives on a film like this, with Tyson, our crew, Entropico, R/GA and Garuwa was really special.”
Through The Fire is executive produced by Nooky of We Are Warriors; Ben Miles, vice president, executive creative director, brand design & consulting APAC at R/GA; and Seamus Higgins, former vice president, chief creative officer, R/GA.
It is directed by Gabriel Gasparinatos and produced by Erin Moy. It is an Entropico production in collaboration with Garuwa. With support from Rare by Google, Adobe JD Sports and Heaps Normal.
Credits:
Client: We Are Warriors
Founder: Nooky AKA Corey Webster
Creative Agency: R/GA
VP, Executive Creative Director, APAC: Ben Miles
VP, Chief Creative Officer: Seamus Higgins
Senior Producer: Joel Stevens
Design Director: Henry Cook
Visual Designers: Ryan Winter + Louis Johanson
Copywriter: Leila Khoshoie
Senior Strategist: Georgia Doust
Senior Experience Designer: Johnny Cole
Technology Lead: Mike King
SVP, Managing Director: Michael Titshall
Director of Marketing & Communications: Kate Neill
Production Company: Entropico
Director: Gabriel Gasparinatos
Executive Producer: Erin Moy
Producer: Sophia de Vries
Stills: James Evans & Rob Hookey
DOP: Tyson Perkins
1st AC: Dan Abbot
Steadicam: Max McLachlan
Gaffer: Tom Keyes
Editor: Jodie Williams
Colourist: Matt Fezz
Sound Design & Mix: Rowan Dix
DA: Raghav Rampal
Gear provided by The Front
Photographer: Rob Hookey
Production: Garuwa
Executive Producer & Creative Director: Kieran Satour
2nd Assistant Director: Josef Jakamarra Egger
PR: Thinking Loud
Director: Aniela Swiatek
Account Manager: Charlotte Harrison
Project Manager: Omari Elliot
GeedUp Supply:
Managing Director: Beau Seywell
Production Director: Rhys Adams
About Blak Powerhouse
Highlighting the program are live performances from We Are Warriors ambassadors, Barkaa, Kobie Dee and Nooky, plus fellow artists, Kanada The Loop, Mi-kaisha, and more to be revealed. Additionally, visual artist, DeadFace, will practise live art, alongside walk-through exhibitions from contemporary artist Charlotte Allingham (aka Coffin Birth) and photographer Luke Currie-Richardson, celebrating Blak Power.
Nooky will deliver a Keynote address adjoining a panel discussion centered on themes of representation, identity and building a Blak future that all are proud of. There will be dances from Muggera and Doonooch, tastemaker tunes courtesy of Latifa Tee.
The world premiere of Through The Fire will be followed by a panel talk with Nooky, producer Kieran Satour and cinematographer, Tyson Perkins.
Nooky commented, “Blak Powerhouse is another mark in the We Are Warriors song line. January 26 is a day that doesn’t usually give me good emotions or feelings. My people mourn the atrocities that ensued on and after January 26, 1788. We celebrate our survival on the day, while others celebrate… you ask ‘em. I bet half of ‘em couldn’t tell you. Launching WAW on January 26 and now creating the Blak Powerhouse on our 1st birthday really has changed what this day means to me personally, and hopefully we can do that for others as well. For me it has a new name up there with Invasion Day and Survival Day – now WAW day is in the mix.”
Ben Miles added, “It’s hard to be what you can’t see. So, on a day that’s so polarising, we wanted to take control of the narrative and put a spotlight on Blak excellence. We reached out to the Powerhouse Museum with a brave idea of transforming it into the House of Blak Power. And on Invasion Day it will be renamed the Blak Powerhouse. It’s a bold move and an invitation to come together and be part of a Blak Future.”
Since launching We Are Warriors one year ago, Nooky and creative agency R/GA have shared a collective goal to operate a platform that celebrates and supports the potential of Blak excellence and connects First Nations youth to role models to help shape successful futures. It supports and invests in the next generation of leaders by providing them with access to a wide range of workshops as well as mentorship programmes. We Are Warriors launched with a content series of video interviews, followed by a feature presentation at Semi Permanent in May, and WAW Fest in June, at which Nooky assembled an all-star cast of artists, including Dallas Woods, Kobie Dee and Triple One, for a musical showcase as part of VIVID Sydney. These events all maintain an overarching roadmap to build empathy among everyday Australians. Watch those videos here.
