Over the past 2 weeks I’ve written an aspiration for Mt. Morgan. I
really hope some from CQUni might find it interesting enough to follow
through with.
Future to the Back Aspiration for Mt. Morgan
Was it fate or just chance? The offer of the helicopter pilot to take
the student camera operator to get some aerial footage to include in the
webisode proved to be the start of a game changer. A game changer for
the web TV series and also for the town. The town of Mount Morgan.
Councillors were clamouring to claim the idea as their own, though most
couldn’t remember the one sentence item on their agenda recommending a
motion be passed for a twelve part webisode recording people living in
Mount Morgan as if they were in the late 1800’s, after gold had been
discovered, be submitted for possible State and Federal Government arts
funding. Whether it was the idea, the enthusiasm of the State Member,
the involvement of the CQ University or a desire to give something back
to Mount Morgan, the funding application was successful. With an
experienced mentor, students from the university’s media, graphics
design and drama departments were now working on a real life project – a
12 part webisode titled “Ironstone”. Early screenings were pretty
basic; however it was gaining a curiosity appeal. Admittedly from
locals and friends and families of people involved in its production.
Though with international University students involved the geographic
reach was immense. Accompanying vlogs were getting viewed on youtube
and other social media tools like twitter were helping spread the
appeal.
A local helicopter pilot needing to get his hours up offered to take a
camera operator to get an aerial view of the town. This footage used at
the start of webisode six was about to take the series into the
stratosphere. A relative of an overseas student involved in the
production flippantly mentioned the website at BBC studios in London. A
semi interested listener later searched the web site. The vision of a
road winding up the Mountain, with its tight twists was mouth watering.
Further research and a little reference revealing another road linking
it was called the Razorback made it perfect. This had to be included in
their itinerary for their forthcoming Australian tour. Jeremy
mentioned it on the show that he had a perfect challenge for the boys
while in Australia. He went on to explain the webisode on which this
twisting, turning track chiselled into a mountain that veered at its
peak down the road called Razorback featured and the challenge it would
provide. Richard however saw a different opportunity and challenged
Jeremy to feature in the webisode living as a miner in the late 1800’s.
After a couple of jibes from James the challenge was accepted, the boys
from Top Gear were coming to Mount Morgan. The web series ‘Ironstone’
was about to go internationally ballistic.
A game changer doesn’t have to involve building something new. It can
be just looking at something that’s always been there with a new set of
eyes. Eyes that see potential, not obstacles. The road up the Mount
arguably an impediment to Mt. Morgan development might to many be seen
as difficult, one that induces road sickness, but to someone like Jeremy
Clarkson, imagine what he would see through his eyes.
How do we currently see Mount Morgan? Look at it again with a new set
of eyes, its history, landmarks, its lack of development, even its road.
Next week I’ll expand on what a simple idea like a webisode could
provide Mt. Morgan and our region. It just needs the will to make it
happen. Remember the future is not too see, it is too create.
Part 2 of this article (in full) not the abridged version the Bullie put in is as follows:
Ironstone Still a Jewel in Capricorn’s Crown
The Premier and the Mayor were all smiles for the camera at the opening
of the Swinging Bridge. Funded and re-built in record time it included
some of the original planks from its predecessor. The first question
from the attending media was “if the lads from Top Gear weren’t coming
to Mount Morgan, would it have been re-built?”
Imagine what a game changer an episode of Top Gear being filmed in a town would have. Imagine if that town was Mount Morgan.
Last week my aspiration was for a webisode called Ironstone to be
produced. A reality series that followed different people living like
they would have in Mount Morgan in the late 1800’s. By chance or fate
Jeremy Clarkson would come across an episode which included an aerial
view of the road up the Mount. The twists and turns leaving him
salivating. This road, this town had to be included in Top Gear’s
Australian tour.
The televised announcement made Ironstone an instant huge online success
in terms of downloads and social media interaction. The affect it
would have on the town would also prove to be massive.
The cogs of government were quickly lubricated; along with the swinging
bridge, old buildings were being restored and painted, the cemetery
tidied, story boards around points of historical interest were erected.
Plans for a bigger, interactive museum were being discussed. Spin offs
from the Top Gear announcement included confirmation that Getaway would
do a whole program on the surrounding region and impact Mount Morgan
had on the Australian economy in the early years of federation. A
Current Affair had just finished recording. When it aired it turned out
to be a story on how the town that once saved the Australian economy
was now threatened by toxic water. Not the story the Mayor eagerly
agreed to be interviewed for. However the appearance of water quality
experts from Melbourne within the week supported the view that sometimes
any publicity is good. Rumours also abound that the guys from Myth
Busters were coming to do a story of the dinosaur footprints on the cave
ceiling. Mount Morgan was no longer the forgotten town. Renewed
interest in its history meant there was now a living case study which
not only involved media, marketing and drama students from the dual
sector CQ University; psychology, arts, engineering, apprentice
carpenters, boiler makers, mechanics were all involved. Research not
only included insights on how people lived in the late 1800’s while
inflicted with gold fever, but also on the interaction people were
having with the webisode – the online commentary and social media
interaction. Commercial networks were seeing the series as the future
of television.
However, before I get too carried away I should acknowledge the
knockers, ‘or realists’, question, “what’s the chance of Top Gear coming
to Mount Morgan?”. And even if they did, all would be forgotten within
a couple of months and it would go back to the way it was! Perhaps, I
even hope so; the way Mount Morgan was at the start of the twentieth
century. A town with a mountain of gold and copper called Ironstone.
Consider what arts projects do receive Government funding. Do they all
have the potential to provide students from a wide variety of
disciplines the opportunity to be involved? The opportunity to reveal
the history of a once important town; the opportunity to provide an
insight into how social media and entertainment can fully converge. The
opportunity to be used as a drawcard to attract students to a
university. The opportunity to attract tourists. The opportunity to
stimulate restoration projects. The opportunity for training programs.
The opportunity to revitalise a town. The opportunity with the
international students involved for it to generate international
interest and maybe the decision to film a television episode there.
There’s still gold in them there hills, but it may not be only under the
ground. Sometime it’s just how you look at it, not where you look.
Still got doubts? Consider the huge popularity of Wild Boys. There is
huge interest in Australia’s gold rush period and Mount Morgan was the
richest mine. Ironstone the webisode could be just the game changer
Mount Morgan needs. A game changer that once again makes Mount Morgan a
jewel in the Capricorns’ crown. Remember our future is not to see, but
to create.