Filmmaker seeks community support to make gay hate crimes documentary a reality

Filmmaker seeks community support to make gay hate crimes documentary a reality
Image: (Image credit: Ann-Marie Calilhanna; Star Observer)

AFTER more than two years of pouring in their own time and money into their passion project, the team behind Killing Off the Beat is asking for help to get their documentary over the line.

The film will investigate the spate of violent hate crimes against gay men in Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s.

[showads ad=MREC] Producer Serkan Ozturk, a former Star Observer journalist, came up with idea to make the film after complaints of police brutality during the 2013 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Along with fellow producer Igor Shmaryan, the pair have invested thousands of hours into creating the film and are now at the home stretch of editing it.

However, they need to raise $50,000 via a crowdfunding campaign in order to finish the film and to hire high-calibre graphic designers and musicians.

“No-one’s being paid and we want to pay people fair rates,” Ozturk told the Star Observer.

For Ozturk, who has not worked full-time since starting the film, it was more important for him to tell this story than to make money.

“All the money’s coming out of mine and Igor’s pocket… but I’m motivated to do this movie even if there’s only $5 in my pocket,” he said.

The pair have applied for funding through Queer Screen but are waiting for the outcome of their application.

“Crowdfunding makes us more independent,” Ozturk said.

“This crowdfunding is about getting the justice out there.

“There are people who have been damaged by these incidents and I hope the crowdfunding can help tell their story.

“I want people to talk about this issue.”

You can donate to the Killing Off the Beat here.

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9 responses to “Filmmaker seeks community support to make gay hate crimes documentary a reality”

  1. This is all both Tony Abbott’s and Fred Nile’s fault, they both started encouraging the gay bashing around in Sydney and the rest of NSW. In fact Fred Nile is still in the NSW upper house blocking marriage equality with the 19-21 vote! When Fred Nile and Tony Abbott both die – I will be personally dancing on their graves!

  2. Serkan Ozturk is a troublemaker and not in a good way. He didn’t “break” this story, as he claims – he jumped on the bandwagon. That’s fine, the more people working to unearth the truth, the better – but he needs to stop pretending this is “his” project” as though he uncovered the fact that gay hate crimes happened in Sydney in the ’80s and ’90s.

    In recent Star Observer articles, Ozturk has attacked SBS-TV, Screen Australia, Blackfella Films, Benjamin Law, Patrick Abboud and the Sydney Morning Herald. Who in their right minds would think they’re all wrong and Ozturk is right? As someone pointed out above, Queerscreen will be the next to be attacked by Ozturk if they don’t give him $$$. The Star needs to stop promoting this guy, he has no credibility, all he does is attack people to big himself up. There was a time the Star wouldn’t touch someone like Ozturk (SX magazine’s sloppy seconds) with a bargepole – really sad to see the Star support this twerp.

  3. A NSW Royal commission into the gay bashings within NSW back in the 80s and 90s is need right now! Enough said!

  4. Serkan Ozturk is a total nutcase and has a terrible reputation. The Star is doing itself a huge disservice promoting this fool.

    • So true, I have to agree that Serkan Ozturk is a total nutcase! However, Australian politicians who in 2016 opposes marriage equality in an federal election year later this year, are also total nutcases. Both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull are also total nutcases who wreck and ruin Australia. Malcolm Turnbull wants to take us back to the Howard years of 1996! Vote 1 Greens!

  5. Looks like amateur hour alright – shaky cameras, poor sound, amateurish questions, and Serkan bleating on and on and on. Watch out, Queerscreen – Serkan is telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s been been wronged by Screen Australia and SBS, just because they wouldn’t back his doco. He seems to think he’s the only one allowed to do a documentary on this topic! No doubt if (or more likely when) you don’t provide funding, he’ll be trash talking you guys too.

  6. I for one can not believe that in 2016, the gay panic defence is still allowed and legal in both SA and QLD. The QLD government promised to abolish it, but have not done so the lying cunts!

  7. I wouldn’t have anything to do with this documentary or it’s production.
    I further urge caution to the homosexuality community because those making YouTube clips promoting the documentary have none or very little credibility and seem to be parties to Gay INC and have no actual understanding or concept of the actual struggle and violence perpetrated against homosexual men in the 70 s , 80s and 90’s.
    I do because I was a victim of a gay hate crime.
    I know what it’s like to be the one doing the suffering.
    Now I know I’m viewed as an outsider within the homosexuality community and that label suits me just fine.
    I called for a Judicial Inquiry with the powers of a Royal Commission some years ago now to address gay hate crimes and NSW Police Force’s failure to adequately investigate those crimes and the self elected community spokespersons ignored my call and did what they do best and that is sit on their collective “cross stitching” or go to another tax paid back slapping event sipping on Sauvignon Blanc while eating salmon and prawn sandwiches. Hypocrisy at it’s best.

  8. This documentary looks like amateur hour. Has been Geoff Field didn’t even know the man who was allegedly murdered and Serkhan clearly loves the sound of his own voice.

    Nope.