Short film “We Will” champions Australian marriage equality in 2016

Short film “We Will” champions Australian marriage equality in 2016
Image: "We Will" short film. Images by Samantha Heather.

A GROUP of friends who were disappointed by Australia’s slow progress on marriage equality have created a short film championing LGBTI relationships and calling for marriage equality in 2016.

The short, We Will, aims to normalise LGBTI relationships by portraying a lesbian couple on the a journey from their first kiss to their wedding day.

Director Laura Nagy said the government’s handling of the issue in 2015 prompted her and a creative team to readdress the issue.

“We wanted to help spark the conversation up again,” she told the Star Observer.

“We pooled our talents and resources together and depicted a snapshot of a couple falling in love like anyone else might – the first awkward date, the anxious obsessing over text messages, the giddy butterflies… Claire and Rachel’s love is just as ordinary as everyone else’s.

“All they want is the right to celebrate and formally recognise their relationship as every Australian should have the right to.”

The short film was shot in Sydney and sends a message that same-sex couples deserve a special day no just among friends and family, but as equals under the law.

Nagy said the team behind the film had diverse sexual and gender identities.

“We aimed to create something romantic and relatable, a love letter to love itself,” she said.

“The film was written in collaboration between several writers of differing sexual orientations and genders in an effort to prove that, irrespective of who you are or who your partner is – love itself is a universal experience.”

The short was written by Samuel Leighton-Dore and Nirrimi Firebrace.

Leighton-Dore believes telling people’s personal stories is a critical part of the campaign.

“It can be difficult to maintain optimism in the pursuit of marriage equality, and one of the most important tools in reminding the public of our loving message is through storytelling,” he told the Star Observer.

“With the potential of a plebiscite and years of political manoeuvring on what should essentially be a simple subject, I was excited to be part of a project that transcended debate and brought focus back to two people falling in love.”

Leighton-Dore said he was delighted to work with her to bring this message to life.

“I met the director years ago while studying at film school… she’s always been such a supporter of equality and the opportunity to help bring her vision to fruition was a no-brainer for me,” he said.

Watch We Will:

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