Shooting Stars showcases the value of yarning to Aboriginal girls + women via Limitless Studios

Shooting Stars has released a new video showcasing the value of yarning to Aboriginal girls and women in WA while utilising virtual production, via Limitless Studios, to overcome logistical hurdles.

Shooting Stars, an initiative of Glass Jar Australia, has unveiled a powerful new video highlighting the transformative impact of yarning on Aboriginal girls and women in Western Australia (WA). Leveraging the capabilities of virtual production through Limitless Studios, the project overcame logistical challenges, creating a visually stunning and culturally resonant narrative.

Set against the sacred Noongar lands of Kaarta Gar-up (Kings Park) and Dyoondalup (Point Walter), the video delves into the unique Aboriginal methodology employed by the Shooting Stars program. Designed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women in WA and South Australia, the program focuses on informed decision-making regarding education and employment.

Yarning is a tool for self-determination and truth-telling. Through this platform, participants and communities share the barriers that they face in their journey to empowerment, with their stories gathered as evidence to challenge the status quo.

The Dyoondalup shoot initially posed logistical hurdles due to its location and timing, set during the challenging blue hour in winter on a sandbar with a rising tide. Limitless Studios, however, found an innovative solution by capturing plate shots on-site and seamlessly integrating them into the studio’s LED wall. With full lighting control, a practical set, and strategic planning, the production environment became more manageable, providing comfort to participants and staff.

VIEW THE FILM

This virtual approach allowed Shooting Stars to shoot during business hours, shielded from the elements, eliminating the stress of a short twilight window. The result was not only high-quality footage but also the capture of visions that would have been otherwise impossible.

Shooting Stars Research Manager, Dr Rose Whitau, said: “The first time I saw the video I was speechless. It is such a soulful piece of work that captures the spirit of Shooting Stars and the significance that yarning has on our work. We are incredibly grateful to Jono and his team for creating such a beautiful tool that will enable us to share the power of yarning and Indigenous-led praxis with others.”

The ‘Yarning with the Stars’ project goes beyond being a video; it serves as a governance structure, ensuring that the program’s most important stakeholders—participants and communities—have a voice in shaping both local and organisational strategies. Through yarning, Shooting Stars continues to empower Indigenous voices, fostering a sense of self-determination and community-driven change.

Credits
Client: Shooting Stars (Glass Jar Australia)
Production: Limitless Studios
Director: Jonathon Shaw
Producer: Apurva Gupta/Andrew Silberstein
DOP: Shane van Litsenborgh
1st AC: Michael Thomas
VFX: Emir Salameh
Colour Grade: Shane van Litsenborgh