The first series, The Dam, has been completed. The last episode, You Can’t Eat The Road, went online late April. It turned out to be the most complex to cut. I had a lot of material to work with, but given this episode consists entirely of testimonials and interviews it became quite an effort to massage hours of material into ten minutes.

With production advisor, David Nerlich’s assistance, I divided the micro-doc into four scenes taking quotes from key statements, “What the Government Said Wasn’t True”, “At The Beginning We Were Told The Electricity Is Free”, The Extinguishment of Customary Rights”, and “In Our Struggle We Need To Be United”.

Gradually a narrative emerged and even though this episode would make more sense to Bhasa Malay speaking people, I’ve had very good response from English speaking viewers prior to it being completed. That said, one of the key points I had not stressed in this series is the fact that the Bengoh Dam is not an isolated case. Even though this final episode takes us to the Bakun Dam Resettlement Scheme, a proposed corridor of no less than 12 addition dams to meet alleged power needs. This will, no doubt, have significant impacts on the remaining Dayaks who live in Sarawak’s forests.

Last night I completed the first readable draft of Episode three, We can’t eat the road. This is the last in the first series, The Bidayuh and the Dam. It’s based on discussion between a small representative group of villagers from Upper Bengoh meeting with the Iban of Rumah Agi and the Kenyah at the Bakun Resettlement Scheme.

From palm oil to dams, the story is one of exploitation, false promises and despair. It demonstrates clearly how little the present government of Sarawak cares for native customary rights and even less for the welfare of the people they are duty bound to serve and protect.

I’ve done a lot more work on the site which you will see in the general layout, the synopsis pages and very soon, a section outlining the issues and an explanation of native customary rights, or NCR.

Work on the series began in 2008. Shooting was completed in mid-2009 and post production commenced September of that year as part of an artists in residence program I had been invited to undertake back in Australia.

At the time of writing all post-production has taken place with out a single penny, or dollar for those slighter younger than I. In-kind support has been provided by Wind & Sky Productions for their work in producing maps, titling and colour grading. I have also received considerable input from film-maker, writer and composer David Nerlich who has provided me with critical feedback to all my post-production scripts and each and every review edit.

More recently, a small number of highly skilled and supportive individuals have reviewed this site and my micro-docs offering essential feed-back and suggestions that will improve the project as it rolls out.

Sarawak Gone is the first Toy Satellite based project since 2005 – a much simpler and reflective Toy Satellite than the multi-faceted and fast paced outfit of former times.

Andrew Garton
February 2010