OBSERVER: Breaking Point
As part of its campaign to highlight the poor rundown state of the firefighting truck fleet in Victoria, the United Firefighters Union has commissioned Blue Tree Studios to make a series of short documentary films collectively titled Breaking Point.
The films are a powerful indictment of the lack of action in relation to an ageing fleet of trucks and pull no punches in detailing what the possible tragic consequences might be of fighting fires using outdated equipment.
Consisting of four short films, each running for around 13 minutes, Breaking Point is shot in a vox pop style where the ‘public’ consists of firefighters themselves.
Interspersed with clips of fire trucks in action and in various states of disrepair, firefighters tell of mishaps and dangerous situations they have faced.
Such situations are due to faulty firefighting equipment on ageing unreliable fire trucks that are well past their use-by date.
Breaking Point uses real firefighters, rather than actors, to tell often harrowing stories of equipment failures and the potentially dangerous consequences of such failures for both the public and firefighters alike.
All of the firefighters used, drawn from across the state, appear relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera and genuinely concerned and fearful about their situation. This gives all four films a powerful sense of authenticity.
Working for Blue Tree Studios on Breaking Point were Joseph Feil, who produced and directed, and Lewis Matthews, who filmed and edited. The two of them have created a professional and hard-hitting expose of the dreadful situation the fire truck fleet is in.
At present only available online via a website and YouTube, it is hoped that the four shorts can be made available to a wider audience through more mainstream media outlets. They are well-made and convey a powerful message that needs to be heard by all Victorians.
Venue: Available online and YouTube
Duration: Four films each running for 12-14 minutes
For further information about the film: breakingpoint.com.au/Home#Episodes
Review by Peter Murphy