Private Project

Silence Kills

Silence Kills is a video that aims to save the lives of women and children. It is part of a campaign that aims to put a spotlight on domestic violence calling for anyone hearing cries for help, or disturbing noises, to call 000.
The most recent report from the United Nations states that ‘The home is the most dangerous place for women, with the majority of female homicide victims worldwide killed by partners or family’.
This video is propelled by frustration that cries for help, and unsettling noises, are allowed to go un-responded to. This insight, the horror and the harm, have been presented again and again by the victims of domestic violence. Everyone can take action to promote positive change by calling 000.
In Australia Our Watch focuses upon early intervention, White Ribbon focuses upon getting men involved. There have been a few Bystander campaigns (e.g. YWCA ‘Don’t cross the line’). The point of difference with Silence Kills is the aim of raising awareness that the home is so very unsafe. Disturbing noises are not something that should be ignored and left to blend into a busy landscape.

  • Claire Stretch
    Director
    10 Stories of Single Mother's and Their Children
  • Terese Edwards
    Executive Producer
    10 Stories of Single Mother's and Their Children
  • Brendon Stretch
    Editor and fx
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Television, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Claire Stretch

s a documentary film maker Claire Stretch has a strong focus on drawing out the best in human nature in order to build the capacity of individuals and community to respond from a resourced and solution focused place when facing the challenges of our society.

Claire Stretch’s professional background spans public relations, journalism, small business management, coaching, counselling, training and video production. This means that in her work as a film maker and producer she brings a unique mix of highly practical skills, along with a deep understanding of, and sensitivity to, people’s psychological needs.

In 2014 Claire, producer at filmstretch, began collaborating with Terese Edwards, CEO of The National Council for Single Mother’s and Their Children (NCSMC). Their first co-production was called 10 Stories of Single Mothers.

In 2016 Terese brought the idea of a campaign called Silence Kills to Claire. The campaign includes a 10-minute documentary, a 3.5-minute call for action video, and a music video of the original song, Silence Kills, written and sung by Chrissy Collins. These were completed, along with a campaign website, in 2018. The campaign is to be launched in the new year of 2020.

The initial collaboration between NCSMC and filmstretch was called Ten Stories of Single Mother’s and their Children. It consisted of ten 5-minute video stories of ten single mother’s, and a 10-minute documentary, to highlight the devastation of the significant income drop caused by an ill-considered change in legislation. Qualification for accessing the Single Parent Payment had been until the youngest child was 16. Suddenly it was changed to 8 years old and this plunged many single parent families below the poverty line. The 10-minute documentary was premiered at Federal Parliament in 2015 with members of all political parties at the event. The campaign to reverse this change is still in progress in 2019.

Claire’s early career began in London, working in public relations in the not for profit sector. Concurrently Claire worked as a telephone helpline volunteer for Saneline - a UK-based organisation supporting people suffering from mental illness and their family members. This led to Claire being trained in addiction counselling and being involved in the set up and running of a training and coaching program on a drug free wing within Holloway Women’s prison in London.

After her move to Australia in 1997, Claire worked for 8 years as a business manager for a niche management consultancy specialising in negotiation training, conflict coaching, conflict resolution and mediation. This spring- boarded Claire into her work as a business coach, trainer and speaker and ultimately to working as a film producer for the film production company filmstretch, that she set up with her business partner and husband, Brendon Stretch, in January 2010.

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Director Statement

The Director’s vision for Silence Kills is to reduce the harm and death caused by domestic violence against women by calling for everyone to ring 000 if they hear cries or disturbing noises.

The vision is underpinned by Terese Edward’s (CEO of the National Council for Single Mother’s and Their Children and Executive Producer of Silence Kills) knowledge, supported by evidence, that women are often most unsafe in a family home, a place that should be a personal sanctuary.

The vision is propelled by frustration about cries for help, and unsettling noises, going without response. This occurs even when children are present and, in the community, where mobile phones are more common than not. This insight, the horror and the harm, have been presented to Terese again and again by the victims of domestic violence. Everyone can take action to promote positive change and this is what Silence Kills calls for.