Ethics, Style and Story in Indigenous Screenwriting: Warwick Thornton in Interview

Abstract

Maras examines the work of Warwick Thornton, a trained writer, cinematographer and director, with deep roots to Indigenous communities in Central Australia. The chapter examines key themes in his approach: including the impact of cinematography on his thinking about performance, scripting with sound and the role of the Indigenous filmmaker today. In the interview that forms the second part of the chapter, Thornton elaborates on his stylistic choices, his relationship to writing, Indigenous communities and reflects on his working methods in Samson and Delilah, as well as his earlier short films.