BACKGROUND NOTES ON FILM THE EVOLUTION OF DEFENDANT 5

Director Heidi Lee Douglas began filming the unfolding saga of the community conflict over logging in 2001, following her hunch that this was a story that needed to be told. She self funded her independent film work until she was asked to work for The Wilderness Society as their in-house filmmaker making films about environmental issues of national significance. Heidi continued her independent filmmaking simultaneously, as she wanted to cover the wider story as it unfolded, and this included filming direct action non-violent protests that were occurring.

When Gunns sued Heidi, she turned the camera on herself and recorded video diary entries, as well as film interviews with defendants and key events. Over the 5 years of the court case she continued to cover the story, and in 2009 when she was free of the case, she began looking for broadcast interest in the film.

 In 2012, producer Trish Lake introduced Heidi to Simon Nasht, a highly established producer who, through his company Smith&Nasht, specialises in social change storytelling. At this point, the court case was over for all of the defendants, Gunns had fallen into receivership, and it was clear there was a Shakespearian story arc for the film.

In 2013 Heidi made two Defendant 5 mini documentaries with support from Metro Screen and Screen NSW’s Breaks program. Screen Tasmania supported the film through development funding, allowing Heidi to continue researching and honing the story. Ruth Cross came on board as Producer and Simon Nasht as Executive Producer, and Heidi was successful in pitching a half hour film on her personal story as part of ABC2's Opening Shot season. 

Following the ABC commission, Al Jazeera was secured as a co-production partner, expanding the potential audience reach to 260 million homes. Defendant 5 has set a precedent as the only Opening Shot film ever to have partnered with an international broadcaster.