Concept Hitting Home (documentary series)

1 concept

1.1 filming
1.2 music
1.3 post production
1.4 q&a special

concept

following 2 years of research, journalist sarah ferguson spent 6 months reporting on domestic violence in australia. better understand statistics of domestic violence, nial fulton , ivan o mahoney, series producers of hitting home, spent 2 years negotiating unprecedented access specialised police domestic violence units, domestic violence courts , secured unprecedented access new court safe-rooms victims, women s refuges, unique prison rehabilitation program , specialist forensic doctors. during pre-production, producers worked alongside corrective services nsw, nsw justice department, nsw police, domestic violence nsw, nsw coroner , many other agencies , peak bodies ensure safety of participants. comprehensive duty of care statement conceived, full support of agencies.

filming

in june 2015, production on hitting home began in south coast correctional centre (nowra) on day 1 of 10-week rehabilitation program aimed @ preventing violent men reoffending. after long process of negotiation , building trust, ferguson , producers convinced 2 of inmates appear on camera, identified. before either inmate appear on camera, producers had identify , seek permission respective victims. both women agreed tell side of story. interviews , police footage captured in aftermath of attack incorporated series.

as part of production of hitting home, ferguson moved refuge in western sydney. first time in australia television crew granted such access.

during 6 months filming, ferguson met many women lived in refuge, young children. ferguson convinced several victims speak experiences on documentary.

the production team worked closely nsw police domestic violence unit in blacktown on course of 6 months. working sgt genelle warne , team, ferguson went on patrol, entered court safe rooms , met women in own homes had suffered violence @ hands of partners. series able capture rolling out of new dv related procedures, including dvec (domestic violence evidence in chief) - police officers make video recording of victims statement in immediate aftermath of reported assault. hitting home featured first time dvec gathering captured on camera, when 2 officers apprehended man had badly beaten wife in car.

access domestic violence courts in blacktown , toronto achieved support of nsw justice department. production allowed bring cameras both courts film magistrates, victims , perpetrators , first time, show new court safe-rooms in operation. getting access film in locals courts in australia extremely rare , allowed production highlight challenges faced victims, police , magistrates.

after speaking trauma councillor , homicide victims support group, producers reached out wendy malonyay, mother of kate malonyay, young women murdered ex-boyfriend. malonyay agreed interviewed series. tell story of daughters murder, producers negotiated access homicide detectives training course, had non publication order on corners report on victim s death lifted , secured interviews state coroner, investigating police officer , many of kate s friends , family.

music

the musical score series composed roger mason.

post production

post production on hitting home ran june 2015 until november 2015. series edited @ spectrum films @ fox studios in sydney. andrew cooke edited episode 1 , philippa rowlands edited episode 2. andrew cooke nominated aacta award work on series.

q&a special

culminating on un international day elimination of violence against women, episode 2 of hitting home followed special edition of q&a hosted julia baird.

the q&a hitting home special featured moo baulch (domestic violence nsw), christian porter (minister social services), nova peris (northern territory labor senator), mick fuller (nsw assistant police commissioner) , professor cathy humphreys. hosted julia baird , screened on 25 november 2015.