KIMBERLEY, AUSTRALIA DAY 10: Jar Island
7 Minute Read: Go behind the scenes of a filmmaking expedition in the remote Northwest region of Australia, The Kimberley. In this 14-part series, we’ll share the highs and lows, from marathon shoots aboard luxurious yachts to heart-stopping encounters with nature's fiercest creatures. Welcome to the wild side of cinema. (Part 10 of 14)
preparing for the sacred junba dance ©SEABOURN
The Words of Michelangelo
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” - Michelangelo
Jar Island wasn’t just another stop on our expedition; this was a crucial chapter in our unfolding story—a story that began with a vision some called "overly ambitious."
welcome to country ceremony
writer + production manager andrew preparing for the junba
Where does your ambition lead?
Ambition is our engine, propelling us forward in the face of impossible. For our team, “That’s overly ambitious!” is the highest compliment, confirming we're exactly where we need to be. It means we're pushing boundaries and stretching our limits.
Initially, the idea of including Jar Island in our journey seemed out of reach, as logistics posed a significant challenge. Today, Jar Island stands as one of the crowning achievements of our expedition, a testament to the power of swinging for the fences.
Sacred Land
Approaching Jar Island, we were gripped by a sacred feeling, knowing we were about to witness an artform untouched by time. Our game plan was simple: land at the beach and await the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners' arrival by helicopter. Once they landed, they would prepare for the Junba dance, a mesmerizing tradition we would document before exploring the rock art.
The following hours were filled with unexpected discoveries. We landed early to ensure we were thoroughly prepared. While waiting at the island's edge, the tide receded, uncovering tunnels that felt like windows into another world.
Are these natural time machines into a lost era? How would this place have looked fifty or fifty thousand years ago?
lining up the shot with the canon r5s
windows to another world
We wandered through these timeworn passageways, lost in the history etched into the land.
timeworn passageways at jar island ©SEABOURN
Helicopters Inbound
Then we heard it. The hum of helicopter blades pierced the air. Our hearts beat with anticipation as we awaited our collaborators, the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners. “All radios, all radios,” Producer Marc exclaimed on comms. “Helicopters inbound!” The team lit up.
Our cultural experience was moments away from beginning. Marc, Expedition Leader Robin, and I prepared to make first contact…a moment we’ve all been looking forward to for months.
©SEABOURN
The greatest stories often hide within the unexpected details. The first Traditional Land Owner to step out of the helicopter wore a Michael Jordan jersey, immediately whisking me back to my childhood. I remembered jumping with joy as Jordan lifted the Bulls to their first championship, connecting me instantly to this person across the globe.
intimate close ups on arri alexa + atlas orion lens
new friends
In that moment, any nerves dissolved, and we were just people, joined by a love of storytelling and a shared humanity. We all bleed red. Dan Rather’s Vietnam War reports echo in my mind, recalling the words of soldiers: “Same mud, same blood.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Owner ©SeABOURN
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Owners
In our creative development journey, the importance of incorporating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Owners became undeniable. Telling a story in the Kimberley without their presence would be a shadow of its potential, missing the depth and richness only they can provide. With no human element, our story would be an incomplete picture.
WELCOME TO COUNTRY
This story could only be told through the lens of its ancient custodians. Our objective: capturing the sacred Junba dance, which connects their people with the land. Prior to Junba, a Welcome to Country ceremony was conducted. I could feel the gratitude pulse through my veins as the smoke overcame me. Collaborating with the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners was a dream come true.
all smiles
welcome to country
prepare for junba
As the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners started their timeless Junba, I had goosebumps. The rhythmic stomping during Junba acts like a pulse reverberating through the earth, a beat that strengthens social and emotional well-being while binding generations together. Our cameras clicked and rolled as we watched their feet pound into the ground like human defibrillators, giving life to Mother Earth.
Standing on Jar Island, I felt like the luckiest filmmaker in the world. Coming from Hudson, Illinois—a tiny town of just 850 people halfway across the globe—it's easy to wonder what I could possibly share with the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners. But instead of focusing on the differences, we embraced a mindset that says, “Imagine all we have in common.”
junba ©SEABOURN
We are all storytellers, all human, and we share the same fundamental dreams. Too often, we let cultural and physical divides overshadow our shared humanity, forgetting we all belong to one world and share the same heartbeat.
I often say, "Find your wings."
On Jar Island, I found mine. Ram Dass once said, “It’s only when the caterpillarness is done that you become a butterfly. That is part of the paradox. You cannot rip away the caterpillarness. The whole trip occurs in an unfolding process which you have no control.”
rock art ©SEABOURN
Those powerful words remind us that growth requires patience. Consider them in the context of your own journey. Are you in your "caterpillar" phase right now, struggling as you transition to something new? Do you sometimes feel like life is unfolding beyond your control? Take a breath. Your wings might just be taking shape. Pause and trust that transformation is happening.
Wherever you are right now, I hope you spread your wings and fly.
Up next on the Dash: Arrival at the Crown Jewel of the Kimberley, King George Falls