It’s Hugely Important to Support Independent Artistry
My name is Ursula Woods. I am a cinematographer and a moving image artist. I like to work with analogue film.
I came to work with Second Echo on Relâche: The Last Dance on Earth, because they wanted to make a film in the analogue style that would echo a film created 100 years ago. It was an honour, and one of the best film experiences of my career so far, to shoot with Second Echo Ensemble.
The film, Relâche: The Last Dance on Earth had a huge impact on me and my practice. It was very different. I worked over three months with the group every week. We shot every Tuesday, and I spent Wednesdays and Thursdays processing the film, that we shot, and sending it off to a scanner in Melbourne, then getting the rushes back and preparing for the next Tuesday shoot.
Still from the film Relâche: The Last Dance on Earth.
I don't really know of any other place that works to this level and standard of inclusion and dynamic creativity. I find things are often tokenistic in these kind of spaces. Working with Second Echo changed the way I feel about working with people with disability and co-creating together in a new way. I'm learning to listen. Seeing people as artists who share an equal platform in the creation of a work - it was radical, because the work wasn't just one person's, it was the whole ensemble together. And that was just life-changing.
And that's also really challenging as a cinematographer. I'm like, oh my god, how are we going to do that? But it was experimental. It was really co-created in the moment together. We said yes to each other. We tried things. Even if someone had an idea, we’d go, okay, that's great, let's try it this way. We’d collaborate in such a way that just felt really, really good.
Cinematographer Ursula Woods films in the company of Relâche film Executive Producer Sandi Sissel ASC, xxx and SEE artists Alex Moss and Aidan Chick. Photo by SEE.
It is different because there were many voices and a kind of crossing roles happening, and I just really enjoy that because I think it's more fun and it makes the work more interesting. A lot of the things I work on are quite laid out from the get go, and I felt we were very experimental. We locked in locations, but once we got there, we explored them together as a group and then got what we thought was best.
I just adored the people. I would seek out further opportunities to work with Second Echo again, because of the collaborative nature, because of the fun environment, because of the really radical inclusivity. It was groundbreaking to see the interactions with people, the respect, the artistic respect, the creative respect. Nobody was trying to have an idea over someone else's idea. That brought a tear to my eye because in other sets, people have their place. But on set with Second Echo Ensemble, everyone was just radically equal, but also radically different. And that was so beautiful.
I couldn't wait for Tuesdays to come round. I couldn't wait to shoot with everybody. I loved what they brought to the work. It made me want to just frame it up as best as I could. I’d go home every time we'd work together and I couldn't stop talking to my partner about what I'd done and what had happened on set, and how it had evolved over the day or something challenging.
It was just a really dynamic environment, pretty unique and really rewarding for me. I felt like I was being directed by sort of everyone, which is definitely a different way to work. Sometimes Dave had the moment, or sometimes Luke did, or sometimes Elise or Michael. That was just my favourite bit.
“It’s hugely important to support independent artistry.”
I truly believe every story counts. When you dig a little deeper, under the surface, you build empathy. You build understanding. You enrich your world. You get a new perspective and you grow. It's amazing. It makes life worth living. It makes life exciting. I love that most about working in this group. I just got to know people. I got to know what they are into and doing, and we just all worked together really well. And I miss them. I tune in to Edge Radio just to listen to William's voice. He does the book show, and it's really good.
An excerpt from the short film Relâche: The Last Dance on Earth. The film is currently journeying across the film festival circuit receiving nominee and finalist laurels.
Speaking of the moments we created - every time I watch the film, I love it every time. Which is weird as I don't watch other work I've made. Often I'm cringing in my seat, wishing I did this differently, wishing I did that differently. In this film, because it was such a collaboration, I don't own the moments. I don't take them apart so much. I only remember how great it was to make them together. And I cry every time Maggie walks into the sea. I do. It's so cool. I love that.
Someone should donate to Second Echo Ensemble to keep this work going, to keep creating these opportunities for a new way to work. A world where people from different backgrounds, different abilities, different unique perspectives can come together and actually thrive and make really cool work. That's why people should donate. It's not isolated for different needs. It's actually radically different. Equal. Progressive. Contemporary. I'm obsessed.
“It gives me hope for the future of creating art in new ways, and really listening to different perspectives.”
Cinematographer Ursula Woods. Photo by LAURA PURCELL
Every Story Counts. This #AusArtDay on 23 October, you can support artists shaping the future of Australian arts. Your donation - big or small - helps Second Echo Ensemble sustain bold, artist-led work that brings together artists with and without disability. Every contribution fuels collaboration, touring, and performances that celebrate visibility, connection, and belonging.
Second Echo Ensemble is proudly supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, the Tasmanian Government via Arts Tasmania, the Department of Social Services, our donors and volunteers. Our internet partner, Aussie Broadband, keeps us connected, while GoTransit Media Group supports the marketing of our 20th Anniversary season.
#EveryStoryCounts #CreativeAustralia
