Local documentary series You Are Not Alone receives Screen Australia funding

Almost a quarter of pregnancies end in miscarriage each year in Australia, but many of those losses remain a silent trauma for years to come. You Are Not Alone is an online documentary series that shines a light on the stigma around miscarriage and gives a voice to the otherwise voiceless.

The 5 x 5 minute online documentary series for whimn.com.au explores the loss and grief surrounding miscarriage, and the impact it has on individuals and families. Following the stories of those with firsthand experience, the series will also feature perspectives from obstetricians, researchers and support organisations and will also explore isolation through miscarriage in some of the most remote regional areas of Australia.

You Are Not Alone began development in late 2017, when local South Australian documentary maker Lyndal Redman (Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer, Nurses Who Kill) and her husband suffered the loss of their first child through miscarriage.

“I was quite open about our loss, and in talking to others I realised just how many women and their partners had been through the same thing, but didn’t talk about it” says Lyndal “It’s still such a taboo subject.”

In May 2018, Lyndal released a video on her business Facebook page that talked about her own journey. The video reached over 13,000 people and was viewed more than 8000 times. The swell of support from all of those who watched the video inspired Lyndal to tell the important personal stories of some of the women and men who reached out to her.

“We wanted to break down the stigma around miscarriage and hopefully allow both women and their partners the opportunity to be able to talk about their loss freely.”

You Are Not Alone, produced by local production company Redman Media was recently successful in receiving much needed funding towards the production of the series by Screen Australia. The all-female production crew includes Director/Producer Lyndal Redman and Producers Caroline Winter (ABC) and Lauren Hillman (Pohs Kitchen, The Daters ABC).

“It has been two years developing the project and to have the backing of such an important funding body such as Screen Australia was truly amazing” said Lyndal.

whimn.com.au editor Eliza Cracknell said: “We are honoured to be able to provide a platform for Lyndal's documentary. Miscarriage not only impacts one in four women, but can also have a wider reaching influence over all society and family units. Stories like these are powerful to start conversations that make us think, challenge and change taboos."

The series will be released later in the year on the With Her In Mind Network, Australia’s leading digital women’s network, and has received principal production investment from Screen Australia.

To view the current trailer please head to https://vimeo.com/383433273/90f88786ec

For more information contact: Lyndal Redman 0408 898413 or email lyndal@redmanmedia.net