| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (27 min. 15 sec.) ; 164284988 bytes |
| Summary |
For his last stop on the Bush Slam tour, H.G. Nelson takes two poets to opal mining town, Lightning Ridge, in northwest NSW. He is accompanied by songwriter and country music star, Melinda Schneider and beat-box rapper, 'Morganics'.Morganics is first to go underground into one of the opal mines, but it's not opals that this mine throws up. Morganics improvises a hip hop rap, ably supported by H.G. When he emerges back into the daylight, Morganics goes to survey 'The Astronomer's Monument', a folly erected by a migrant escaping to Lightning Ridge from the injustice of being wrongly imprisoned for murder.Topside, in an unprompted act of generosity, a miner and fan of her music gives Melinda a carved opal. It is a gesture strangely at odds with the rough exterior of this tough community. She makes her way to the famous bottle house and meets Gail, who bought the house believing it to be the home that has appeared in her dreams since she was a teenage girl. Melinda is gathering some insight into how to express their true selves in The Ridge. She has only one item left on the list to tick and that's to go underground, where she meets a miner, Fred, who has had his share of good and bad luck. Melinda likens the fever for the elusive opal to the dream of selling the million-dollar hit song - all are looking for the cut.Both of this week's poets use music to underpin their poems, a guitar for Melinda and an electronic looping device for Morganics' self-generated beat. The local club is packed with citizens for a truly memorable Bush Slam.PRODUCTION DETAILS:Bush Slam is produced by Freehand Productions in association with ABC TV. Series Producer: Matt Scully; Director: Chris Thorburn; ABC TV Head of Arts & Entertainment: Amanda Duthie; Executive Producer: Debbie Lee |
| Event |
Broadcast 2010-02-02 at 20:00:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Australian poetry -- Themes, motives.
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Opal mines and mining.
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Performance poetry.
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Poets -- Psychology.
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Rap (Music)
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New South Wales -- Lightning Ridge.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Canlin, Ronald, contributor
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Lewis, Morgan, contributor
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Nelson, H.G., host
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Schneider, Melinda, contributor
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Thorburn, Chris, director
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