N.O.A.H. Films & Diversity

Until recently, I didn't think I could call what I do - my 'job'. I almost never referred to it as 'work', rather it was something I found joy in and something that I wasn't exactly earning an income from. So how could I call it my 'job'?

But truth is, just because you love what you do, doesn't deem it unworthy of being called a 'job'.

In late 2017, I met my now partner, Marshall, a fellow Australian Actor. We were both passionate and hard working, trying to make our break into the Australian Film Industry. However, both being from POC backgrounds - this proved harder than we imagined in an industry that hadn't quite become accustomed to seeing different coloured faces on their screens. No matter how hard we worked, we were often overlooked - unless a role for a stereotypical character came along based on our ethnic backgrounds alone.

It was tiring, frustrating and what felt like a never ending waiting game to audition for a character that didn't have to do with our race, or a leading role instead of the 'side character' for once.

But with my love for writing and Marshall's passion for creating content, we decided to skip the waiting game and in 2019, N.O.A.H. Films was launched.

An Indie company, with all projects stemming from our own pockets, I don't currently get 'paid' for what I do. But like most artists, writers and creators - it is more than a hobby, something you will continue to sacrifice many things for, to one day see through to fruition.

In two and a half years, we have created two web series, one featurette, and a number of short films - two of which are currently going through the festival circuit. And as much as we have sacrificed, as many hours and long nights and hurdles we have gone through to get those projects off the ground, I wouldn't take back a day.

Creating our own work has taught me more about this industry than I ever could have imagined. It's given me opportunities and let me write stories that shine a light on issues that are important to me. It's released me from being boxed into what my Ethnicity 'allows' me to play and let me shine as a person, as an Actor, as a Creator.

But more than this freedom my work allows me, is the support we've found from fellow Diverse Australian Creatives like ourselves. We've been able to create a space that encompasses all people regardless of race, culture, gender, sexuality, to get the opportunity to audition for a role in one of our films.

Australia is a beautifully diverse, multicultural country and its Diverse Talent deserves to shine and have the same opportunities granted to them. There is nothing more heart warming to me, than when a diverse performer tells us how thankful they are for the platform we have created, or the stories we have written that encompass the true Ethnic Australian experience.

To feel heard, be seen and treated equally is all we hope for, so to inspire and extend that to other creatives going through what we went through, to let them know that they are heard, they are seen and there is a space for them in this industry - means more to me than an hourly wage.

N.O.A.H stands for New Order Art House. The 'Art House' encompasses the film side of things and the 'New Order' represents our mission. Equal Casting is our mission and we hope to continue to help pave the way in supporting this within the Film Industry and right here on Australian shores.

There is no job I would rather have than doing what I do. Walking onto set and getting to work with Diverse Creatives from all walks of life, sharing our stories, our struggles and our love for film, is something I always look forward to. I await the day it can become my full time hustle but until then, N.O.A.H. Films isn't going anywhere.