By Katie Trew, EP at Clockwork Films WA
On Friday night at the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, something pretty special unfolded.
Four new tracks were launched alongside four short films as part of GRID Series: Outer Perth, the culmination of six months of mentoring, collaboration and creative exploration between emerging musicians, industry mentors and local filmmakers.
For our directors at Clockwork, it was also something else entirely. A chance to step into a creative space without the shackles of an advertising brief. No brand guidelines, no client feedback loops, just artists working with artists, following instinct and story wherever it led.
Six months ago, we first met the musicians at the Rechabite. Persia. Kalia. JAEQ. Hello Stranger.
They were raw, unpolished and buzzing with excitement about the opportunity ahead of them. Each performed a single track for a small group of us, just enough to give everyone a glimpse of the voice and energy behind their music.
Then came the creative speed dating.
Our filmmakers Mikey Hamer, Luna Laure, Duncan Wright and Jhaz Bullen-Williams mingled with the artists and started talking ideas. It was kind of electric. You could feel the sparks flying around the room as connections started forming. Everyone imagining what these collaborations might become.
Fast forward six months.
Four fully realised tracks. Four films. Four artists stepping onto the stage at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre and absolutely blowing us all away.
Watching them perform whilst knowing where they started was genuinely moving. You could feel the growth, the confidence, the craft that had developed over the past half year. It’s rare to witness that kind of transformation in real time.
Programs like GRID Series, delivered in partnership with First Nations Focus, remind us what happens when artists are given space, mentorship and trust. When creative leaders from the community guide the process, something powerful emerges. Work that feels authentic, grounded and full of possibility.
For our directors, it was also a reminder of why we fell in love with filmmaking in the first place. The chance to collaborate with other artists. To explore ideas freely. To tell stories that come straight from people’s lived experiences.
I left the night feeling incredibly inspired. Inspired by the artists, by the filmmakers, and by the community that showed up to celebrate them.
But also reminded of something simple: grassroots creativity is where so much magic begins.
So this year, I’ve made a quiet commitment to myself, to get out there and support it more. To say yes to gigs. To walk into venues and see artists I’ve never heard of. To show up for live music whenever the opportunity presents itself. And to keep backing, mentoring and growing the incredible filmmaking talent we have right here in WA.
Because if Friday night proved anything, it’s that some of the most exciting creative energy in this city is happening at a grassroots level, on small stages, in unexpected places, and through the stories being told alongside it.
You can see the trailers for all four films here, with full length films dropping this week on YouTube.
Credits to Albertina Ncube for the amazing photographs.
