New video aims to highlight important work of the Church in Perth
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB with students from Aranmore, Iona, Newman and Servite Colleges during filming for a new informational video for LifeLink. Photo: Ron Tan.
A new informational video that promotes the work of LifeLink is set to be launched in November this year.
The special production has been developed in consultation with students and teachers from several schools across the Archdiocese, with the support of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA).
As the fundraising and promotional arm of the Archdiocese, LifeLink supports and assists the work of social service agencies established by the Archdiocese of Perth, reaching out to more than 37,000 Western Australians in need each year and delivering more than $60 million in professional programs, care and direct assistance.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB presented each member of the Project Committee with a memorial wooden cross, handcrafted by the Marist Brothers, as a token of his appreciation. Photo: Ron Tan.
Speaking with The Record, LifeLink Manager Brett Mendez explained that the video has been developed following a decision by the LifeLink Chair, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and the Executive, who saw a need to increase community awareness of the work of LifeLink and the Archdiocesan social services agencies.
A Special Project Committee was established in February 2019, tasked with helping to develop and produce this new resource.
“With existing video resources having now served the work of LifeLink for more than six years, it was felt that a more visually appealing and contemporary presentation was required, one which would provide updated information on the work of the LifeLink agencies and organisation, and be more inclusive of the youth demographic,” Mr Mendez said.
“Importantly, the new video provides information relevant for LifeLink’s generous donors, parishioners, schools and members of the general public,” he said.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB with students from Aranmore, Iona, Newman and Servite Colleges during filming for a new informational video for LifeLink. Photo: Ron Tan.
As an educational experience and to harness the enthusiasm and talent of young people, four schools were invited to participate in the video project – Iona Presentation College, Holy Cross College, Servite College and Newman College – with each school invited to nominate four students and one teacher to form the Archbishop’s special Project Committee.
As a group, the young people were tasked with helping to develop the overall concept and be part of the production process, working with Mr Mendez.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for these talented young people to be part of the entire process, especially in what needed to be included to better communicate LifeLink’s message to young people in a contemporary, positive and visually appealing way,” Mr Mendez explained.
“We wanted the students to have ownership of this project, so they were actively engaged in the concept development, market research, script writing, filming and music selections for our video.”
After some two years’ work, the final day of filming of a new LifeLink information video took place on 4 September at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. Photo: Ron Tan.
Formed in February 2019, the Project Committee started work on scripting ideas that were presented at the 2019 Secondary Students Forum, where students had the opportunity to critique the initial storyboards and offer their input.
The scripts were finalised that year and presented to Archbishop Costelloe in January 2020 for approval and four LifeLink agencies were filmed before production was brought to a crashing halt by COVID-19 and social distancing measures.
Filming was finally able to continue folllowing the lifting of restrictions with the last of the footage filmed on 3 September at Aranmore College and St Mary’s Cathedral.
It was on this occasion that Archbishop Costelloe presented members of the Project Committee with a wooden Cross, handcrafted by the Marist Brothers, as a gesture of his appreciation.
The new video will be launched online at www.lifelink.com.au to coincide with the Archbishop’s Christmas Appeal Launch, which is also the weekend Pope Francis launches World Day of the Poor.