Betty Does Footscray (note: the name of the film changed from Footscray Bus II after submission to this Festival)

Background: This documentary is a result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Burnet (medical research) Institute and the filmmaking team which had access to (mobile) drug-use researchers to tell the story of their flagship outreach program looking at the lives (and blood) of people who inject drugs. Contribution: Our interdisciplinary collaborative approach provides a unique model for medical (or other) researchers to document and promote their work. To explain the program's history, purpose, operation and value, we went with researchers on field work, ignoring the usual labcoat, chart and test-tube approach to medical research documentary. This we captured the uniqueness of their approach to linking medical research with public health. Throughout the three stages of production we developed the storytelling and content with the Institute's researchers and communications staff. Significance: Betty Does Footscray was selected by a panel of filmmakers and medical researchers for this leading international conference where the film program is an important component presenting, in innovative ways, new insights into the challenges facing drug and alcohol harm reduction professionals worldwide. Unlike corporate videos, documentary as a form can tell stories in a deeper, more evocative way. Because of this deep collaboration, the filmmakers being embedded with the mobile researchers, we were able to delve into background, process and personalities. Ritchard conceived of the collaboration, developed the production process and also produced, codirected and coedited. The documentary crosses genres, forms as described in Nichols taxonomy of documentary modes. By moving fluidly from expository and observational modes of storytelling it conveys information in a more evocative and convincing way. This is not able to be done with a more corporate instructional approach. (Nichols B (2001) Introduction to Documentary. Will screen at 2014 Harm Reduction FF Baltimore.