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Cheeky Dog: Dog watching
Title:
Cheeky Dog: Dog watching
NFSA ID
1021476
Year
2002
Warnings
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons
A car crawls along the street, and the boy in the front seat is looking intently at the dogs he sees on his journey. Dion Beasley is being driven around by his carer Joie Boulter so that Dion can indulge in his favourite pastime of dog watching. We also meet Anna Vost, Dion’s sign language interpreter during Dion’s exercises in the local swimming pool. Summary by Romaine Moreton.
We are introduced to the world of Dion Beasley. Dion is profoundly deaf and has muscular dystrophy, but he also has one passion that comes through in this clip, and that is his love of dogs.
Cheeky Dog synopsis
A documentary about a young Indigenous boy with muscular dystrophy and his fascination with dogs.
Cheeky Dog is part of the Nganampa Anwernekenhe series produced by Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) Productions. Nganampa Anwernekenhe means 'ours’ in the Pitjanjatjara and Arrernte lanuages, and the series aims to contribute to the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures.
Cheeky Dog curator's notes
Stylistically, this documentary titled Cheeky Dog introduces the audience slowly to the personal world of Dion Beasley, a young Aboriginal boy who is profoundly deaf and has muscular dystrophy. The narrative unfolds gradually as we get to know Dion’s playful fascination, verging on obsession, with dogs. This enthralment with dogs is important in Dion’s life, inspiring him to draw his four legged friends constantly. It is this drawing of dogs that leads to Dion’s work being applied to T-shirts and made available for sale. Dogs seem to have a peaceful, calming affect on Dion, and the animated segments in the film, inspired by Dion’s artwork, add to the simplistic charm of this story.
Notes by Romaine Moreton
Production company
CAAMA Productions
Executive Producer
Rachel Clements
Series producer
Barbara Clifford
Director
Dena Curtis
Cast
Dion Beasely, Gloria Beasley, John Beasley, Joie Boulter, Anna Vost, Taryn Walker
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.