Source : the age
On Sunday night, Elliot Constable was named winner of the ABC’s rebooted reality series Race Around the World. The competition, which sent six young filmmakers – Constable, Jayden O’Neill, Kate McGuinness, Lucinda Price, Mikaela Zuiderduyn and William He – around the world to each film 10 videos in 100 days, was caught up in controversy towards the end, when billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart threatened legal action against the public broadcaster over a film that featured commentary about her.
The film, by Kate McGuinness, was also reported to the ABC Ombudsman, but the complaint was thrown out. ABC boss Hugh Marks also issued an apology about the offending episode, saying the content “has fallen short of community expectations”.
Constable spoke to national TV editor Louise Rugendyke about his experiences on the race, the controversy and which film he watched to relax.
Congratulations Elliot! You have been back in the country for about 10 days now, do you finally feel like you have landed on earth?
That’s just wild that it’s been two weeks already. It’s so overwhelming. I’ve been receiving so many lovely messages. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet because we filmed the [final] episode about a week ago [and it was broadcast last night], so I’ve just been sitting around, sleeping on my couch.
That final episode must have been very overwhelming, because you had only just landed back in the country from Brazil, you were face-to-face with the judges, and then you beat Kate by only one point.
My film went first, and I was like, “OK, that was well received” and then when I saw Kate’s film, that was maybe one of my favourite films of the entire season. And when [judge] Margaret [Pomeranz] said, “Elliot” [to announce the winner], it was quite surreal. I would have been happy if anyone else had won it as well. Obviously, I’m stoked that I won. But I truly was surrounded by incredible filmmakers, talented artists, lovely individuals. There was a comment online like, “Why didn’t you write a speech?” Not that I didn’t believe I was going to win or anything, but the whole thing was this kind of dream, really.
I spoke to you before you left and you seemed quite overwhelmed about the task ahead of you. When did you feel like you hit your stride?
I always felt like I could do it, that’s why I applied for the show. I tried to do it years ago when I started this whole [filmmaking] thing out in South America, [where I would] make little films and try and sell them back to Australia. I didn’t realise how crazy or how intense the experience would be. I think [we were up to filming] episode five when it started going to air, which added another layer of intensity, because then you had the Australian public watching your films and commenting. So we were in a bit of a bubble, and then it was just like, “Whoa”. But obviously the first film [about a woman in Moldova trying to return to Kyiv for cancer treatment] was received really well. I got a lot of points. That was when I was like, “OK, maybe I do want to win this.”
What was the most challenging part?
It just didn’t stop. It was very hard to switch off because you put everything into a story, you’re editing every night, you’re filming day and night. And I think, maybe, one or two films I edited before the deadline, whereas every other film, it was just to the deadline. I was exporting [files] a few minutes before it was due because you just want it to be perfect. And then you submit it, and the next day you’re presenting your film to Australia, and then they tell you where you’re going, and two hours later, you’re on a flight. So you pack up your hotel room, or wherever the hell you’re staying, and then you’re on a flight, and you immediately go back to, “OK, what am I going to do there?”
So it was just not switching off. I don’t know how many flights I got. I watched one movie in the entire three or four months. When I was on the plane, I was either sleeping or studying. I struggled even speaking to friends and family. It’s hard to explain what’s going on, and you’re always up against it. I went from California to the North Pole. I think it took 40 hours to get there, so the jet lag, my body just started to [go], “All right, here we go again.” That was the challenge, just surviving: “Have I eaten today? What is the time? Am I in California now?”
What was the movie you watched?
Marty Supreme. I love those directors [Josh Safdie, who used to work with his brother Benny]. Before this show, I would love flights, I love plane food, sitting there and watching the latest Hollywood movie with a glass of wine and butter chicken or whatever, but it was just non-stop.
How did you cope with the public feedback? As you said, it wasn’t until you were up to filming episode five that you were able to see what the public thought of your work.
I read the feedback. I probably had the better end of the stick, but then it started to get more negative. One of my favourite comments was, “Hell is Lucinda filming something and Elliot sound mixing it.” I gave her a call and we had a good laugh about that. So there is some funny feedback, then it starts to get a little bit nastier. And the girls were treated far worse than me. But there is good feedback as well, and stuff that you’re like, “Oh yeah, fair.”
What was the discussion among the contestants when the backlash began over Kate’s film?
We were in contact all the time. I looked at a lot of the feedback, but you try and disconnect yourself a little bit from that. So I can’t really comment on that specifically, I was just trying to put one foot in front of the other. I found it really hard when there was negative feedback and hate on my colleagues, my friends.
Is she OK?
Yeah, yeah, she’s OK.
You said the girls suffered a bit more with negative feedback. That really says everything about being a woman on television, doesn’t it?
Well, I mean the feedback inherently on [online comment forum] Reddit is just sexist. They got a lot more hate than the guys, so I think that says everything. But we all supported each other, and most of us stayed off those comments.
Do you think the ABC should have apologised for Kate’s video?
That’s far above my pay grade. I’m not even sure what the situation is now, to be honest.
Which film – that wasn’t one of yours – was your favourite?
Far out. That’s 60 films. The last episode was spectacular. I thought Kate’s film [about the dad in China] was just brilliant. Kate’s Utah film [about data centres] is one of my favourites, like top three, and Mikaela’s film [in Mongolia] was incredible. Lucinda’s last film [about ageing in Los Angeles] was incredible. I loved William’s bull-riding film [in Madagascar]. Jayden, that East Timor crocodile film was just so beautiful and powerful. Have I mentioned everyone?
And your favourite judge?
Margaret Pomeranz was definitely my favourite judge. And after I won, I went up to her, and I was just like, “Thank you, Margaret.” I didn’t realise how small she was. She was so lovely. I’ve literally started writing her a letter, with a pen.
Goodness! That makes it official.
She’s such an icon. I watched her with my mum growing up, like all the time. It’s wild.
So, what’s next? The prize is half an hour on the ABC to tell a story. What’s it going to be?
Well, I haven’t had these conversations yet with the ABC. It’s an incredible opportunity, and whether it’s going back to a story that I’ve done or starting something completely from scratch. Like, if you had a gun to my head now – and I’ve had a few guns to my head, I had an assault rifle pointed at my head a couple of weeks ago – but anyway…
And where was this…
Brazil. But it was because I had my phone. I was voice messaging someone, and a gangster rode past. He was on the back of a motorbike with an assault rifle, and then another [one went past], and another one rode past, and he pointed his assault rifle at me, and then I put my phone down, put it in my pocket, and then like 12 more rode past me. There are rules in a favela. There are gangsters around. You can’t have your phone on you.
So, back to what you plan to do with the win…
I’d probably go back and revisit the Moldova story and go into Ukraine. Tatiana right now is sleeping in the metro because Kyiv’s being bombed. I don’t know if that would be like a larger story about the healthcare system in Ukraine in an active war zone. I have no idea. I also haven’t had those discussions with my family, who probably wouldn’t be very happy about me going there. I think they’re very happy that I came back in one piece.
Race Around the World is now streaming on ABC iview.
