Something Better

(20 mins)

William Blakeley, a young working- class man from Manchester, England, seeks a better life when he emigrates to Queensland, Australia. Set against the sugar-cane plantations of Mackay, Queensland in the 1880s, tragedy threatens to destroy his families’ dreams. Based on a true story and written by a descendant of the Blakeley family.

Background: Enjoying family history research turned into bringing her ancestors to life for Sonja Strathearn. ‘Something Better’ is her debut short film. She had access to her daughter’s photography skills as cinematographer, and other friends and family who had some theater experience. After months of planning, sewing and gathering costumes and props, and a few road trips across two continents, ‘Something Better’ was finally completed a year later in post- production. A Kickstarter campaign helped to provide some of the professional skills needed for sound recording, editing and music. Across the world and back again in a grand adventure, Strathearn’s crew of family and friends recreated their ancestor’s emigration story in Iowa (for English weather), Arizona, California and Queensland, Australia. The goal was to give the descendants their emigration story to connect to their roots.