Feature documentary Rural Daughters is an
unflinching exploration
of the barriers and success stories of remote, rural and regional women
in their leadership journey for social impact.
Currently in development
COMING 2025
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR RESEARCH PROJECT
PHILANTHROPIC AND COLLABORATION PARTNERS
A message from the director
“We are deeply committed to shedding light on the unique and often overlooked challenges that rural women face. Through these stories, we aim to raise awareness and inspire social change by showcasing their resilience and strength in living a purpose driven life. These women are a huge part in the backbone of Australia.
Rural Daughters will not only highlight the barriers - cultural, social, economic, and political - but also celebrate their courage and determination on their path to success.
We want to ensure that every woman, regardless of where she lives, has the opportunity to lead well, tapping into everything she is created to be.”
Danielle McAlpine Johnson
Research Project
To inform and substantiate this documentary we have launched a nationwide research project to quantity the experience of remote, rural and regional women.
CheekyMac Productions have teamed up with Professor Joanne Porter and a team of researchers from the Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC) at Federation University to ensure this research is robust and will form a strong evidence based approach to storytelling in the documentary.
This research will seek to understand the unique, and often overlooked, barriers and challenges these women face in their journey of leadership and in harnessing their voice to create positive change.
Between July and September 2024 we will be connecting with 1000+ rural women who will participate in a national survey, contributing their collective voice to this important story.
It is hoped that the findings of the survey will shed light on important topics faced by rural women living, working and raising families around the country and survey results will be used to inform policy.
Upon completion of this documentary we will be working with the Australian Teachers of Media to develop a study guide to ensure the messaging can reach as many ‘rural daughters’ as possible and help shape the next generation.
The study has been approved by Federation University Human Research Ethics committee: project number 2024/107.
A special thanks to the Community Enterprise Foundation for commissioning our research.
QR CODE
CERC Research Team with CheekyMac Productions
“Our involvement in this documentary is an opportunity to showcase that a regionally based university can make a difference with regional communities and, in particular, advocate for rural women on issues that matter.
This is about having a social conscience and knowing this is an important issue. It's also about taking a stance, really trying to do something about women's issues and to be that conduit for women to have a voice."
Professor Joanne Porter
Director Collaborative Evaluation & Research (CERC),
Federation University
PERSONAL
Story
Growing up on a small hobby farm in rural Australia, Danielle’s life was filled with great love and adventure.
With her Dad’s vinyl records playing over the back deck, her mum’s cooking wafting through the fly wire screen, the noise of animals and motorbikes, Danielle finds it hard to locate a negative memory throughout her childhood. When she wasn’t covered in mud, swimming in the dam or making cubby houses in the bush, she was immersed in books and 90's blockbuster films, where a passion for storytelling began.
After venturing to Melbourne to study a bachelor of education, Danielle experienced a life-changing event.
An experience that unfortunately 1 in 3 women worldwide face. Spiralling into deeply dark places, Danielle fell so low the only way to look was up. When her passion met her pain, she found purpose. Pursuing a career as a writer, director and producer Danielle clawed her way from a shot list writer to senior producer of a studio before stepping into her calling as a documentarian for social justice.
After 20 years of healing, transformation and creativity, Danielle along with her husband, run their own international production house from rural Australia with several documentaries currently broadcasting across 32 countries for worldwide social impact.
With a passion to see every rural woman soar in their unique identity, Rural Daughters is birthed.
As a storyteller, she believes that transparency is often the springboard for change. Every personal story has the ability to heal others, and our vulnerability gives others permission to do the same. Danielle believes that this collective healing strengthens the social fabric of our community for our next generation.
A proud wife and mother of four beautiful children; Danielle and her husband together continue the pursuit of truth and revelation through the arts while juggling family life.
PARTNERSHIPS
For all philanthropic and collaboration opportunities,
please contact us at CheekyMac Productions.
