Synopsis
Treading Lightly is a compelling two-hour documentary that examines how the principles that sustained Aboriginal culture, law and economy successfully for more than 40,000 years can be applied to today’s highly competitive global economy and society.
Based on the book Treading Lightly by Professor Karl-Erik Sveiby, world renowned authority on knowledge management practice at the Hanken Swedish School of Economics in Helsinki, and Aboriginal artist Tex Skuthorpe, custodian of traditional law, stories and culture of the Nhunggabarra people of northern New South Wales, Australia, the film posits the groundbreaking notion that Aboriginal culture, contrary to long held scientific and historic beliefs, is not “backward” or “primitive” compared to European, Asian and Middle Eastern societies, but quite the opposite.
In his role as educator and custodian of this ancient culture, Tex Skuthorpe reveals for the first time the wisdom of the world’s oldest peoples hidden in Nhunggabarra stories and ceremonies. The information they contain about the environment, the law, the organization and the customs of their society, is a remarkable model of sustainability. So much so that Professor Sveiby has found a 95% match between these ancient traditions and the corporate knowledge management best practices he teaches and applies in the highest echelons of the business world.
Treading Lightly is a powerful parable for our times, an inspiring design for a sustainable and balanced world. The merging of traditional art and contemporary film language will reinforce the marriage of ancient traditions with contemporary economic practices. As we delve into the ancient customs that kept a civilization alive for millennia, the challenge is not whether we should or could adopt this indigenous way or life, but rather to recognize that it can provide the inspiration for making better sense of the contemporary world. Not only that, but in this era of climate deregulation, international crises and the threatened future of the planet, it provides a template for changing the fundamentals of how we should live, if we are to achieve a sustainable quality of life.
kontentreal is partnering veteran Australian producer and director Tom Jeffrey, Vanguard Productions, in the production of ,em>Treading Lightly, because it believes strongly that the subject is both important and timely, will make compelling television viewing for international audience and fits well with kontentreal’s company objectives and profile. kontentreal is a New York headquartered documentary filmmaking company dedicated to raising awareness about global environmental issues through compelling, solutions-based storytelling.
kontentreal debuted its episodic TV series e2: the economies of being environmentally conscious on PBS in the summer of 2006. Now in its fourth season, narrated by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, e2 is a critically acclaimed global series about the innovators and pioneers who envision a better quality of life on Earth: socially, culturally, economically and ecologically.
The kontentreal production principals – Karena Albers, Tad Fettig and Véronique Bernard – have clocked up more than 70 years’ experience in television production and their combined expertise spans the media of advertising, public and commercial broadcasting, independent film and webcasting. This capability, together with Tom Jeffrey’s wide experience of current affairs, documentary and drama production, creates an exciting international production partnership.
The Vanguard Productions-kontentreal team are seeking development and production funding, and support for the Treading Lightly education and outreach program.
Image: “The Journey of Knowledge” by Tex Skuthorpe is reproduced with the kind permission of Karl-Erik Sveiby.
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