Chequerboard (1969)

A half hour documentary series that pioneers the 'fly on the wall' approach that began observational documentary filmmaking in Australia. Each week the program would be about people in situations that shape their lives, such as living with unemployment or surviving on the basic wage or getting married. There are no on-camera experts, just people telling their own story to the interviewer, whose questions we hear although the interviewer is not on camera. The interviews are overlaid with remarkable 'colour' footage of people's everyday lives.