Recreating lost scenes in Charles Chauvel’s The Moth of Moonbi

My research project investigates and evaluates the historical value and creative possibilities of lost film fragments. It explores the centrality of the concept of the ‘original’ in film preservation and how this principle applies to the process of film reconstruction. It discusses the limitations of reconstruction for partially complete films and film fragments and proposes recreation – based on speculative approaches to surviving historical material – as a valid method for exploring lost films that can potentially enhance public engagement with forgotten chapters of Australia's cinematic history. Using The Moth of Moonbi as a case study, I outline my approach to recreating the film’s lost ending – a cliff-top fight between the hero and villain – in a way that is faithful to the original film work. I examine the recreation process – the detailed research and use of surviving historical material to authenticate aspects of the original film as well as the creative speculation required to fill narrative ‘gaps’ resulting from lost footage – and discuss the potential of recreations to facilitate greater access to and awareness of lost film works.