SALUTE: NOMINATED FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY CRITICS AWARD

It gives me great pleasure to announce the news that SALUTE has been Nominated for Best Documentary for the Australian Critics Association. We are so happy to be Nominated by Australia's most respected Critics and look forward to the Awards night in February.

BACKHANDED - SALUTE - FILMINK MAGAZINE INTERVIEW MATT NORMAN

Backhanded Salute

by Dov Kornits | January 21, 2009 13:17 | Edited January 21, 2009 14:01

Matt Norman’s documentary Salute seemingly came out of nowhere to find a premiere slot at the 2008 Sydney Film Festival, and then went on to positive reviews and attendance on its theatrical release. It now arrives on DVD, just in time to get on the back of Obama’s inauguration, and Norman isn’t mincing his words.

Your film is called Salute. In honour of that, can you ‘salute' some of the filmmakers/people who have inspired you, and tell us why?

"I am a huge fan of good Australian cinema. The people that inspire me are those that have come from humble beginnings and that have worked to be where and who they are now. Baz Lurhmann's films are something that I look forward to whenever he has something new. I think he has a true essence of what a film should be. Robert Connolly is also someone who I respect greatly as a filmmaker and someone who I have had the great opportunity of being directed by on The Bank. Rolf De Heer is also one of my favourites as he seems to be the underdog. His films have truth no matter what the consequence and you can see the work he's put into every film he does.

"In documentary my all time favourite has to be any film made by one of the greatest filmmakers of my generation John Pilger. Pilger is a journalist who makes film for knowledge not fame. He truly knows the difference between truth and justice and to me is one of the most reliable story tellers we've ever had in this country and the world. He tells it as it is. It's something that I try to replicate in my own film experiences. I don't want to tell stories for the sake of it, I want to engage and question my audience."

I understand that although Salute did well for a documentary on theatrical release that the DVD has been a bit of a phenomenon. Can you clarify?

"The film became number one at the box office for an Australian documentary in 2008 and number 10 for all Australian features. To me that doesn't mean money, as the sharks circling cleared me out of all of that, but what it does do is make a promise that I made to Peter Norman before he died come true. I promised him that I would tell his story to the world so that he can finally be recognised not only for his incredible achievements in sport but also his belief and action toward the Civil and human rights of all mankind.

"Getting back on the point, the DVD has been out a week and is flying off the shelf literally. I have had the nicest feeling of going into my local JB HIFI or Blockbuster etc to see that not only did the film sell out within a few hours but that reports of a week long waiting list to rent it at the video's rental shops have flooded in to the film's webpage and blog. I am completely shocked by the response of Australian audiences."

“I believe our great assets in this industry are our filmmakers that don’t get funding and of course our cast and crews who I believe are the best of the best.”

I understand that you are making a feature film inspired by the Salute story.

"The film that's currently in development is called 1968. It's a film that I started researching in 2002. I am speaking with American producers and cast to secure finance. This film is certainly an ambitious project but the support from well known American companies has been terrific. A few years ago when I was toying with the idea I was lucky enough to get Heath Ledger interested to play Peter Norman. I was thrilled that Heath wanted to do it and was surprised on how much alike Peter and Heath were. With Heath's passing I was ready to give up the film as Peter's passing really got to me and in fact still does obviously. With initial talks currently underway with American agents, managers, attorneys etc I'm hoping to finally pin down my dream team this year.

"This won't be an Australian made film as I'm not ready to go back into the dungeon to seek Screen Australia funding after the way both the film Salute and I have been treated thus far, so I'll make the entire film in Mexico and the United States. Obviously with the Americans knowing who Peter is gives me a good running start and also the fact that the American industry seems to be more open to opportunity to showcase new talent. The Australian industry seems to support 80% mates and the rest with crumbs. It's such a pity as I believe our great assets in this industry are our filmmakers that don't get funding and of course our cast and crews who I believe are the best of the best."

I believe that you are also working on developing other feature films and documentaries. Can you tell us more about those?

"I have other films in development which are true stories that shed light on atrocities around the world. One being a film called Stillborn Bastards, which is the true story of two Bosnian women who were captured during the Bosnian war by soldiers and held captive for two years in an underground car park. [They were] raped repeatedly for those two years and ended up mothering children to their attackers. If no one talks about things like this then we seem to pretend that it's not happening. Another film I want to shoot this year is a TV style documentary called Men in Court. For the past 13 years I have lived with the fact that I have a daughter somewhere in Australia that has been taken by the mother even though our court system says that bringing up children should be done with both parents. I have a wife and 4 other children that also have to live with the fact. In the last several years I have known of men committing suicide because all they wanted was an opportunity to hold their child.


"Obviously you can see a pattern starting to form with the type of work I like doing. I love films that provoke thought and that give versions of a story most people choose not to talk about. I also like to do films that have something close to me."

Salute is out now on DVD. If you'd like to purchase a signed copy of Salute and a signed copy of A Race to Remember - The Peter Norman biography please go to http://www.theactorscafe.com/onlinestore or you can purchase the DVD at JB-HIFI and all good DVD retailers.

SALUTE DVD NOW AVAILABLE

It's finally here. SALUTE ON DVD - AVAILABLE NOW.

If you would like to purchase a signed copy of this international award winning hit film then please go to http://www.theactorscafe.com/onlinestore and pick some up for friends and family before they're all sold out.

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING

What Do The Critics Say?

"Everyone knows the iconic photo of the two African-American athletes on the winner's podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics raising their fists in a black power salute. What you may not know is that the third (white) man on that podium was Australian sprinter Peter Norman, and this documentary, made by Peter's nephew Matt Norman, tells his story. Salute is an engaging and well-paced mix of history lesson (vital to explain the racially charged atmosphere surrounding the Men's 200 meter sprint finals), sports drama, and personal history.
4 STARS."Anthony Morris WEBWOMBAT

"This wonderful humanitarian story - especially relevant on the eve of the Beijing Olympics - deserves to be told and it's a bit of a surprise it hasn't been told before, while Peter Norman was still alive. He died of a heart attack at age 65 in October 2006, but luckily his nephew the filmmaker, Matt Norman, recorded a lengthy interview with him earlier, which forms the backbone of the film. But maybe the bigger surprise is that Norman was not invited to the Sydney Olympics ceremony - considering he is still the record holding 200 metre sprinter in Australian history. Watching this film 40 years after the event drives home the sad realisation how little progress has been made in the area of racial harmony and compassion in this world. It also reminds us that Australia has something to be proud of as well as something to be ashamed of in the story of Peter Norman."
Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE


"THAT old line about a picture being worth a thousand words didn't get it even half right. Salute is an enlightening, uplifting documentary built around one image, that of two African-American men on the dais at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, their black-gloved fists raised, their heads bowed, their shoes removed. While many may be unable to name the men in the photograph, it's an image burned into the consciousness of the 1960s. But what of that other guy in the picture? The skinny white fella seemingly oblivious to the groundbreaking silent protest behind him? His name is Peter Norman, the "unknown" Australian who won the silver medal. What Salute does so well is place the trio's 1968 Mexico City protest in context. It was the year of revolt worldwide, when change seemed really possible."
Chris Bartlett QUEENSLAND SUNDAY MAIL


Making A Stance For Justice
Salute is a journey back to the 1960's to examine what has now become one of the most famous Olympic moments in history. During this era the world was just three years away from the Cuban missile crisis and the threat of nuclear war, the horror of Vietnam, the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Robert 'Bobby' Kennedy, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Frightened and desperate people were rioting in the streets of Europe, and throughout the U.S. where there was an urgent push for civil rights. Black nations were threatening to boycott the Olympics in protest and black athletes within the U.S. team were being urged to boycott the Games. Into this atmosphere walked Peter Norman, whose performance had taken the U.S. team by surprise. Who was this unknown sprinter from Australia? He wasn’t a typical sprinter: he was quietly spoken, short legged and white. In the 200 metres final, he ran the race of his life and split Tommie Smith and John Carlos, winning silver. As they waited for the presentation ceremony, Smith and Carlos told Peter of their plans. One had left behind his pair of black gloves, and at Peter’s suggestion, they wore one each. Despite it not being a situation that affected him directly, Peter asked the Americans if he could join their protest. He felt there was a moral imperative on him to stand up against something he felt was wrong. Like Tommie and John, Peter wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in support of their silent protest. Lasting repercussions followed. Smith and Carlos were dropped from the relays and the team. They were kicked out of the Olympics and banned for life. Their lives were ruined, with Carlos’s wife later committing suicide. The punishment of Peter was less dramatic but ultimately as destructive. Coming from a conservative family in a country that still had a white only immigration policy, Norman’s stance caused a storm. He was hated in parts of the Australian establishment and the media turned on him. His chance to win gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics was stolen from him. Despite being the favourite to win gold, qualifying 13 times for the 200m and five times for the 100m, the powers that be refused to take him to Munich. For the first time Australia was not represented in the sprint events at an Olympics. At the Sydney 2000 Olympics in Australia, Peter Norman was not invited to attend in any official capacity. Australia’s best sprinter ever, whose 200m Mexico games time of 20 seconds flat would have won the gold medal at Sydney and whose Australian record still stands nearly fourty years later, wasn’t even invited to the 200m final by the Australian Olympic authorities. He was, however, invited by the U.S. team who flew him to Sydney and he was treated as an American guest. Tragically Peter Norman died in October 2006. Both Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at Norman's funeral.

Peter Norman the Man
Peter Norman was born in 1942 to George and Thelma Norman in Thornbury, Melbourne. His father, who met him for the first time when he was only two years old after returning from the war in New Guinea, would be one of Peter’s biggest admirers. At 14 years of age during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games, Norman would wag school to attend the Olympics, securing a job at the Melbourne Olympic Stadium (the MCG) selling pies in the stands. His excitement grew when he saw the Golden Girl of Australian track and field, Betty Cuthbert, run. After leaving school to become an apprentice butcher, Peter knew that he wanted to be the best in his chosen sport: track and field. Peter immediately impressed with his ability to break records, landing a spot at the Olympics in Mexico, 1968. On returning from the games Peter was headline news not for his amazing second place in the 200 metres but instead for his political stance. The gold and bronze medalists were Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos. On the medal podium, during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner", Smith and Carlos famously joined in a black power salute. What is less known is that Norman, donned a badge on the podium in support of their cause, the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). It was also Norman who suggested that Smith and Carlos share the black gloves used in their salute, after Carlos had left his gloves in the Olympic Village. This is the reason for Tommie Smith raising his right fist, while John Carlos raised his left. Asked about his support of Smith and Carlos' cause by the world's press, Norman said he opposed his country's government's White Australia policy. Australia's Olympic authorities reprimanded Norman and the Australian media ostracized him. Despite qualifying 15 times for the 100m and five times for the 200m during 1971/72 the Australian Olympic track team did not pick Norman for the 1972 Summer Olympics. That year was the first ever where no Australian sprint team went to the Olympics. He kept running, but contracted gangrene in 1985 after tearing his Achilles Tendon during a training session, which nearly led to his leg being amputated. Norman died of a heart attack on October 3rd 2006 in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 64. The U.S. Track and Field Federation proclaimed October 9th 2006, the date of his funeral, as Peter Norman Day. Both Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at Norman's funeral. Peter Norman died soon after seeing a rough cut of the film. One of Peter’s last wishes was that his story be told.

The Racist White Australia Policy
The 'White Australia' policy describes Australia's approach to immigration, from federation until the latter part of the 20th century, which favoured applicants from certain countries. The abolition of the policy took place over a period of 25 years. Following the election of a coalition of the Liberal and Country parties in 1949, Immigration Minister Harold Holt allowed 800 non-European refugees to remain in Australia and Japanese war brides to enter Australia. Over subsequent years, Australian governments gradually dismantled the policy, with the final vestiges being removed in 1973 by the new Labor government. The origins of the 'White Australia' policy can be traced to the 1850s. White miners' resentment towards industrious Chinese diggers culminated in violence on the Buckland River in Victoria, and at Lambing Flat (now Young) in New South Wales. The governments of these two colonies introduced restrictions on Chinese immigration. Later, it was the turn of hard-working indentured labourers from the South Sea Islands of the Pacific (known as 'kanakas') in northern Queensland. Factory workers in the south became vehemently opposed to all forms of immigration, which might threaten their jobs - particularly by non-white people who they thought would accept a lower standard of living and work for lower wages. Some influential Queenslanders felt that the colony would be excluded from the forthcoming Federation if the 'kanaka' trade did not cease. Leading NSW and Victorian politicians warned there would be no place for 'Asiatics' or 'coloureds' in the Australia of the future. In 1901, the new federal government passed an Act ending the employment of Pacific Islanders. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 received royal assent on 23 December 1901. It was described as an Act 'to place certain restrictions on immigration and to provide for the removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited immigrants'. It prohibited from immigration those considered to be insane, anyone likely to become a charge upon the public or upon any public or charitable institution, and any person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease 'of a loathsome or dangerous character'. It also prohibited prostitutes, criminals, and anyone under a contract or agreement to perform manual labour within Australia (with some limited exceptions). Other restrictions included a dictation test, used to exclude certain applicants by requiring them to pass a written test in a language, with which they were not necessarily familiar, nominated by an immigration officer. In 1919 the Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes, hailed it as 'the greatest thing we have achieved'. During World War II, many non-white refugees entered Australia. Most left voluntarily at the end of the war, but many had married Australians and wanted to stay. Arthur Calwell, the first immigration minister, sought to deport them, arousing much protest. Minister Holt's decision in 1949 to allow 800 non-European refugees to stay, and Japanese war brides to be admitted, was the first step towards a non-discriminatory immigration policy. The next major step was in 1957 when non-Europeans with 15 years residence in Australia were allowed to become Australian citizens. An announcement in March 1966 was the watershed in abolishing the 'White Australia' policy, and non-European migration began to increase. Yearly non-European settler arrivals rose from 746 in 1966 to 2,696 in 1971, while yearly part-European settler arrivals rose from 1,498 to 6,054. In 1973 the Whitlam Labor government took three further steps in the gradual process to remove race as a factor in Australia's immigration policies.

Synopsis
The picture of the three men on the winner’s podium after the Men’s 200m final at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics is to this day, still considered one of the most powerful images of modern history. Almost forgotten in the ensuing years is the seemingly quiet and composed man in the left of the picture, the Australian silver medalist Peter Norman. Why is he considered a household name throughout the United States even today, yet in his own country is a virtual unknown, even though he is still the current Australian and Commonwealth record holder the current? And why do the other medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos consider him a brother? It's the story of a man snobbed by the Australian Olympic Organizing committee. It's the story of the quiet man. A man who believe in equallity; the forgotten man and a timely salute to him and all he stood for and believed in from 1968 until his death.

The Verdict
"Watching Matt Norman's tribute film to 1968 Olympic Silver Medallist Peter Norman, begs the question: How far have we come since those very troubled days? In many ways we haven't come very far at all. Despite the abolition of the 'White Australia Policy', racism and discrimination appears to be very much alive in 'the lucky country'. By making a stand for his belief that all men and women were born equal regardless of their race or colour, Peter Norman sealed his fate when it came to a sporting career as an international athlete. "Salute" is a sad indictment of the Australian Olympic movement for their treatment of an athlete who is to this day is still refered to as the fastest white man of all time over 200 metres. It's a story that deserved to be told and should be seen. Though it does at times carry a very strong message regarding racial discrimination, it doesn't diminish the films value at all. While I'm sure "Salute" will raise some cinemagoers blood pressure, the majority of viewers will see this as an enthralling and wonderful tribute to a great man. Highly recommended. 4 SOLID STARS."

A GIFT FOR U.S PRESIDENT OBAMA

A COPY OF MATT NORMAN'S INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING FILM ON ITS WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE

SALUTE 2008 / 2009 UPDATE

"MEN IN COURT" A film about how the family court are fathering our children. Documentary - Currently in Pre-production.

1968 - THE FOLLOW UP FILM TO THE INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING FILM SALUTE
WRITER / DIRECTOR / PRODUCER MATT NORMAN LOOKING FOR CO-PRO PARTNERS IN USA FOR THE BIG BUDGET DRAMA "1968" - DRAMA VERSION OF "SALUTE"


CRITICS SAY: SALUTE IS BEST DOCUMENTARY OF 2008. CRITICS SAY MATT NORMAN'S NEXT FILM "1968" IS THE ONE TO WATCH FOR 2009.


HERALD SUN - SAYS "SALUTE - BEST DOCUMENTARY OF 2008"


WATCH SALUTE ON ALL VIRGIN ATLANTIC FLIGHTS


SALUTE THE MOVIE
SALUTE COMING TO USA AND EUROPE SOON... STAY TUNED FOR RELEASE DATES


SALUTE STARTS BOOKING FESTIVAL SCREENINGS ACROSS AMERICA

SALUTE DVD AVAILABLE 15th JAN 09

Make sure you get your copy of SALUTE the Movie on DVD on January 15th. They will go like hot cakes.

Go to: http://www.theactorscafe.com/onlinestore

SALUTE - NUMBER 1 @ AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE - AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY

It gives me great pleasure to announce that "SALUTE" was recently named in IF as the biggest earning Australian documentary for 2008. It might surprise you that it was NOT nominated for an AFI or IFAWARD. Funny how the Australian Boys club works. Their reach is far and wide. Oh Well, Australian audiences certainly made their vote heard.

Thanks to all for the continued support.

Don't forget that "SALUTE" will be released on the 15th of January 2009 in Australia. I hope all Australian families get a copy for home. It's the best way to SALUTE an unsung Australian hero.

SALUTE OPENS ONLINE STORE

We are pleased to announce that we have just opened up The Actors Cafe online store. If you'd like to purchase DVD's, Merchandise, Books etc from our catalogue then please visit the store at www.theactorscafe.com/onlinestore.

If you would like to be kept up to date with announcements on the SALUTE DVD then login to the store and you will be sent an email when the SALUTE DVD becomes available.

Go check it out.

Home › Issue 3: August 2008

Salute to anti-racist champions

Reviewed by James Crafti

Salute
Documentary written and directed by Matt Norman
92 minutes

During the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the black-power salute on the Olympics medal podium having come first and third respectively in the 200-metre sprint. Next to them Australian Peter Norman wore a badge in solidarity with his US colleagues’ defiant expression of opposition to racist oppression. Directed by Peter Norman’s nephew Matt, Salute tells the story of how the three men came to be on that platform together and the consequences they faced for making their political statement.

In exploring this simple act of protest, Matt Norman delves into the personal lives of Smith and Carlos. Smith grew up up on a plantation that his family worked for a white master and Carlos lived in New York City’s black ghetto of Harlem. While not having personal experience of racist oppression, Peter Norman grew up in a poor working-class Australian community.

But the film isn’t simply a story about these three men. In order to fully explore the significance of their political protest action at the Olympic Games, Matt Norman gives an extremely broad overview of the political events leading up to the 1968 games — from the anti-colonial independence struggles in Algeria and Vietnam to the May-June student-worker revolt in France. The film also covers the civil rights movement in the US.

In order to create a full-length documentary out of a two-minute protest action, Norman borrows quite heavily from footage of other world events. This has led some critics to accuse him of “padding out” his film. This “padding” is often more dramatic than the central narrative itself, particularly the five minutes devoted to the student protests in Mexico during the lead-up to the Olympic Games. In these protests, hundreds of students were killed by the Mexican authorities. Salute indicates that the athletes and people around the world knew very little about what had happened, with the Mexican media trying to cover up the massacre and even denying that more then a few dozen had been killed.

With each passing section of the film, I kept feeling a burning desire to check out more documentaries about events peripheral to the film’s main story. From the African anti-colonial movement to the life history of Avery Brundage, the International Olympic Committee president who banned Smith and Carlos from participating in future Olympic games, so much was alluded to but left unexplored.

The film refers to Brundage as the US Olympic Committee (USOC) president who opposed boycotting the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany after the host country excluded its Jewish athletes from participating. Brundage is said to have sought to have the US team’s only two Jewish athletes dropped from going to Berlin.

Each revelation creates a greater tapestry from which an audience can appreciate the bravery of Smith, Carlos and Norman. By the time the three head to the podium to receive their medals, you believe their comments that they felt like they could have been killed for their action on the podium. The events which followed their on-field protest, while not that dramatic, are still shocking and in stark contrast to the usual public feting of athletes as national heroes.

Salute is carefully constructed to raise a myriad of issues in such a way that, while never explicitly mentioning the 2008 Bejing Olympics, an audience is likely to come away comparing protest tactics. In the lead-up to the 1968 Olympics there was a lot of talk about boycotts, particularly boycotts by black American athletes. The argument against US black athletes participating was summed up in a placard which read: “Don’t run in Mexico and crawl at home.”

Peter Norman believed this approach would have been a mistake and speculates what would have happened had Smith and Carlos not run “apart from me winning a gold medal”. He felt that such an act would have prevented the black athletes from sending their message to the world. Further, he believed it would have been used against the African-American athletes who were referred to by the corporate media as “Americans” only when they did something the US establishment approved of but “Negros” when they did something the white establishment disapproved of.

However, this ability to use the corporate media to send a radical political message was only available to the few athletes who could make it into the top three and, as Peter Norman says, “once you’ve earned the right to stand on that podium you’ve got that square metre of the world that belongs to you”. Here Norman ignores the reality that very few athletes (let alone members of the broader public) get such an opportunity. The fact that all three made it onto that particular podium, is attributed by Norman to an “act of God” (not something most progressive activists would want to bank on).

Norman’s emphasis on individual actions by those lucky enough to be in his position can be seen in his statement to the Sydney Daily Telegraph in 2005 that, “Today there is a whole new generation but someone still has to stand up and make a statement on behalf of the down-trodden”. But oppressed people don’t need someone to stand up on their behalf — they need to stand up for themselves as a group, and for masses of others to stand with them and to work with them in creating a better future.

Norman’s emphasis on individual protest action plays into the idea that the only time when a criticism of a government (no matter how oppressive) is relevant is after the individual protester has proven him/herself to be a “patriot”. He goes at lengths to say this because he believes that Smith and Carlos, having competed for their nation, were better able to send a protest message. And while Smith and Carlos were able to send a powerful message by being inside the games, when they took their action they were no more protected from the bigoted reaction to their actions than any unpatriotic radical. Why should black Americans be forced to play that game? As Malcolm X pointed out: “No, I’m not an American, I’m one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism.”

While Carlos and Smith talk about Peter Norman as a “proud Australian”, the film’s exposure of the white Australia policy raises the question of what he should have been proud of.

Also, while the film consistently sides with the oppressed around the world, there is a tendency for the narrator’s commentary to pour a note of scorn on “violent” protests (or “riots” as he sometimes refers to them) including those student protests in Mexico where the police “needed to call in the army”. (Why they “needed” to do so is not made clear). However, regardless of the liberal bias that comes out in parts of the film, Salute still provides much inspiration for radical activists. It goes to considerable lengths to point out that racism has not been defeated in the US, that the struggle for equality is a global struggle and more people need to speak out and get involved in that struggle.

World Socialist Webpage review

55th Sydney Film Festival—Part 1

A few intelligent movies, but lost in an increasingly industry-oriented event

By Richard Phillips and Ismet Redzovic
16 September 2008

While commercialisation of the event continues apace—a trend obviously not confined to Sydney—this year’s festival included dozens of mainstream features already slated for local multiplex screenings. In fact, some were in suburban theatres even before the festival had concluded.

Serious work

Despite these problems, the festival provides one of the few opportunities in Sydney to view the work of serious filmmakers—those animated not by the profit motive but the desire to make sensitive and intelligent artistic work. Whilst there are some encouraging signs, the festival had its fair share of weak, distorted and unconvincing work—social reality almost appears accidentally in some films, and often with large doses of pessimism.

Some of the better documentaries at the festival were Matt Norman’s Salute, an inspiring tribute to an Australian sportsman who joined two African-American athletes at the 1968 Olympics to protest attacks on democratic rights in the US, and young Canadian director Yung Chang’s Up the Yangtze. Other noteworthy efforts included Kelrick Martin’s Bad Morro, Annie Goldson’s An Island Calling and Brian Hill’s The Not Dead, from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Edited from original.

Peter Norman Statue

Matt Norman, director and producer of the new Documentary SALUTE about his uncle Peter Norman and also writer/director and producer of the upcoming big budget "1968" is now looking for support to erect a Statue to honour his uncle Peter Norman.

Peter Norman who won the silver medal in the 200m at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and was part of one of the most powerful images of the 20th Century when Tommie Smith and John Carlos made what's now known as the Black Power Protest "needs to be honoured" Matt said.

Even though Peter Norman is regarded as Australia's best sprinter in our history and who still holds the Australian and Commonwealth 200m record nearly 40 years later, there is nothing celebrating his achievements in sport and also his courage for standing up for Civil and Human rights with his friends Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

When the American's made a 20 foot high statue to celebrate two of their own, they left out one man who not only earnt that same respect but a man who for the past 40 years has sacrificed his own right to honour his friends. At San Jose State University, there is a statue celebrating what Tommie Smith and John Carlos did during the 68 Olympics. The spot where Peter should be standing is left empty for people to take that position to get photo’s taken with Tommie and John. The white guy who stood up for Black America again has been left out of history..

Matt Norman has started the "Peter Norman Foundation" which will be an ongoing opportunity to raise money for civil and human rights charities as well as sporting charities. Our first project for the foundation will be to have a statue made of the “three men” on the winners podium, with Peter Norman taking pride of place with his friends and fellow athletes. This statue will be the first in History to celebrate all three men and the stance they all took.

The MCG (home to the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne) is the desired location for this monument. We are now raising money and public interest for this statue and hope to have it underway by October 16th this year being the 40 year anniversary of the famous Salute.

In 2006 Peter Norman died at aged 64. Matt Norman's film SALUTE is currently playing in Cinema's around the World and the official biography "A Race to remember" which Matt is co-author is also now available.

If you would like to help please contact Matt Norman @ mattnorman@theactorscafe.com

More info on the book and film can be found at www.salutethemovie.com

Salute Review (Riverine Herald Echuca)

September 1 2008

Riverine Herald

Salute

Rarely has the ability of a documentary to utterly transform one's appreciation of a historical event been so superbly harnessed as in Matt Norman's extraordinary film about the `black power' salute given at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and about the remarkable Australian scrupulously sidelined by his own country's history.

On the winners' dais after the men's 200m final, Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos defied protocol by raising their fists to signal to the world the racial tension ripping through the heart of the US.

The image became an iconic gesture of defiance and pride.

The third man on the podium was silver medallist Peter Norman, the director's uncle.

Though he did not feel it was his right to salute, Norman was deeply involved in what occurred.

He, too, was troubled by race relations back home.

He had become friends with his competitors and wore a badge in support of their cause.

For that, Norman would be punished for the rest of his life.

Australian officials diligently set about ensuring he be blackballed from anything that brought him recognition, whatever the cost to the country.

Despite representing a strong chance to take out his event at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Norman was denied a spot.

The campaign against him even carried through to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, to which he received no invitation from the Australian organisers.

Given the racial motive behind the salute, this alarming fact adds a distinctly bitter twist to the story, with the film's archival images of Catherine Freeman proudly holding aloft the Olympic torch now laced with irony.

From the outset, Matt Norman's aim is clear.

He wisely presumes nothing on behalf of the audience and so methodically builds from scratch the interweaving strands of the entire story, from the event itself, to the socio-political context, to the racial conflicts in the US and Australia, and the protracted aftermath.

It is here the film's emotional power increases.

The director clearly wants to enrage us and by that measure, Salute is an unqualified success.

In detailing the campaign against Peter Norman, the film serves up a sound backhander to the Australian character by exposing the ugly flipside to the the country's beloved "fair go" image.

Chief among the film's implicit themes is that the larrikin image, so popular in Aussie folklore, is something of a fraud.

Rather, the film seems to declare such behaviour will exact a huge price as it runs counter to our actual instinct, which is to conform.

The official hostility against Norman suggests Australia is a nation not of larrikins, but of middle managers and bureaucrats who resent any act of defiance, however noble its motive.

Smith and Carlos were also deeply hurt by the aftermath of the protest, but recognition and official acknowledgement of their place in history did eventually come.

And they happily included Norman.

The most sobering note in the film is while Norman was snubbed by Australian authorities at the Sydney Olympics, he was part of the event thanks to the Americans, who invited him once they heard how his country was trying to ignore him.

Salute starts at the Paramount on September 11 for a limited time.

SALUTE WINS @ RHODE ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL

PUBLICITY MEDIA RELEASE: SALUTE HAS AUDIENCES SOLD

It gives me great pleasure to announce that “SALUTE” the Debut feature documentary by Matt Norman has just been announced as the WINNER of “BEST DOCUMENTARY AUDIENCE AWARD” at this years Rhode Island Film Festival in the United States.

In an earlier Interview Matt Norman said “Audiences are voting with their tears! This isn’t a film for industry but a film for the people and they seem to just love it. The greatest pity about the whole journey is that Peter Norman isn’t standing beside me to take a bow”.

What a great honor to have had so many problems surrounding this film making it, funding it and even selling it to be recognized World wide as the film that Audiences both here in Australia and in the United States believe as being the favorite of each festival it screens.

With the Olympic 200m final in Beijing about to be run, the Norman family are proud to have Peter Norman’s name being recognized for the first time in 40 years after his historic 200m Silver medal at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

With now three audience awards to it’s name at two festival screenings this brings up the hatrick.

AUDIENCE AWARD – BEST AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY – SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
AUDIENCE AWARD – RUNNER UP BEST DOCUMENTARY – SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL (Peter always said that Silver wasn’t bad)
AUDIENCE AWARD – BEST DOCUMENTARY – RHODE ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL

A huge thank you to all the people at Paramount Australia and Transmission films who have been working incredibly hard to give ALL Australian’s the opportunity of learning more about one Australian hero that has been known as “The White Guy” for far too long.

SALUTE IS STILL IN CINEMA’S IN ALL CAPITAL CITIES AND WILL BE STARTING IT’S REGIONAL SEASON SHORTLY.

“A RACE TO REMEMBER – THE PETER NORMAN STORY” IS NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD BOOK STORES

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.SALUTETHEMOVIE.COM

We are very proud.!!

A Good Sport

A good sport

Filmmaker Matt Norman reveals why it was so important for his uncle's legacy to be heard.

The year was 1968, the place Mexico City. Three men––two black Americans and one white Australian––stood on the Olympic podium to accept their medals for the 200 m sprint. As The Star Spangled Banner echoed throughout the stadium in honour of an American victory, history was made.

With heads bowed, the two Americans each raised a black-gloved fist in the recognised ‘black power’ salute. All three athletes stood still and silent as the crowd began to react to the defiant protest taking place on the podium. Boos and jeers soon drowned out the words of the American national anthem.

The photograph of that incident has become synonymous with the struggle for equal rights taking place in America at the time. While hindsight and changing attitudes allow us to reflect on the protest as an act of bravery and insight, few look to the story behind the image.

What many don’t realise is that, far from being afforded a heroes’ welcome, the black athletes who took part in the protest were sent home in disgrace.

But perhaps even more surprising, particularly in a country where an athlete’s knee injury makes front-page news, is the fact that few Australians know the name of their countryman who stood alongside the athletes in protest.

Peter Norman won the silver medal for Australia in the 200 m sprint at Mexico City.

As an athlete, Peter Norman’s achievements speak for themselves. But it was as a man, someone who took a stand for what he believed was fair and just, that his true courage shone through. Finally, many Australians will have the chance to understand the achievements of a man who can truly be called a sporting hero.

For the past six years, filmmaker Matt Norman has been consumed with the life of his beloved Uncle Peter. As a young boy, Matt knew that his uncle was a special man, but it wasn’t until he began to delve into his sporting life that he realised just how special Peter Norman was.

The result of those six years is the documentary film Salute, a moving and inspirational account of that historic moment at the Olympics and the aftermath felt by all three men who took part.

To say Salute has been a labour of love would be something of an understatement. Sitting in the boardroom at Paramount Pictures, Matt explains that not only was he inspired by his obvious love for his uncle, he was motivated by a desire to tell the story of social justice.

While no longer a member of The Salvation Army, Matt credits his family’s Salvo background with instilling deeply entrenched beliefs in social justice and the need to speak up for those who are unable to speak for themselves.

‘Peter’s mum and dad were both Salvo officers [ministers], their parents were Salvo officers, my grandparents on mum’s side were Salvo officers, so it was hard not to be [influenced],’ says Matt.

‘There were Salvo officers everywhere and they used to call me “Little Brig” when I was a kid,’ laughs Matt. (The term ‘Brigadier’ denoted a high-ranking officer in The Salvation Army.)

Matt goes on to explain that from a very young age, he had a sense of right and wrong. But while other kids may have dressed as their favourite superhero to right the wrongs of the world, Matt found his super-strength in his grandmother’s hatpin.

‘I believe I got some kind of need to tell justice stories because my grandmother gave me a Salvo badge, the red shield with “The Salvation Army” written across it from her hat. I used to put it in a wallet and I would flash it like it was a police insignia. I had that badge for years.’

As a filmmaker, Matt has told stories of those often marginalised by society. In The Writer, actor Kym Gyngell portrayed a man living with schizophrenia, while The Umbrella Men told the tale of soldiers at Gallipoli forced to arm themselves with umbrellas and explored the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Matt describes himself as the ‘black sheep’ of the family. ‘I failed at school drastically––I even failed at English, which is kind of crazy, because I’ve written 13 feature films,’ he says.

The affinity Matt feels towards his uncle is evident as he speaks of a man who was always willing to listen to his often-wayward nephew.

‘Peter was my mentor––the relationship I had with him is the relationship I would have liked with my own father.

‘I could be honest with Peter, no matter if I did something stupid. He’d be there to listen to what I had done, give me advice on how to undo it, if it needed undoing. I got to a stage where I could tell him anything.

‘So I always had someone to talk to. I’d never get an adult’s advice; it was always a friend’s advice. I never felt stupid if I had to ask hard questions. He was a role model for me especially and I think that’s why we got along so well because I just treated him as a mate.’

The ‘black sheep’ traits Matt admits to were also evident in his uncle, a man who ignored an official Olympic team edict to remain uninvolved in any political action in Mexico City.

The late ’60s were a time of enormous social change, when young people were questioning the status quo. But, particularly in Australia, it was also a time when conservatism was attempting to assert its authority. And the sporting arena was no place for anyone to try to buck the system.

While the civil rights movement in America might have seemed a world away to the young Peter Norman training in Australia, he was aware of the issues his black competitors were facing.

Norman knew that his own country had yet to acknowledge its own racial concerns. Australia’s immigration was still determined by the White Australia Policy and the nation had only recently recognised its indigenous population as citizens.

But it was in America that the civil rights movement was making progress. The assassinations of Senator Robert Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr in 1968––both vocal in their support of equal rights––only served to strengthen the resolve of those fighting for social justice.

There had been talk of a boycott by black American athletes prior to the Mexico City Olympics. When this was averted, the athletes resolved to use the world stage to raise awareness of their cause.

The games passed without incident until 16 October and the final of the 200 m sprint, when Peter Norman ran second. Black Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos ran first and third respectively.

In the locker rooms prior to the medal ceremony, Norman was privy to his competitors’ plans. When Smith and Carlos discovered they only had one pair of black gloves between them, it was Norman who suggested they each wear one glove. Norman then asked a member of the US rowing team if he could wear his Olympic Project for Human Rights badge.

And so the three athletes headed out to the stadium to receive their medals and create one of the most memorable images of the 20th century.

The backlash that followed the medal ceremony was swift and the effect of that one action was to follow Norman for the rest of his life.

Although initially vilified in their own country, in later years Smith and Carlos were feted as heroes of the civil rights movement, and even had a statue erected in their honour.

But for Norman there would be no such accolades at home. This was not seen as a larrikin act, such as stealing a flag. This was an athlete daring to speak up for what he believed was right.

Norman’s time would easily have qualified him for the 1972 Munich Olympics, but that year Australia decided against sending a sprint team.

And, if they awarded medals for holding a grudge, Australia’s sporting officials would surely win gold. As past athletes lined the stadium at the opening ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Norman––whose Australian record for the 200 m sprint would have won gold at Sydney––was nowhere to be seen.

The American team was so shocked by this obvious omission of a man they admired that they invited Peter as an official guest of their team.

By combining contemporary interviews with archival footage, Matt Norman has effectively captured the spirit of the ’60s with reflective insight.

While many of us may question the wisdom of our own youthful indiscretions, for these men the wisdom of hindsight has only served to reinforce that––in spite of the personal hardships their protest caused––their actions on the day were justified and righteous.

Speaking to Matt, it is obvious that making the movie has taken an emotional toll on the filmmaker––the legacy of his uncle is again apparent. Matt has produced a film at great financial and personal cost because it was something he believed in––it was a statement worth making.

While the financial toll has been incredibly difficult for Matt, undoubtedly the greatest challenge has been overcoming emotional hurdles. In 2006, just as Matt and his uncle were to head off to America with the movie, Peter Norman died.

‘Peter saw a first cut of the film and we were ready to go to the States to promote it,’ explains Matt. ‘Two days before we were due to head off, he died.

‘From then, that kind of turned my world upside down. I had to concentrate on the film about Peter, which was hard enough, and I wasn’t really in the mood to be promoting and selling it.

‘In fact, I haven’t yet grieved for his loss. I made a promise to him before he died, not expecting him to die, but I made a promise that his story would be told and I would do everything that I needed to do to get it out there.’

With apologies for the sport-ing metaphor, I ask Matt if he feels the ‘baton’ has now been passed to him.

‘That’s exactly what he said. He said his time for civil and human rights is over and he said “I’m passing you the baton; you do what you have to do to get a message out”. He’s always believed that one person can do it.’

Matt knows that the Norman name opens doors for him, but it also carries a great weight of responsibility. Among the civil rights activists he has met in the past year are spiritual leaders such as the Dalai Lama.

Sadly, the message Peter Norman had for the world in 1968––to take a stand against human suffering and injustice––is just as pertinent today as it was 40 years ago. At the Beijing Olympics, not only have athletes been officially warned against making any sort of political statement, even spectators have now been told to ‘curb their enthusiasm’ when barracking for their own country.

As our nation prepares for a mass celebration of our sporting prowess in yet another Olympic games, there is perhaps no better time to reflect on the life of a true sporting hero––a man who made his sport count for more than just fast times and personal accolades. A man who stood up for what he believed in.

Deb Bennett

Salute is screening at selected cinemas and will be the in-flight entertainment on all Qantas flights to Beijing for the Olympics. Go to www.salutethemovie.com for more info.

To purchase your copy of "A Race to Remember––The Peter Norman Story (a tie-in book to the film) by Damien Johnstone and Matt Norman, go to www.salutethemovie.com where it is now available for purchase.

Salute receives praise in US

Salute receives praise in US

[Tue 12/08/2008 12:57:24]

Matt Norman’s debut feature film Salute had it’s US Premiere at the Rhode Island Film Festival Sunday night to an enormous crowd. The film received an amazing response in the country it was half made as the first time that American’s got to hear the true story of what happened at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic games and in particular the events which stopped the World, being the Black Power Protest in which Matt Norman’s uncle Peter Norman was involved.

Salute being distributed by Paramount Pictures and newly formed Transmission films by ex-Dendy veterans Richard Payton and Andrew Mackie has had an amazing response from audiences here in Australia during it’s cinematic release in selected cinema’s around the nation. At it’s World premiere at this years Sydney Film Festival, the film which got a packed State Theatre audience to it’s feet and also became the best Australian documentary voted by the audience as well as runner up for best feature documentary has become a dream come true for director/producer Matt Norman who has spent the last six years making this film.

“I made a promise to my uncle before he died tragically of a heart attack in October 2006 that I wanted all Australian’s to meet the “white guy” in the Black Power protest photo” Norman says. “The fact that Peter Norman still holds the Australian and Commonwealth record 40 years after the event amazes most people that see this emotionally draining film”. “Making this film has literally been the worst experience of my life. If it wasn’t for a very small group of people who believed in my journey (such as David Hirschfelder, Martin Smith and Digital Pictures in Melbourne) the film would never have made it through so many ups and downs” Matt explains.

“What most people don’t understand is the fact that making any type of film in this country is virtually impossible, even more so when you have something as special as this story being rejected by industry, funding bodies and the networks. When Peter Norman died I was committed to getting the film out to the World to truly have Peter’s achievements in sport and his stance on Civil and Human rights acknowledged. I feel I’ve done that but still have a long way to go!”.

Matt Norman has started development on the feature drama version of his documentary called “1968” which also was hit hard by the loss of our very own Heath Ledger, who was in talks to play Olympic Silver medallist Peter Norman earlier this year.

“I think all Australian’s were devastated that such a young actor, father and Aussie would lose his life at a time in his life he seemed to have everything. That’s why his death hurt so much... It’s so hard to get anywhere in this business, he did it and had a life ahead of him most of us only dream about,” Matt says. “I felt more for the loss of Heath and more for his family than I did when Princess Diana died.. It was horrible”.

With negotiations under way for the release of Salute across America, Europe and Asia it was fitting that Salute screened to the Australian Athletes going over to the Beijing Olympics. Matt says “I hope the story gave our athletes that extra drive to do well at the games, even though Peter was shunned by the same people who sent him over there 40 years earlier."

1968 is currently in early development with Matt heading to the States later this year to follow Salute and also start meetings with the Studios that have shown a great interest in his project.

“I will also be looking at casting the film early 2009 as it’s very important to get the right people involved up front” Matt explains. “I will be doing this film differently this time, looking more for Studio investment or non Funding body investors as well as sponsorship opportunities, and feel that the amount of difficulty it has been to play in the boys club here has started to put me off even asking for funds in this country."

“Luckily, we still have the very best in cast and crew to keep me from making the typical move to the U.S to further my career”.

“The best thing that we have in this country is our local audiences.!! With incredible reviews coming mostly from the paying public and the incredible amount of passionate emails I’ve received, I’ve finally realised that audiences need change just as much as filmmakers need a voice in this industry. The difference is that we have the film makers that can give change but are continually left out by those who deem newbie's as amateur."

With the award season coming up in this country, Matt has said he doesn’t expect any positive response from industry awards people as this film was made for the public not the industry.

"This was never meant to be a career film but more as an education into the human race, not the Olympic one. It is these qualities that truly give Salute a truth of its own... The real one.”.

Matt ends by saying - “My best experience so far has been working with all the people at Paramount Pictures and Transmission films. They truly came onto this project with the highest respect for Peter and his story and have done everything to help make the film a success. They have also given so many audiences around Australia the chance to know Peter Norman and not just think of him as the White guy in the photo”.

Salute is still in cinema’s nationwide and is set to go to selected Rural cities soon. Matt Norman has also co-authored with Damian Johnston “A Race to remember – The Peter Norman Story” for those that want to know more about Peter Norman’s life from start to finish. It’s in all good book stores.

More information can be found at www.salutethemovie.com or www.theactorscafe.com

[Interview by American Film Forum ex-pat Australian T. Mathews, release by The Actors Cafe]

Tags:

• matt-norman
• rhode-island-film-festival
• salute

One of the great movies of the year - From IMDB.COM REVIEWS

One of the Great Movies of the Year about One of the Greatest Races of All Time, 22 July 2008

Author: (steve_howard84@yahoo.com.au) from Sydney, Australia

Matt Norman's moving documentary about his uncle's role in the infamous black power salute after the 200m final in the 1968 Mexico Olympics is compelling viewing. It is the best movie that I have seen in 2008 (and, yes, that includes The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia). Not only that, but I rate it as the best documentary that I have ever seen and possibly the best Australian movie I have seen.

The tragedy is that had it not been for the furore over the salute, this would have been remembered as one of the greatest races of all time. The Gold Medalist, Tommie Smith, smashed the world record. Peter Norman, the Silver Medalist, equalled the old world record in a time that 40 years later (2008) still stands as the Australian record - and amazingly would have won the GOLD MEDAL at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The Bronze Medallist, John Carlos, crossed the line only centimetres behind Norman after being caught only 5m from the line.

Smith and Carlos were sent home in disgrace by the USA Olympic Committee and their athletic careers were ruined. Norman was officially reprimanded by the Australian Olympic Committee - even though he didn't "salute" - and was overlooked for the 1972 Munich Olympics even though he had run the qualifying time many times and was ranked 5th in the world.

The movie shows the race quite a few times - a bonus for sports fans - but this movie is more about human rights than the race itself. It features extensive interviews with Smith, Norman and Carlos and shows a lot of footage from the 60s (warning: some of it is quite "grainy"). For sports fans and for those interested in the development of the human rights movement worldwide, but primarily in the USA, Australia and Mexico, Salute is compelling viewing.

A world class movie about a world class race and the unfortunate events that ensued.

Have your say

Hi.. I have been to China.. I have not been lucky enough to visit Mexico..
But I have .. in my life been lucky enough to meet & briefly know Peter Norman..

As Peter suggested.. there is good and bad in : everything, everyone and everywhere..

China with a huge population has no alternative but to exert control.. Look at the World and tell me that control is not needed.
But as Peter suggested.. no one is perfect.

The Ancient Olympics ran for 3000 years.. and offered a truce each 4 years.. a time for refection each 4 years.
The Modern Olympic has run for 112 years.. and has offered a truce each 4 years.. and meaningful images the best of which was offered by Peter. (Oh.. and Jesse Owens and Debbie Flintoff-King and many many more).. I personally am not at all sure that Rogge and his mates will keep it going for 3000 years.

It is only through courageous acts of love and hope, such as Peter's, Tommie's & John's that attention is drawn and attitudes are changed about important matters of life..
Tibet's struggle is beautiful and tragic but not only the making of China's.

Matt's film will not only the story of Peter, Mexico68 or Blacks or Tibet.. it's about Peter's faith in his own split second decision to stand by Tommie, John and his upbringing. It is those split second decisions that make life what is it and what it can be.
Peters decision, Matt's determination and pride in it, my reflection on it... makes this World just the little richer..

Reject Hate.. embrace love.. For Pete's sake.

Darren.

Salute - Stop Civil and Human Rights injustices in China

Salute - Stop Civil and Human Rights injustices in China

We'll be there, what happens is up to China

The Australian
Glenda Korporaal | June 21, 2008 12:00am
The issue of boycotts and protests at Olympic ceremonies is raised in a most powerful way in a new movie called Salute that premiered at the Sydney Film Festival last week. Set for national release at the end of July, the film is about "the white guy in the photo", Australian runner Peter Norman, whose amazing achievement in winning the silver medal in the men's 200m in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico has been forever overshadowed by the fact he was on the victory dais when African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised one black-gloved fist in the air in a black-power salute.

The film is a reminder of the powerful image of the victory ceremony, which became part of the civil rights movement in the US. Made by Norman's nephew, Matt Norman, the film is a must-see for anyone interested in the Olympics or the turbulent events of 1968, which include the riots in France, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr and the subsequent race riots in the US, and the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.

Norman set an Olympic record of 20.2 seconds for the 200m in his heat and an Australian record of 20.06 seconds in the final that still stands today. He was co-operating with the film but had not seen the finished product when he died of a heart attack in late 2006.

First-time director Matt Norman has made a stunningly well-produced film, pulling together the official footage of all four rounds of the Olympic 200m, including the famous final.

The Games are interspersed with black and white footage of the political events of 1968 with fresh interviews with Smith, Carlos and Norman.

The film reveals how painfully difficult it was for Smith and Carlos to make what appears today as a simple gesture, each with one clenched fist in the air, heads bowed as they listened to the US national anthem, and how Norman played what could have been a pivotal role in their decision. As all three talked nervously before the medal ceremony, Norman urged the two of them to go through with their plans to use the event to make a political statement. When bronze medal winner Carlos, who had been the favourite to win and still had a big career ahead of him in track, said he did not bring his gloves, Norman was the one who suggested that they go ahead with their protest, each wearing just one glove.

Norman, who also participated in the protest by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge on the dais, received a slap on the wrist by Australian chef de mission Judy Patching, who offered him free tickets to the hockey, while Smith and Carlos were sent home in disgrace, losing their jobs and shaming their families.

Is China really serious about Civil and Human rights injustices - Tibetans are dying

For Discussion - Written by Matt Norman
I hear so much happening with the lead up to the Beijing Olympic games and it troubles me. Tibetans are dying because they are standing up to be heard. While the Chinese government continue to believe in a society of hate and injustice.

If the World were to look at China differently they would understand that the people in China are amazing people and a people that seem concerned with their own Governments treatment of not only Tibetans but of their own countrymen. What of those people that have stood up to the government in protest? where are they now? The Chinese people that stand up for equality and freedom are jailed or killed for taking a stand. What China can do now is commit to change. The whole world is looking at them. They could finally be part of the greatest global community by showing true power of change. All the fuss is about the Government not allowing people to speak up to be heard.

Imagine the day when our brothers and sisters in China could stop the Civil and Human rights atrocities and be welcomed into the global community as a part of something bigger. The World we live in is a big place. Why don't those in power urge opportunity. It's a natural right to have the best life we can have with what we've got. Protesting the Olympic games shows us that some people are gagged for the power of silence.

One person gets to make a difference. Can we as a planet stop the injustice? Can we? The answer is not violence, nor war, nor threat. The answer is Yes. We can help garner change. Stand up. You have your freedom to do so. Do it.

China's choice: A New Human Rights Record

FOR DISCUSSION - Written by Matt Norman
It's important that we all understand that freedom isn't available to all of us. There are people dying or being imprisoned because they speak out against the injustices inside China everyday. With the World looking to China on 8.8.08 we have a responsibility to urge the Chinese Government to re-think it's place in this World. We can all make a difference.

Please show your support. Use your freedom.

China's Choice: A new human rights record. Use your freedom, visit www.uncensor.com.au

Paramount Pictures secures SALUTE

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Hi everyone,

Thank you for viewing my production diary for Salute. I have been very excited by news of Paramount Pictures Australia and Transmission films Australia to be the distributors of SALUTE. The Paramount and Transmission team have been incredible to make sure this film is seen by the biggest audience possible here in Australia.

Tear Jerker

A lot of you may know (those that have followed the progress of this film) that a film like this takes an incredible amount of time and money to make. I thought I would use my first entry in the diary to thank all of you who have given your time, feedback, support and generosity to this amazing project. As most of you know, this has been a very long journey. In 2006 we were all devastated when my uncle Peter Norman, died of a heart attack. What most of you don’t know is that the film was almost complete back then. It’s taken a long time to get motivated again as I haven’t really had time to grieve properly for the loss of Pete.

Now that the film is about to be released I’m able to spend more time thinking of Peter and how much this film meant to him. I worked very closely with Peter for over 4 years on the film. He saw a cut of the film in 2006 that brought him to tears. He was really looking forward to spending time with me on the road promoting the film and meeting those of you who have shown us your tremendous support.

Peter’s death was a huge loss to our family but more importantly a huge loss to the World. He had so much more to give and for me personally it would have been amazing to celebrate his life on this film with him standing by my side.

Now that he’s gone, my only objective is to show Peter to the World. I want people that see this film to be finally educated in the fact that Peter wasn’t just the “WHITE GUY” in the historical photo of the black power protest. He was a silver medalist at an Olympic Games, he is record holder STILL 40 years down the track but more than that he is a true mate to everyone. For those that met Peter you know what I mean. We made friends with everyone. He had time for everyone.

I hope that by watching this film, you’ll be able to say “Tommie Smith, Peter Norman and John Carlos were part of history”.

Thanks again for all of your support. I know you’ll all love this film as much as I do. Be warned, its a tear jerker.!