Filmmaker Statements
Producer / Director's
Statement
Arun Ketsirat
When Kym and I first began this journey together, we couldn't have imagined all the twists and turns that would bring us to this moment. I started as the mentor – but somewhere along the way, I found myself becoming the student, learning how to sensitively capture the raw, unfiltered complexities of the human condition.
PTSD Love Stories carries not just the stories of our participants but also the fingerprints of everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and heart along the way. Through the challenges of the 2019 bushfires, the 2020 Brisbane floods, and a global pandemic, the unwavering support and belief from our participants and collaborators became our constant. From concept to completion, our production spanned 10 years, 39 shoot days, and 5 cities and towns (yes, almost 10TB of footage!). Together, we built story awareness and audience engagement that led to a Screen Queensland Completion Fund grant and a national broadcast acquisition with ABC Compass.
At first, the urge to tell this story cinematically drew me in but soon I realised that authentic observation grows from trust and time. It was in the quiet, unguarded moments – like the scene where Katie and her children watch David revisit his deployment photos; when Cathy juggles school runs, sibling squabbles, and silent rules to keep the household calm; or when Kim watches old footage of Nick projected on the wall, her face softening with grief as she recognises the man he once was – that I found the soul of the story. These unscripted moments taught me to listen, to wait, and to let the camera witness rather than direct.
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The story structure and its visual language also advanced in depth and complexity as I grew to understand myself personally and professionally. Animation became a vessel for the unseen. Yellow marked the quiet weight of depression, suicide ideation, and the everyday strain on carers; teal captured the tremor of PTSD and the breath of coping; orange traced the violent ripple effects on families, especially children. These choices mapped an emotional terrain that, in many ways, mirrored my own.
Over the course of making this film, I also became a carer. Since 2022, I have supported my father through an aggressive lymphoma diagnosis, chemotherapy, and the gradual loss of independence that followed. In 2024, after the sudden death of my German stepfather, I navigated a labyrinth of international bureaucracy on behalf of my Thai mother, who was dealing with grief, health issues, and significant language barriers. All this unfolded while I was raising two toddlers, recovering from a traumatic birth, and contending with postpartum depression. These experiences gave me a lived understanding of the emotional, physical and logistical realities of caregiving.
Despite the lack of funding and resources at the beginning of the journey and the challenges I personally faced towards the end, we have never considered abandoning the project. The story is too important. It has been worth pushing through every obstacle, including (perhaps especially) that awful whispering voice of doubt. In our hearts, we know that the stories of these incredible people, of their resilience and hope, must be told. We believe PTSD Love Stories will help save lives. We are extremely thankful to these beautiful and brave families for sharing their personal trauma stories in the hope of helping others in similar situations. Thus, launching the National Impact Campaign became a way to help spark conversations, shift perceptions, and build a more caring community.
Producer/ Writer's
Statement -
Kym Melzer
I have spent over 6 years researching PTSD, veterans, first responders, mental health, trauma, stigma and the everyday caregiving issues which started my Honours studies and continued with my Doctoral studies. I produced a 5-part documentary series about Australian veterans with PTSD for my Honours creative project, entitled Coming Home that looked at the alternative therapies and anecdotal activities the sufferers used to manage PTSD symptoms.
Whilst producing these films, I witnessed the collateral damage of PTSD on loved ones and the impact on the families and community. I continued to research this for my doctoral degree and for my creative project, I produced a 7-part documentary series entitled The Ripple Effect of PTSD which shifts the spotlight from the suffering of PTSD and onto the caregivers. The series has been very well received in defence families and is now part of the Australian War Memorial National Film archives. I also filmed interviews with PTSD specialist Dr Andrew Khoo who answered questions such as ‘What is PTSD?’ These educational videos complemented the documentary series and created vigorous engagement on social media.
Whilst producing The Ripple Effect of PTSD series, I started to read about the increased suicide rate of first responders and I decided to produce a feature documentary Triple Effect – Who Cares for the Carers? about Australian first responders with PTSD and again tell the story from the perspective of the caregiver.
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My focus for the Triple Effect – Who Cares for the Carers? film and my doctoral thesis research was rooted in being an ethical filmmaker. Central to this was a methodology of continuous consent – an approach that ensured our participants were informed and comfortable at every stage of the filmmaking process. While standard consent forms are typically signed at the beginning, allowing footage to be used regardless of later changes in participation, we chose a more respectful and empathetic path. Continuous consent meant staying attuned to how our participants were feeling on shoot days, and being willing to reschedule if they were having a ‘bad day’.
Admittedly, this approach could disrupt scheduling and create logistical challenges – but it also opened space for unexpected creativity, like capturing B-roll or location shots that enriched the final work. I’m incredibly proud of what Arun and I and our entire collaborative team achieved. This was a true passion project with lasting impact that is a legacy for all involved.
Above all, it is a profound privilege to be welcomed into people’s lives, even briefly, and document their hopes and challenges. I am forever grateful to our generous participants and their families, who shared their vulnerability on screen so that others might feel less alone. Thank you for your trust, your openness, and your courage. To all first responders and veterans, thank you for your service.