Editing Jedda (section)

==Production==
[[File:Filming of Australian film Jedda.jpg|thumb|Robert Tudawali with [[William Edward Harney|Bill Harney]] and Charles Chauvel prior to the filming of Jedda.]]
Filming started in May 1952, when the unit left Sydney for Darwin. By this stage the lead role of Jedda had still yet to be cast, but filming acting sequences did not begin until July.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2855452 |title=N. Territory as scene of first colour film. |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=19 May 1952 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Robert Tudawali was an Aboriginal man from [[Melville Island (Australia)|Melville Island]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18420227 |title=MALE LEAD GOES HOME. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=13 April 1954 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> the largest island in the [[Tiwi Islands]] group. Ngarla Kunoth (Rosalie Kunoth-Monks) was an [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] and [[Anmatyerre]] woman, born at [[Utopia, Northern Territory|Utopia cattle station]], north east of [[Alice Springs]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amelia |first=Kunoth-Monks |date=10 July 1995 |title=Australian Biography: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/australian-biography-rosalie-kunoth-monks-1 |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=National Film and Sound Archive}}</ref> she was selected over seven other actors screen tested, and was cast by July.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44799783 |title="Jedda" and her foster family. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=9 June 1971 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18382912 |title=Arunta Tribe Girl Star. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=30 July 1953 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The shoot took five months to complete, plus post-production work done in Sydney. Most of the scenes were shot on the [[Coolibah Station]] in the [[Northern Territory]], as well as at [[Standley Chasm]], [[Ormiston Gorge]] and [[Mary River (Northern Territory)|Mary River]] in the north.

The production process was laborious, as the colour technique used, [[Gevacolor]], could only be processed in England. The film stock was fragile and heat-sensitive, which was a problem in the tropical climate of the Northern Territory. During production, the film was stored in cool caves to protect it from deteriorating. By mid 1952 the film had incurred expenses of £24,673.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18294355 |title=Progress cost of film|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=10 December 1952 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The last roll of negative was destroyed in a plane crash on its way for developing in England. Chauvel re-shot these lost scenes at [[Kanangra Walls]] in the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]] and [[Jenolan Caves]] west of [[Sydney]]. Cave scenes were filmed in the River Cave, Diamond Cave, Imperial Cave, and Mud Tunnels at Jenolan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51078321 |title=He's Out to Prove the Dead Heart Beats|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] |location=Brisbane |date=25 July 1953 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Editing and sound recording were completed in London.

The music was written by [[Isador Goodman]]. Elsa Chauvel, the director's wife, replaced large parts of Goodman's score with old-fashioned commercial "mood" music.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The Chauvels celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary during filming.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18267649 |title=Had Silver Wedding in Outback. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=5 June 1952 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Wason Byers, who had a small role, was arrested for stealing over £1,000 worth of cattle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18388184 |title=N.T. Cattleman To Stand Trial. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=27 August 1953 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>