Student journo Georgio Platias: The story behind the Walkley

8 August 2021

Georgio Platias and Mohsen Soltany Zan posing with the award — Georgio Platias and Mohsen Soltany Zan with the Walkleys award

Story republished from UTS Central Newsroom

In 1998, Mohsen Soltany Zan was a writer in Iran, speaking out about the atrocities that occurred during the 'Chain Murders of Iran'. Facing execution for voicing his opinions, Mohsen fled his homeland as a refugee.

Today, Mohsen is an Australian citizen, poet, musician, husband, father and activist.

22 years later, his story is also now a Walkley award-winning story, brought to life by UTS Journalism/Law student Georgio Platias.

George Platias:

"I met Mohsen towards the end of August 2019. I remember our first conversation: a 45-minute telephone call after I reached out to Mohsen on Facebook to ask if I could make a documentary about his story. From the get-go, I had a feeling he would be a fantastic character – eccentric and passionate about life with a story to tell.

Hesitant at first, Mohsen said he didn't want another story on 'refugees'. Instead, he would only agree to be part of the project if I focussed on his poetry, activism and music. I agreed, and it was now my job to gain his trust. If I wanted an authentic telling of his story, it had to be honest and raw, and he had to tell it in his own words.

I would go on to meet with Mohsen two times a week. Usually, before or sometimes after class, I would meet with him for tea in his little two-roomed apartment in Chippendale. His white moustache was always perfectly curled. An instrument was never far from him – a keyboard, a goblet drum, a santur, and a setar – he could play them all. He called it his own little 'music studio'. Notebook in hand, my goal was to timeline key points in Mohsen's life.

At first, Mohsen was cautious, but he began to reveal more and more after our third meeting. I listened to stories about his home, why he fled Iran, his time in detention, his poetry, and his life in Australia. I would also occasionally meet with key people who helped him, featuring them in the documentary.

With all the research done, my next step was to film the documentary. Every Thursday and Friday, from early September to the end of October, I took the cameras, microphones and lights over to Moshen's home. Usually, it was a one-hour sit-down interview on Thursdays, with 'on-location' shots and other interviews on Fridays.

Was it stressful? Yes, of course.

Having over 15 hours of footage to cut into 20 minutes was a challenge. So, too, trying to cut together clips and interviews, overlaying them to tell a sequential story without narration. However, the most challenging was trying to get Mohsen to revisit some of the darker periods in his life.

They were all colourful stories, and I appreciated him opening up to me to share his journey: – entrusting a smuggler to transport him through Turkey and the Asia Minor, then on a boat to what he believes was East Timor, before finally arriving in Perth in 1999; paranoia caused by the thought that he would be "found out, captured and killed"; and reflections of suicidal depression because of his time in Port Headland and Villawood detention centres between 1999 and 2003.

Mohsen claims it was poetry and music that saved his life, which once you get to know him, shines through everything he does.

There truly is a poetic character to Mohsen, and I'm glad I have been able to showcase his story whilst also making a friend in the process.

I have to give special mention to Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos, Lecturer in the UTS journalism program.

Helen supervised my documentary, acting as an inspiration, mentor, and – more importantly – a friend. Her guidance was invaluable.

I remember asking in class, "Have I done too much?"

Her response was, "Let the character tell the story. Let the scenes breathe. You can never have too much. Your job now is to sustain the story."

Georgio Platias and Helen Vatsikopoulos at the Walkleys Awards — Georgio Platias and Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos at the Walkleys

Helen is as much a part of me winning the Walkley as anything else.

I chose to focus on a refugee for three reasons.

First, this is an issue that allows people to reflect. If you agree or don't agree with my documentary, that's fine. As long as you thought and reflected on what you were watching, I have done my job.

Second, the issue of refugees or people coming to this country and being treated as 'other' is timeless. It was occurring in Australia long before Mohsen arrived, and it's still going on now.

Third, Mohsen's story has heart, and at the centre of all good journalism is heart. By heart, I mean his is a story that inspires, a story that makes you think and allows you to stand in his shoes. Mohsen's story exerts authenticity and allows us, as viewers, to genuinely learn from him and his journey. I think the greatest lessons we can learn are the importance of community, the importance of acceptance and the fact that although refugees have experiences unlike yours or mine, in the end, we're all human.

However, I'm most proud that my documentary has inspired community groups to come together, share their experiences, protest policy, and, more importantly, tell their stories. And personally, I'm so grateful to have learned about Mohsen. He opened up and was generous enough to share his struggles. I grew to understand his perspective, which I wouldn't have otherwise had the privilege to know.

I'm incredibly proud, humbled and honoured to be awarded the Walkley for best Student Journalist.

My dream is to continue making long-form documentaries and host a program. There is something about reaching many people at once to keep them informed and share stories that matter. More than anything else, I see it as a responsibility because I think Australia needs a program that uncovers stories like Mohsen's as character studies to explore bigger issues.

Right now, though, I'm finishing my honours thesis for my law degree, and I'll see where life takes me once I graduate. I'm very proud of the work I have put forth with my documentary, and I know journalism will be involved in whatever path I follow."

Watch documentary Inside Out Mohsen's Story | UTS Central News Docos

At the Walkleys 2021 Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism Awards, Georgio Platias won Student Journalist of the Year.

Rafqa Touma was awarded a JNI Opportunity Fellowship with Guardian Australia, where she was immersed in the organised chaos of a newsroom and wrote articles on topics from genetics to stealthing.

Finalist for Student Journalist of the Year Stephanie Tran wrote the investigative series ‘State Capture’, which followed the money trail from some of Australia's largest corporations to memberships of political parties.

Fellow finalist Emily Kowal delved into the mystical world of folklore that exists in small towns, with her haunting feature article on Woodford Academy in the Blue Mountains.