I Am Back - part 2

During my procrastination time when I should/could be working on the BAO book I research my family's history, so many records are coming online the research is really starting to come together...it is quite addictive, just a big jigsaw puzzle that you never quite finish. Recently after many stumbling blocks I have finally made connections with Irish cousins in County Cork Ireland they are from my gg grandmother Abigail Conners and gg grandfathers James Shea's line. I have spoken via skype to a cousin on the O'Conners side now living in the US...Patrick has been extremely helpful putting me in contact with cousins still residing in the villages my gg grandparents lived.  I had a great chat to two very lovely quintessential Irish gentleman cousins Jim and Patrick via skype which was a delight, although I did have trouble understanding the lilting irish brogue and they possibly had trouble with my Australian strine.  The upshot of this is that we are organising a family reunion in October 2014 and hopefully a few rellies in Australia will be able to make the trip to county Cork Ireland for the clan gathering.

Also genealogy and BAO did a bit of crossover.  One of the BAO artists Robyn, posted images of some old photos on her blog that were left in a house in Queensland.

Elsie May Baills

I decided armed with just the name of the young girl, Elsie May Baills and her date of death in Queensland to do a bit of research and find out more about this little girl and her family. Whether my research had anything to do with Robyn making contact with a descendant of little Elsie May's brother I am not sure, but it was lovely to hear that the photos had been reunited with a descendant who was very elated to receive them.  It is amazing the information that is out there in the virtual world, so if by some chance you do come across old photos please don't turf them out...it is very possible these days with the internet to return them to a grateful descendant who is interested in family research.

For 3 weeks in August my daughter who had been on an internship in LA, visited here before her return to Australia via LA, UK and Greece, a very well travelled young lady, half my age and been to way more places/countries than I have.  It was really lovely to catch up with her and hear about all her LA experiences.  The internet is fabulous thing and I would be bereft without it but you really are on call 24/7, especially in an industry like the film business.  So although Eva was here for 3 weeks much time was taken up with various projects and skype meetings.  However it was still lovely to have her around.

In between her work she did hang with Henry,

we went for walks, 

took a drive to Siglufjorður 

and had a lovely swim at Hófsos.

I did mean to post this a week or so ago but have ended up quite busy...more on that next time.

At the moment I am sitting in a London Gatwick hotel waiting for my flight to Australia, where over a two week period I will be able to catch up with all my children in Melbourne. However this means I am procrastinating my BAO book a little more.

A Happy Birthday To You!

This is a birthday wish for my daughter Eva who turns 29 30 today!  Hope your day is wonderful darling, thinking of you and will try and catch you on Skype sometime today.

Congratulations Little Sparrows!

This post is for my daughter Eva who is producer of the film Little Sparrows which has just won the prestigious Australian DigiSPAA award.  This film, which was produced on ever so much less than even a shoe string budget has been well received at Film Festivals around Australia such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and CinefestOZ Busselton plus received a standing ovation at the recent Rome International Film Festival.   See press articles here, here and here.

 Some of the cast and crew on the red carpet in Rome

The film has secured a European distributor Umedia and just recently been picked up by Film Movement for USA and Canadian release.   West Australians can see the film on Australia Day when it is screened at Movies at the Vineyard, Luna Palace's new outdoor cinema at Margaret River's Cape Mentelle winery.

LITTLE SPARROWS MOVIE TRAILER from Camille Chen on Vimeo.

The DigiSPAA win comes with over $50,000 worth of prizes and accolades from the judges, Antony I. Ginnane, president of SPAA and co-curator of DigiSPAA commented:
"'Little Sparrows' is an incredible achievement. It takes subject matter which could have resulted in a Lifetime disease of the week TV movie, and turns it into a searingly moving tale of love and loss and understanding. It's packed full of real emotion. Producer/Writer/Director Camille Chen and Producer Eva Di Blasio are talents to watch and worthy recipients of this year's SPAARTAN Award".

Yu-Hsiu Camille Chen has an intense filmmaking style that propels audiences into an emotional journey with the characters. Produced by Eva Di Blasio, 'Little Sparrows' is a must see", says Daniel Scharf, DigiSPAA Co-ordinator and judge.

Eva and Camille earlier in the year at Cannes

This film has defied the odds with a minuscule budget shot in only 19 days over Xmas 2009 and with post production completed by May 2010 it just keeps moving forward at a cracking pace.  Big congratulations to the Little Sparrows group as I know it was a team effort.

 

Little Sparrows Team

However a very special honor goes to Eva who I know at times was the glue that held the project together and made this movie happen.  Big hugs darling!

Happy Birthday Eva Beaver!

Today my first born and only daughter Eva, turns 29, or as she says not yet 30! It is hard to fathom that this many years have passed and that at 22 years old I became a mother for the first time.

She was a tiny little baby a couple of weeks early and just over 5 pounds

You can see how tiny she is compared to her friend Jennifer who was only a month older!

Daddy's girl!

Of course as the first born she has been traumatised a tad by the inexperience of a very young mother who didn't always have it all worked out (the boys had a better run). And as a youngin she was not happy that all I gave her to play with were brothers (she so wanted a little sister).  When the last baby was born and once again a boy she promptly told me at the age of six to take him back to wherever I got him from!

and she often took the opportunity to remind me where I went wrong

According to Eva my favourite two children!

However over time and once she realised they were never going to turn into sisters,  her brothers have become very much central characters in her life and she absolutely adores them all!

 Jesse, Ross, Eva and Dom in Iceland on Ross's wedding night

Eva, Jesse, Dom and Ross

 Ross, Eva and Dom at Nonna's

 Eva behind the camera taking the photo of her boys.

First day of school.

From a very young age Eva always was the star of the show and loved taking centre stage whether it be in the kitchen, lounge or the actual real thing!

 The actual real thing and absolutely lovin it!

Throughout her school years Eva pursued her love of drama, dressing up and being in front of the cameras.

 As a plum pudding in a pre school production

 Taking the major female role in a Christmas nativity play...grade one.

 Grade 7 primary school Eva is second from the right!

However she now realises that she would rather pursue her love for drama and film behind the scenes as a producer or director.

 Eva and her documentary team in China for the making of 'Footprints in Shanghai'

The teenage years were a difficult time for Eva and she is the one that my marriage breakup probably affected the most.  Relationships between mothers and daughters can be difficult...I know my relationship with my mother was always a bit tense...but they also can mature into one of the closest and best friendships a woman can ever have.

Eva spent sometime trying to work out who she was and went from the cutest little girl to a complete feral teenager wearing op shop clothes...nanna petticoats on the outside, several piercings and shaving her beautiful long locks to less than an inch of its life.

The teenage years.

Eva was always a negotiator  ready to make a deal or pact to get what she wants or needs.  Over the years there were many of these contracts offered to us and this I think was the foundation for her future career as she now regularly negotiates contracts in her role of producer.

As I look back I see that these experiences have helped shape her into the sort of woman that can adapt quite easily to many different situations.  Eva can quite happily swing between the red carpet at Cannes to camping in the middle of nowhere, to providing silver service at the oldest restaurant in London, or backpacking around Europe on a mini no budget. Whilst at Uni she had the chance to work on a documentary that followed students along the Canning stock route....the organisers were a little worried that Eva...who seemed pretty much the glamour queen would not be able to cope as they were camping and without toilet and shower facilities for most of the 2 weeks away...but she reassured them that deep within, a feral lurked and she could rough it with the best of them and did! 

 Glamorous Eva at the Cannes Film Festival

At Rules the oldest restaurant in London (Eva in the centre, so resembles her grandmother in this pic)

Backpacking!

Eva has traveled extensively, London, Morocco, Italy, China, Mauritius and France to just name a few of the stamps in her passport, she revels in new experiences, loves meeting people and being on the go 24/7.  I will admit that whilst she was a teenager our relationship was always a little strained but I am so grateful that she came home to live again whilst studying, as we have now grown very close and it will be sooo hard to part.

 Graduation day.

 With a very proud mum!

 During this time I have watched her blossom into the most confident, caring, sensitive and very capable young woman. She is hardworking, enthusiastic, passionate and strives to excel in everything she does.  In a couple of days she is off to Melbourne for MIFF where her first feature as producer of Little Sparrows is screening.

Happy birthday darling not sure how I will cope in Iceland without you...I know I will miss you terribly.

Little Sparrows

The last week or so my blog seems to be all about family, my post today is no different.  I am writing about a Western Australian feature film called Little Sparrows, my daughter Eva is the producer and I am one very proud mum!  Eva had only just graduated from her film degree less than 6 months when she took on the production responsibilities of this huge project.

I was constantly amazed at her organization and communication skills, her ability to multi task and yet keep focused on the job at hand. An absolute professional who dealt with the myriad of changes and requests from director, executive producer, cast and crew promptly and always with a smile. I am in awe of her ability to take a project on and just run with it...fear of failure is not part of her world...she is always willing to give things ago and keep trying until she gets it right. During this time, every waking, thinking, breathing moment for her was about this film.

One of my favourite pics of Eva

Eva as a film student at Curtin University

Little Sparrows is a very low budget, self funded film by WA company Bolderpictures. This is their debut feature.  As mother of the producer I was privileged to an in home private viewing of the film when it was in its final post production stage. It is a story about women and for women, I am sure anyone who is a mother will be able to relate to the emotion of this film.

LITTLE_SPARROWS_TEASER_XMAS from Camille Chen on Vimeo.

It is not your usual run of the mill hollywood style movie...it has a decidedly European feel, shot with a hand held camera which provides an intimate almost voyeuristic view into the lives of each of the characters. At times this closeness feels uneasy and awkward as you seem to pry into and view the exposed raw nerves and extremely private emotions, reminding you just how uncomfortable some moments in real life are.  A touching film, one that will possibly make you cry...It did me...I sobbed!

Camille Chen the director took a very intuitive approach with the film...there was a story and a general scene breakdown, but no script for the actors who were asked to totally throw themselves into the characters and improvise...I imagine a difficult way to work, requiring a huge amount of trust from all those involved but highly rewarding when it all comes together and you are in the flow.  As an artist, I know that being in the flow when you are working on a project...is an amazing and wonderful feeling!

Camille and Eva are currently at the Cannes Film Festival to promote the film for international sales and distribution.  Bolderpictures have signed with a French distribution agency Urban Media International (Umedia) who are Paris based and specialise in arthouse cinema from around the world and acquire only seven new films each year.

Little Sparrows poster takes centre position in the Umedia booth at Cannes.

 Eva and Camille attending a red carpet premiere in Cannes on the opening night...I think it might have been Robin Hood.

Little Sparrows will have its world premiere at the Sydney International Film Festival so if you are attending the festival please check it out...it will screen on the 11th and 12th June.
Take a look at the film's website and their Facebook page for more information and if you are interested and have a Facebook account (although I know many of you already have) please become a fan of the film.

P.S.  Just like when you get a new car you notice that same make everywhere and before you hardly knew it existed, well Iceland is like that for me and Little Sparrows has a link to Iceland...one of the actors Nick Candy lived and worked in Iceland for a while and his partner is Icelandic!  I am obsessive...I know!