AACTA #SocialShorts - Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble
Nan, of Aboriginal and Irish descent, keeps a photo album of dead family members. Younger sister Min believes this morbid European tradition is culturally inappropriate.
Interview with Producer Lois Randall
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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
It was a blessing! Sue McPherson had written the script with support of Screen Australia and ABCTV Indigenous departments, through the Exchange initiative which is for Indigenous novelists wishing to cross over into screen writing. Sue needed a producer and because its a regional story and I produced the regional Indigenous series The Gods Of Wheat Street they approached me… I read the script and loved it, had a meeting with Sue and loved her… and that's how it started. Then we approached Dena Curtis to direct and she also responded with immediate interest.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Nan and A Whole Lot Of Trouble is funny and touching and unexpected. It deals with complex issues around identity, grief and cultural taboos in an original way with wonderful humour. Audiences laugh out loud.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film tackles cultural taboos around death and grief, highlighting the complexities and tensions that arise around culture, tradition and identity in a modern multicultural community through the personal story of two elderly sisters.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Writer Sue McPherson started with characters from her novel Grace Beside Me and an idea to tell a story about the tradition of mourning photography - or memento moro - practiced by her own Aunt. The script was then developed and evolved through several drafts as Sue McPherson worked on it through The Exchange program, with support from Screen Australia and ABC Indigenous departments. Then we went through another draft when Dena and I were attached to it. Dena brought a director's eye and together the three of us came up with the final punchline.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have been particularly lucky that the film was selected by Flickerfest and toured nationally to many regional as well as city audiences, as well as being screened on ABC TV. The feedback has been really positive - people laugh and find the film entertaining and surprising.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Overall we've been really happy with the feedback. Some people have been unsure how to respond as the film tackles big and complex issues - protocols around death and grief - and people are not sure if its appropriate to laugh. But they have full permission to laugh!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The film is being distributed by Flickerfest. We would love people to consider it for screenings. They can contact Flickerfest at www.flickerfest.com.au/contact-us/
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film is completed - now we want it to keep reaching audiences to promote discussion around culture and identity.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
“Nan And A Whole Lot of Trouble” is a tender, compelling and entertaining short film that speaks to audiences with heart, and with a message about embracing diversity of cultural heritage and honoring passed loved ones in the way that feels right to each individual.
We'd like people to laugh then to go away and think about how complex all of our cultural identities and traditions are. The message is about tolerance and acceptance.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you honour your dead loved ones?
Would you like to add anything else?
The film was made by an all women camera department and most of the crew were women. We'd particularly like to acknowledge our wonderful cast, DOP Anna Howard ACS and Editor Tania Nehme, and all the crew. We'd also like to thank ABC TV, Screen Australia and Flickerfest.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The film has lead to an ongoing collaboration between writer Sue McPherson, director Dena Curtis and producer Lois Randall who are now working together to develop Sue's novel Grace Beside Me as a children's television series for NITV.
Interview: August 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble
Nan, of Aboriginal and Irish descent, keeps a photo album of dead family members. Younger sister Min believes this morbid European tradition is culturally inappropriate.
Length: 11 mins
Director: Dena Curtis
Producer: Lois Randall
Writer: Sue McPherson
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer Sue McPherson , proudly Aboriginal, South Sea Islander and Irish, wrote the award winning novel “Grace Beside Me”. “Nan And A Whole Lot Of Trouble” is Sue’s first screenplay.
Producer Lois Randall is a screen producer whose credits include producing the Indigenous drama series The Gods of Wheat Street (ABC TV, EveryCloud Productions).
Award winning Indigenous director Dena Curtis's credits include the shorts "Hush" and "Jacob" and the Aboriginal Narrative Comedy Series, “8MMM Aboriginal Radio”, broadcast on ABC in 2015.
Key cast:
Noeleen Shearer as Nan, Pamela Young as Aunty Min, and Amba-Rose Atkinson as Fuzzy
Looking for: buyers, film festival directors, journalists - contact via http://flickerfest.com.au/contact-us/... and people to vote for the film on AACTA social shorts!
Funders:
Screen Australia Indigenous department and ABC Television.
Release date: February 2016.
Where can I watch it in the next month?
AACTA Social Shorts! http://www.socialshorts.com.au/drama