Thursday, September 4, 2014

Research continues

The Women from Cambodia project, whilst in post-production phase has been an amazing journey to discover links with some fantastic international photographers who have agreed to share their work for my project. In particular Jay Mather who was a photo journalist who went into Cambodia after Pol Pot was deposed and photographed the situation for those living in the refugee camps on the Thai/Cambodia border in the early eighties. Whilst this may be a story from 40 years ago, there are millions of refugees throughout the world living in these camps and through telling the story of a few women, we tell the story of many.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

New Project on Ursula Bethell

Researching the creative work of Ursula Bethell, Christchurch poet primarily but who was also an avid painter and gardener. She lived a varied and amazing life of social work, literary support and mentor to many emerging writers and also had a deep faith in God…The majority of her life was spent living with her companion Effie Pollen. When Effie died in 1934, Ursula Bethell was devastated, writing a "Memorial" every year for the next six years on or around the anniversary. October 1935 The green has come back, the spring green, the new green, Darling, the young green upon the field willows, And the gorse on the wild hills was never so yellow, Together, together, past years we have looked on the scene. The loved little bird is singing his small song, Dearest, and whether the trill of the riro Reminded, we wondered, of joy or of sorrow - Now I am taught it is tears, it is tears that to spring time belong. You were laughter, my liking, and frolic, my lost one, I must dissemble and smile still for your sake, Now that I know how spring time is heart-break, Now you have left me to look upon all that is lovely, alone.

New year project juggling...

So it's a new year - well, I know it's March but we still have that 'new year' feel don't we? I have a number of projects in various stages of development and whilst they all have their priorities its' hard to really get focused on which one will come up laughing as it were….so, heading into further research on an amazing kiwi designer and artist who went to san francisco in 1920…- more exciting news to come on him soon :) and looking for funding for post-production on my Cambodian film, featuring the lives of Cambodian women refugees who lived through the Pol Pot regime and came to live in NZ often after many difficult years in refugee camps on the Thai Cambodian border…its a busy kaleidoscope of topics and inspiring people who enrich my life as I delve into theirs….