Grazie a Dio, Stiamo Bene
(Clicca qui per la introduzione in italiano.)After the second world war, one in six Italians left their families to start a new life overseas. Lobster fishermen from Sicily and Puglia went to Fremantle, an isolated port town in Western Australia, 13,000 kilometres from Italy and 2,000 kilometres from the nearest Australian city. They had little idea about the kind of place they were going to.
Fifty years later, Fremantle's main street is nick-named the Cappuccino Strip and in the fishing harbour Sicilian and Pugliese dialects are the lingua francas, even for an Australian fisherman. Saturday morning buskers and street performers play in the town square while old men argue politics and ogle at the young women.
Grazie a Dio, Stiamo Bene (Thanks to God, We're Alright), a common saying among the elderly Italian immigrants, tells the story of the fishermen and their families who have helped create a unique culture in Fremantle.
Made with the support of the Film and Television Institute in Fremantle. The copyright music was reproduced by kind permission of ddjomp, Malanova and Pizzicanto.
Introduzione in italiano:
Subito dopo la seconda guerra mondiale, un italiano su 6 ha lasciato la sua famiglia per cominciare una nuova vita all'estero. Provenendo dalla Sicilia e la Puglia, alcuni pescatori di aragoste sono arrivati a Fremantle, un porto isolato nell'Australia occidentale che stava 13.000 kilometri dall'Italia e 2.000 kilometri dalla più vicina città australiana. La maggiore parte di loro non capiva né la lingua inglese né la cultura australiana.
Però nei 50 anni in cui hanno vissuto a Fremantle, questi pescatori e le loro famiglie hanno aiutato a trasformare questa città poco conosciuta in un posto di moda, dove tutti vogliono vivere.
Grazie a Dio, Stiamo Bene è un cortometraggio che ha dato ai protagonisti la possibilità di raccontare la loro storia con loro stesse parole.
La musica è stata riprodotta con la gentile permesso di: ddjomp, Malanova e Pizzicanto.
Art Director: short film "Samantha Stewart, Aged 14"
Winner of the Best Drama award at the West Australian Screen Awards in 2000.
Set in Queensland, Australia in the early 1970s, this black and white film tells the story of a shy and well-behaved young girl who gives birth in a maths lesson. It follows the consequences within her family and the school.
The look of the film was uncomfortable and stark, reflecting Samantha's isolation and the unforgiving characters of her parents and school. The sets included a maternity ward in a hospital, a classroom, headteacher's office and the family home. I obtained authentic furniture and props by hiring and borrowing from antique shops and a hospital museum as well as trawling through garage sales.
"Samantha Stewart, Aged 14" was written and directed by Elissa Down and funded by Screenwest through the Film and Television Institute, Fremantle.
| "Queen of the Damned" | Warner Bros. |
| Set Decorator Runner | Director: Michael Rymer |
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Production Designer: Graham "Grace" Walker |
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Date: October 2000 |
A vampire feature, adapted from the Anne Rice books and sequel to Interview With A Vampire. Shot in Melbourne, I assisted with props and set decoration for the family mansion, Jesse's dream sequence bedroom and Lestat's London house. For me it was a unique opportunity to work with one of my favourite designers, Grace Walker.
| "Parlami D'amore" | Writer/Producer: Elena Pasquini |
| Art Department Assistant | Director: Glen Eaves |
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Production Designer: Anne Liedel |
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Date: January 2000 |
A 19 minute drama, in colour 35mm cinemascope. Set in Lucca, Tuscany, in the 1950s. There were seven sets: a garden wedding feast; an outdoor market with cars, scooters, vegetable stalls and a cafe; a wedding ceremony and Sunday service in a church; a country house; a vineyard and a modern day Australian backyard. The style was romantic, pretty, proud and elegant, with lots of bright natural colours. I was very fortunate to work with Production Designer Anne Liedel, and assisted with props, set dressing, pre- and post-production.
| W.A. Screen Awards commercial for television | Producers: Karen Loveland, Jo Metcalf |
| Art Department Assistant | Director: Daniel Habedank |
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Writer: Elissa Down |
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Date: April-May 1999 |
A 30 second commerical, in colour 16mm. A take-off of speeches at the Oscar ceremony that year. There was one set, in which the central character gave a speech from behind a podium, backed by blindingly shiny fabric that mimicked grand pillars, and gave the illusion of space in a small studio. The ceremony audience was surrounded by silver and light.
| "The Trouble With Star Cross'd Lovers" | Producer: Kirsty Nicol |
| Art Director | Writer/Director: Elissa Down |
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Funding: Member's Production Group at the Film and Television Institute, Fremantle |
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Date: October 1998 |
An eight minute comedy, in colour digital. Set in modern day Australia. There were three sets: a bedroom, lounge and bathroom. The style was funky and youthful. Each of the two main characters had a set that reflected their character and role in the story: the bedroom (the siren's set) was red, flamboyant and sensual, and the lounge (the puppy dog's set) was blue with functional furniture and safe designs.
| Other Roles in Short Films |
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Date |
Production |
Role |
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April 1999 |
Kirsty Nicol's 'Tim Tam Time' promotional short film |
Boom Operator |
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March 1999 |
Elissa Down's 'Blind Eye' short film |
Camera Operator |
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March 1999 |
Elissa Down's 'Dripping Tap' short film |
Camera Operator |
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March-May 1999 |
Film and Televsion Institute (F.T.I.) Members' Production Group (M.P.G.) 'First Sight' short film |
Gaffer |
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February-March 1999 |
Alex Ringis' 'Sugar Rush' short film |
Camera Operator |