The_Press_files/A Grain of Sand (EPK).pdf

Table Of Contents
Synopsis 01
Brendon Grimshaw 02
Director’s Bio 03
The Making Of 4 - 5
Interviews & Crew 6 - 7
Press & Festivals 8
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com

Synopsis
THE FILM A Grain of Sand
A Grain of Sand was filmed between the summers of 2007 and 2008 and is an 83 minute documentary
that tells the love story that came to be between Brendon Grimshaw and Moyenne Island. Brendon
Grimshaw, a British national, was editor to some of the most important newspapers in Africa. But in 1972, he
gave it all up to go and live on Moyenne Island, which he purchased for ten thousand pounds. In the thirtysix-years
that he has lived on the island, Brendon and his friend, Rene Lafortune, planted sixteen-thousand
trees, built 4,8 kilometers of nature paths, and brought and bred 109 giant land tortoises, creating an island
of incredible beauty now worth 34 million Euros. Pristine tropical islands with beautiful eco-systems have
become a rare commodity in a world that seems to measure
everything in economic terms. And there is a voracious
global appetite for places like Moyenne Island, which will
be passed on to unknown hands when Brendon dies, as he
does not have any children. And what does capitalism want
to do with his island, you might ask? Well, it wants to
apply its newly popular 5-star “eco-tourism” resort
formula, which would effectively privatize Moyenne Island
and offer it as a tourist destination to those rich enough to
afford the up to 2000 euro per night price tag. With this
accomplished, the developers, environmentalists and politicians involved would claim another success story.
In their mind, they took a profitless piece of land and conserved the majority of its beauty. Who cares if the
only people who will ever get to see that island again will have to be rich and on vacation? Who cares if you
transform a temple of 16,000 trees with nature paths for all to visit into a private resort with 5-star
bungalows? No, this is the new world we live in, where the speculation and privatization of the last beautiful
natural habitats in our devastated world is seen as a Darwinian solution to our problems.
! Brendon’s story on Moyenne Island gives us a perfect view of many of the problems and ideas that we
are confronted with in this Brave New World, where organizations like the IMF and World Bank force small
countries like the Seychelles to completely liberalize their economy in exchange for any future loans. So
what trend can you really expect from a country where 81% of the jobs are related to the tourism industry?
How can you ask these people to sacrifice the opportunity of more wealth and prosperity in exchange for
environmental protectionism when the United States and Europe have not done the same? A solution does
not seem around the corner and more and more of our precious heritage is being privatized every year. Who
knows what the price of experiencing the beauty of nature will be in the future? But Brendon remains
hopeful that Moyenne will still be around for all those, rich or poor, who wish to admire its beauty. He
continues to get up every morning and dedicates his time, love and energy to an island that seems to deserve
more than an uncertain future.
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
01

BRENDON GRIMSHAW
! The Seychelle Islands sit alone
in the vast Indian Ocean and are the
continental fragments of the supercontinent
that produced the
A m e r i c a s , A f r i c a , A u s t r a l i a ,
Antarctica and India. As if by some
ironical metaphor, it is in these
unique, Edenesque remnants of
what was that we find a microcosm
of our own continental problems.
The Seychellois are faced with tough
choices concerning development
versus conservation, capitalism
versus regulation, and a western style of life versus their own. And smack in the middle of all those decisions,
all those forces, is Brendon Grimshaw, an 83-year-old man from Dewsbury, England.
! Brendon Grimshaw was a successful newspaper editor who decided to buy an island… Not so that he
could brag to his rich friends about his home away from home, but because he loved nature and was ready to
try something different. So at the ripe age of 49, when most mortals are thinking retirement, he trades in the
drive to work, the office, the responsibility, and the success, for a primitive life of uncertainty on Moyenne
Island, which he purchased in 1964 for $20,000. He moved to the island in 1973 and has lived on it ever
since. But the amazing part of the story isn’t the Robinson Crusoe headline. Beneath that bold print is the
tale of a man who has unknowingly become a symbol for something far greater, far more relevant. Since his
arrival on the island, he has completely restored the island’s habitat, planting over 16,000 trees, palms and
shrubs. He has also brought and bred 109 free-roaming giant tortoises and over 2000 wild birds. His island
now holds more than two thirds of all endemic plants to the Seychelles and has become a symbol of
conservation. But the future of Moyenne Island was uncertain, as development plans for private resorts worth
hundreds of millions of dollars surround him on neighboring islands. Brendon was offered 50 million dollars
for his island only a few years ago, but said no. His only dying wish is that Moyenne Island become a national
park for the people to enjoy, not just millionaires on vacation.
THE HAPPY ENDING - Moyenne National Park
! Brendon’s struggle motivated me to try and use this documentary as a tool for political action. We
approached the Seychelles government in the spring of 2008 and offered to show them the documentary and
discuss the possibilities of providing the film and Brendon with a happy ending by declaring Moyenne Island
a National Park. To their credit, they almost immediately accepted. In June 2008, Brendon’s long struggle to
secure the future of his island after his death ended with Moyenne Island being declared a National Park in
Seychelles. We hope this status, which provides legal environmental protection and standards for any future
actions on the island after Brendon’s death, will do Moyenne justice.
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
02

DIRECTOR’s BIO
Joseph Johnson Camí
Let’s be honest, I was a loner growing up, but I was conceited, so I
really didn’t care. I loved reading, watching movies, building forts and
dreaming those simple dreams we have as children. I was born in 1979 in
the USA and left as soon as possible, probably because I hate saying the
pledge of allegiance and because I discovered my childhood suspicion
that I was being lied to at school was true: Christopher Colombus did
not discover America! Turns out there were millions of people already
there. Anyway, I followed my mother’s roots in 1999 to Barcelona,
Spain, where I explored my childhood dream of being a writer. I would
eventually get a degree in English Literature at the University of North
Carolina to prove I was worthy of all the money my parents had invested
in me. But it was a chance encounter in a gym that would seal my fate
and set me on the filmmaking path. 8 months later, I had written my first
screenplay and produced and directed with Albert Hedgepeth what was
meant to be my first feature film, United We Stand (2003). But it turns
out that I still had quite a lot to learn, and I received a much needed
blow to my 23-year-old ego. At least making the film landed me a job at
In Vitro Films, in Barcelona, where I began working my way up the
chain of command in actual film productions with actual budgets while
working on the craft of screenwriting and watching thousands of
movies. I must have learned something, because I finally got my
industry break and directed the tv-movie Adrenalina (2007). It was
nominated to 9 awards, of which it won 4, and had a budget of
approximately 1 million euros. In case you’re wondering, that comes to
a little over 110,000 euros per nomination. I learned valuable lessons about mediocrity, cultural bureaucrats and incompetent
producers while directing Adrenalina, and I vowed to be more selective in the future. Another chance encounter in a Buddhist
temple in Kyoto, Japan would prove to be essential in my life, for it is there that I met Ayelen Liberona, my yin or yang or as I
prefer to call her, my love. Thanks to my father’s generosity and the money I had made selling myself to make Adrenalina,
Ayelen and I were able to start Wandering Eye Productions. Our first project was the 83-minute documentary A Grain of Sand
(2008), which premiered at the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival in May 2009 and was Nominated to the International
Features Award. Ayelen and I produced it together, and I directed this true story about Brendon Grimshaw and his fight to save
Moyenne Island. It felt so much better to care about the story that I was telling and for the first time, I fell in love with
filmmaking. Our next project was the short film Becoming (2009), which we were able to make thanks to a Bravo!FACT grant
and the sponsorship of PS Production Services in Toronto. Becoming will compete as an Official Selection at the prestigious
CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto in June, 2009. Ayelen and I wrote, produced and directed this film together.
Becoming is the perfect example of what occurs when my creative world collides with Ayelen’s beautiful understanding of the
movement, color and shapes that compose each shot. So where do we go from here? I have to say, it’s hard having ideas about
justice and a world that looks to make humanity better when you’re a filmmaker. The easiest route to success in most fields
tends to stay away from these ideals, which are seen as threatening to the powers that be because they invite people to question
the so-called truths and past and present actions of those that govern us. But we need to find a better balance between the
inevitable change that existing provokes and the historical attempt to keep things the same. We need to understand ourselves as
creators and as human beings so that we can move forward with this new global society in an intelligent and respectful manner.
Creativity is one of the most beautiful gifts life has given us and as a creator, I feel I want to do that gift some justice by
projecting ideas into this world that are relevant and that matter…
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
03

THE “MAKING OF” A Grain Of Sand
Chance & Fate Are Often Confused
! Who can speak of all the factors that lead to any one event? One thing is certain, however… I began
this project with no experience in documentary filmmaking when chance blew in on a Sunday morning in a
newspaper I had never read before. And in
that newspaper, in the Sunday Special to be
more exact, was the article that introduced
me to Brendon Grimshaw.
The Island As A Microcosm
! I immediately knew I wanted to do
something with Brendon’s story. It
appealed to me on so many levels, and I saw
Moyenne Island as a beautiful and intricate
metaphor of our times, because it sits as
both a testament to the greatness of man
and an example of the dangers we face in a
voracious global economy that seems to have assigned a price to everything. It was a beautiful metaphor veiled
in the historical mystique surrounding lone men living on lone islands.
The Pitfalls of Commercial Creation
At the time I discovered the article, I
was busy preparing my first break in the
film industry, a tv-movie called Adrenalina
that involved explosions and special effects
and many opportunities to learn the more
p r o f e s s i o n a l / t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f
filmmaking. So I put the article about
Brendon aside, hoping to get back to it
soon, and dedicated my time and creative
energy to the commercial project I had
been hired to complete. Despite winning
numerous television awards and working
with great people, I finished Adrenalina somewhat disenchanted with the filmmaking process. I soon realized
that I cannot convince myself that something has value simply because I am asked to do it. I think this
realization really propelled me into making the documentary about Brendon Grimshaw. As if it were a matter
of penance, I took all the money I had made making the tv-movie and decided to try and make a documentary
about something I cared about.
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
04

THE “MAKING OF” A Grain Of Sand
The Beauty Of Purpose
! There is a moment in the documentary when Brendon explains that it would be easy to sell the island
and live a life of luxury for his remaining years, but that this notion simply doesn’t appeal to him. And the
reason it is of little interest to him is because he enjoys his life on the island and realizes that there is a greater
purpose to all the work he has accomplished. This summarizes perfectly the way I feel about my documentary
A Grain of Sand. We had very little money to make this film, $50,000 dollars to be exact, and no one was
paid for their collaboration. Instead, I offered them the opportunity to work on something I considered to
have purpose and beauty, in the hope that we would sell the project when it was finished and pay everyone for
the fruits of their labor. It is too early to say whether we will receive any financial recompense, but I assure
you that those of us who have worked on this project feel a sense of pride and accomplishment... And it is in
those found feelings that I have sincerely found my love for filmmaking, just as it was on Moyenne Island that
Brendon found his love for nature. Life is often about creating a framework around which we try to lead our
lives. Many people would have you believe that the framework by which we must live already exists the
moment we are born. I have learned through the making of this film and the life of Brendon Grimshaw that
this is not the case. Many of us are unhappy with the neoliberal system as a whole and are looking for ways to
change it. What those changes should be is part of a different debate. But when different people come
together to plant trees, make a film, or change the face of politics, you’d be surprised at what can be
accomplished. We celebrated Brendon’s 82 nd birthday on our last day in Seychelles with a sense of
accomplishment. I personally felt both wiser as a person and as a creator. Ultimately, I’m proud of what we
did, but cautious when giving any overarching value to the film itself. Once something is created, you can
only hope it takes on a life of its own, establishing connections with people you will probably never see or
know. If there is a ripple, I hope it travels far and wide.
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
05

Island Conservation Society
Brendon
Minister of Environment
Moyenne Foundation
Dr. Gerard Rocamora
Presidential Advisor
Dr. Rolph Payet
Katy Beaver
Joel Morgan
THE INTERVIEWS
President of Republic of Seychelles
James Michel
Nature Seychelles
Dr. Nirmal Shah
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
Grimshaw
Director of Nature Conservation
Didier Dogley
Seychelles Island Foundation
Lindsay Chong-Seng
Moyenne Foundation
Suketu Patel
Grande Anse
Public School
06

Director of Photography
Jaume Avizanda
Executive Producer
Ron Johnson
Music by
Rakesh Tewari
THE CREW
Producer / B&W Camera
Ayelen Liberona
Music by
Nic Murr
Sound by
Jordi Cirbián
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
Director / Producer
Joseph Johnson Camí
Camera Operator
Manel Capdevila
Guitar Music by
Matthew Maaskant
Piano Music by
Heather Schmidt
07

Brendon Grimshaw
PRESS & FESTIVALS
A Grain of Sand FESTIVALS & PRESS
Environmental
Film Festival
Articles about Brendon Grimshaw have been featured in dozens of major
newspapers (The Times, The Guardian, etc) around the world because of
Brendon’s own past as Editor in Chief of various newspapers. He has also
been featured on the BBC and the popular nature program Thalassa.
Brendon is available for telephone interviews and despite turning 84-years-old
this year, remains as lucid and vibrant as ever. He still lives on Moyenne Island
and gets up every morning to take care of the 109 giant tortoises, 2000 birds
and 16,000 trees he shares his life with. Please contact either Producer so that
we may help arrange the interview.
Contact Information:
Producer/Director
Joseph Johnson Camí
Producer
Ayelen Liberona
A Grain of Sand premiered at the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival on
May 19th, 2009 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Both Radio Network
and Radio Control interviewed the Director, Joseph Johnson Camí, about
the film and the issues discussed in the film. Radio New Zealand, an award
winning national radio, did a wonderful interview with Brendon Grimshaw.
Click here to hear interview...
*NOMINATED International Features Award
A Grain of Sand will be at the Globians Doc Fest in Berlin Germany in
August, 2009.
WebSites:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Wandering Eye Productions
wanderingeyeproductions.com
(Spain) +34 659 37 4032
joseph.johnson.cami@gmail.com
(Canada) +1 647 669 8973
ayelen.liberona@gmail.com
www.agrainofsandthefilm.com
www.wanderingeyeproductions.com
08