The_Press_files/A Grain of Sand (EPK).pdf

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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
Page 2 and 3: Table Of Contents Synopsis 01 Brend
Page 4 and 5: BRENDON GRIMSHAW ! The Seychelle Is
Page 8 and 9: Island Conservation Society Brendon
Page 10: Brendon Grimshaw PRESS & FESTIVALS

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