Spent a few hours sitting with my Dad in Gosford hospital yesterday. He was much more together mentally than last weekend, but far more frail overall. At least we were able to have a chat.
Topics covered as he drifted in and out included. Forgiveness and regret. What constellation ‘heaven’ might be part of. About how it seems he decides on whether a film is good or bad by how much swearing there is in it. How big a mouse has to be before it’s a rat. And how his illness might be in some way related to the fact that no-one in the hospital will give him strawberry ice-cream (the only food he seems interested in).
Kind of pleasant in a weird way. And perhaps some of the better time I’ve spent with my Dad over the last decade or so.
Have finished editing my first two episodes (eps 1 & 3) of Puberty Blues today and tomorrow I head back out for another 15 days of shooting episodes 5 & 6.
I’m really happy with how the first two episodes have come together. The first introduces us to the world and the characters of Puberty Blues, set deep in the heart of mid 1970′s Cronulla, Australia. And Ep 3 takes us further into that world with Debbie and Sue, two teenage girls who are most definitely old enough to know better, yet to young too care!
Big thanks to my editor Deb Peart who very quickly tuned into our collective sensibility and approach to the show. As always I’ve really enjoyed the collaborative and explorative process of editing. I feel like we have made something really special here!
Tonight while having a break from the edit we watched an episode of Australian Story about the very different lives led by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey who wrote Puberty Blues (a truthful account of their teenage exploits growing up in Cronulla in the 70′s) The book was published when they were only 18 years old. Soon after the book was published they had a huge falling out and haven’t really spoken since.
While I understand that people can grow apart it seems strange that two friends that were so close and shared so much could not have spoken for over 30 years! Regardless I find their stories really fascinating. Especially Gabrielle who has had one incredible chapter after another.
I must say it breaks my heart to think that the Debbie and Sue in our version of Puberty Blues could ever ‘break up’ with each other. They are so beautiful onscreen together. And it’s been an absolute pleasure as a director bringing it to life on screen.
I can’t show too much from the shooting of Puberty Blues just yet… but here are some photos taken on set over the past few weeks. They kind of remind me of postcards.
I’ve just finished directing Episodes 1 and 3, I’ll edit them for few weeks and then head back out to shoot episodes 5 and 6. The wonderful Emma Freeman is currently out on the front line directing Episodes 2 and 4.
If there was a hand scribbled note on the back of each these ‘postcards’ it would read…
“I’m having an absolute ball! Wish you were here! x”
