“All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.”
Beginnings
It’s safe to say, I have always been a film buff.
My mum likes to remind me of the time our TV broke when I was about 5 years old. “It doesn’t matter,” I said staring into the blank screen, “I can see the reflection of the garden outside in it!”
I grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand in a very creative house. My Dad was an artist, my mum a scientist and experimenting was encouraged. Between myself and my two sisters, worlds were created, table cloths were chopped up, barbies faces were wiped clean then repainted (terrifying), mud pies were made, songs were sung and instruments were played. The house was lively and full of joy. I was encouraged to approach all parts of my life with a sense of curiosity and play - and that is what I have done.
I was a bit of a lone wolf growing up. I had one or two close friends but was never a part of a “clique”. I loved spending time in the library or having a “sick day” to stay home and watch films. I remember my mum or dad would go out to the local “Video Ezy” and rent movies for me to watch. I would watch them all on repeat until they were due back. Favourite’s were The Swan Princess and BBC’s The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
It became apparent that I liked to spend time in other worlds and so I started to take up acting classes. I remember always wanting to be loud and outgoing but shyness always got the better of me. Slowly I gained some confidence and performed in a few school plays. It was thrilling being on stage and I definitely caught “the bug” eventually signing up to do a degree in Theatre and Film Studies at Canterbury University.
I had so much fun at Uni, and it was here I made life long friends. I spent all my time watching films, talking about films, making films, putting on shows and then, I guess writing an essay when I had to. During my second year of University I went to London to visit my Aunt and Uncle. And I knew. I knew I had to live there. I was drawn in by how OLD everything was, how many things there were to do. I felt so at ease and comfortable and returned to New Zealand with a plan.
In March 2013, I moved to the UK. I had one suitcase and a dream. I’m kidding, it wasn’t that romantic. I cried a lot. I missed my family a lot and I auditioned for many Drama Schools and didn’t get in. London lost a bit of it’s sparkle and it felt a bit like I was too.
I went back to New Zealand for a holiday and while out for coffee with my sister, bumped into Harry. Harry Knight. The Harry I had met when I was 15 and fell for. The Harry who, at 15, gently turned me down saying he was “too busy with his film career.” I don’t know if work got quiet for him, but we spent the month back home walking his dog, talking about David Lynch and going to gigs. When it was time for me to go back to the UK, Harry sent me a text. “Wanna be bf and gf?”
I arrived back in the UK feeling fresh and happy. Six months later Harry moved over and we began our adventures together. We supported each other through some amazing jobs and some not so great ones. We moved out of London and up to Edinburgh. We moved out of Edinburgh and down to Bristol. We travelled. We got married. And finally, we started Falling Films.
Falling Films is the culmination of all of our shared experiences in life. The things we love, the lessons we’ve learned and the skills we’ve developed.
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