Banter with Bruce Beresford (+ Name Dropping Central)
5 December 2007, 20:07
By virtue of the fact that I manage a stack of graduates (oh the glory days of having 7 Gen Ys on my books) I was invited to the Graduate Close Event at work. In particular, I finagled (speeling wot?) a spot at the presentation by Li Cunxin, who’s name I am certainly unable to pronounce but who wrote “Mao’s Last Dancer”. He was frikkin’ amazing – his story drove me to well up on several occasions (just a wee bit of dust in me peepers, thank you, graduates) and everyone was enthralled for over an hour.
His book is being made into a film next year, and the Director, Bruce Beresford (if you say you don’t know who the F Bruce Beresford is, then, my friends, you are either UN-Australian or a Gen Y and if so, what the hell are you doing reading this sanctimonious, indulgent excuse for a blog, hmmmmm?). I left straight after Li’s talk and happened across Bruce in the lift as he was exiting the building.
Now, I’m not starstruck in the least, but Bruce is an amazing director and I love his work. He is one of the Holy Trinity of Aussie Directors, along with Peter Weir and Phil Noyce, I don’t care what you say. But I forget I’m a film and drama student working in a BANK so couldn’t really expect anyone in said BANK to know who Bruce was, so my name dropping spiel fell on deaf and uncaring ears. Sigh.
Permanent Link | - Good blog Kim, back on the money! Yes, the Chinese dancer dude grew up in Coco’s hometown (and my adopted Chinese hometown) Qingdao! I wonder if they’ll film it there? The German castle that Mao stayed in is literally around the block from Coco’s parents house, his bedroom is untouched since he last slept in it! It’s funny I was reading all about his family in the book, the mad grandmother who wont stop cleaning, his Australian wife who went to live in Qingdao and got sick from the food, yes quite a few similarities!!! I’d better get writing my own China book and stop stuffing around on the internet!
— Nick Dec 7, 02:05 AM #
