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An Australian film, from an Australian book – if you live in Australia, that’s something to be celebrated.
In fact, I think the birth of every book and film should be the occasion for a party.
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| thanks to Meredith Costain for photo |
So on Thursday evening, the day that
Return to Nim’s Island opened in Victorian cities, actor Toby Wallace’s family and friends joined with mine at the beautiful Palace Westgarth for our own Melbourne ‘premiere’. And although there was no red carpet, lots of people got into the spirit and ‘frocked up’ – which must have surprised the people who simply turned up at their local cinema to see a movie.
What a lovely night. My only regret is that, thanks to Readings Books, I was so busy signing copies of The Nim Stories that I didn’t get a picture of the crowd in the lobby. (Just to be clear – I’d never regret signing books! Just wish I’d got a picture too.) Friends came from as far as Ballarat and Bendigo, Ocean Grove and Gippsland; friends from different periods in my life. My editor, Sue, whom I’ve worked with since 2000, and the editor for The Nim Stories, were both there. Editors are never honoured enough; it was lovely to sit with Sue as to watch the movie that she’s been nearly as excited about as I have.
Seeing the film in the darkness of a big cinema was a different experience from the fun of watching it outdoors on the inflatable screen at the Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum. Seeing it for the second time also meant I was less emotional and could watch it more logically - and liked it even more And so did the audience. The buzz going out was much stronger than going in, when people were simply happy to be celebrating with a friend.
Then some of the girls realised that Toby Wallace was in the audience. I don’t know what the word is for buzz to the power of 10, so I’ll share a text I received on the way home from a 13 year old friend.
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Relaxing afterwards with my lovely editor Sue
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'The movie was terrific. I loved everything. It was such an experience to meet Toby!!!!!!! All the girls loved it and there is non stop talk about Toby and Bindi.’
So I may have mentioned that Return to Nim’s Island had a lovely, fun red carpet launch at the Australia Zoo? And everyone knows that walking the red carpet needs a new dress. But until I had one made, I’d never realised how much dress design had in common with writing.
I went to
ArgyroGavalas for my dress, because five years ago I walked into her factory and immediately saw the dress I wanted for the Nim’s Island premieres, one at Sea World in Queensland, and the other at the Graumann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. (My husband claims he saw it first, but I’d spotted it too, and was simply finding a couple of others to try on, because I refused to buy the very first dress I saw for something like this.)
This time Argyro, better known as Roula, said she would design me one especially. She said it had to be the opposite of the first dress; blue instead of red, and a different material. When I went to see her, I could see that her thoughts were taking shape the way a story does in my head. The fabric was the character, the pattern the plot, and the style was the tone. We found the fabric that matched what she was thinking of. When I got home I dropped my sample onto my newly arrived copy of The Nim Stories, and saw that it also exactly matched the sea on the movie-poster cover.
Surprisingly quickly, she sketched out her design, measured all sorts of things –even in my rather fantastical fiction I have to get some basic facts right – and in the next days made a pattern. I returned for the completed first draft: the pattern stitched up in a white cotton. With the dressmaker, her mother Vicky, Roula pinned and measured, turning me around, standing back and considering.
It didn’t go to quite as many drafts as most of my books, but there was a second of the real material, cut, partially stitched and pinned in place as I wore it. Sleeves were altered, recut, repined. Then a third, which was like a copy edit: it was all put together, but there were final adjustments, a bit to unstitch and redo, a dart to adjust. Then trying it on for the final time, like receiving your brand new book in the mail, when it’s too late to alter but still private. And, like the gift of seeing that new book with the shiny cover looking so much more beautiful than I’d imagined, there was the gift of the tulle petticoat, almost a crinoline, to swish underneath the skirt.
It struck me then that for Roula, it was very much like my signing off on the last edits: I’ve done the very best I can with the words, but the illustrations, the cover, the overall design are out of my control. Once the designer hands over the dress, she has no control over the belt and accessories that one chooses, the mood, the posture.
But two days later I wore it on the red carpet it was intended for, and, like the test of reading a book aloud to an audience at a book launch, knew that it worked. I felt relaxed, happy, and totally myself – and although I never thought I’d say this about a dress, the experience added something to my life. Which is exactly what I hope my readers say when they explore my books.
If you hurry, you can still buy tickets for the Return to Nim's Island premiere on March 17 at Australia Zoo. What a wonderful place for it! (I've never been there before, so I'm especially excited. Okay, I'm excited about the whole event. Imaginary characters, no matter how much you love them, are not the same as your real children, but seeing the premiere of their movie is still a bit like seeing your child graduate.)
O
f course the zoo is also Bindi Irwin's home - no wonder she's so perfect for Nim.
The Nim Stories will hit Australian shops on March 20, but my publisher has kindly rushed copies to the Zoo's Crocoseum Boutique, and I'll be signing copies between 2:00 and 3:00. If you already have a copy of Nim's Island or Nim at Sea I'll be happy to sign those for you too.
Stay after dark at Australia Zoo for the RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND national movie premiere!
Join our very own wildlife warrior, Bindi Irwin, her co-star Toby Wallace and author, Wendy Orr on Sunday 17 March for the national premiere of RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND at Australia Zoo in our world famous Crocoseum!
The writer and producer of the smash hit NIM'S ISLAND brings you the much anticipated sequel RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND, featuring Bindi Irwin, in a wild ride filled with pristine beaches, exotic animals, dastardly pirates and all your favourite characters from the original. When Jack and Nim learn that the Buccaneer Resort Company has purchased Nim's Island, Jack heads to the city to convince the powers that be that the island is worth preserving while Nim insists on staying behind to try another way to save the island by proving that at least three endangered species live there. Nim soon finds Edmund, a young boy who has run away from home, hiding on her island as well as the pirate animal poachers that followed him. Before long, Nim and Edmund are in a battle of cunning and wits to rescue her beloved sea lion Selkie.
With Nim's know-how and Edmund's bravery, they are able to defeat the poachers and maybe even find the endangered animals that would allow Nim to stay on her beloved Island.
Inspired by the Nim’s Island series by author Wendy Orr, Return to Nim’s Island is sure to enchant audiences of all ages
*All times are subject to change. The movie is 90 minutes and will end by 8:00pm.
What a lovely night. My only regret is that, thanks to Readings Books, I was so busy signing copies of The Nim Stories that I didn’t get a picture of the crowd in the lobby. (Just to be clear – I’d never regret signing books! Just wish I’d got a picture too.) Friends came from as far as Ballarat and Bendigo, Ocean Grove and Gippsland; friends from different periods in my life. My editor, Sue, whom I’ve worked with since 2000, and the editor for The Nim Stories, were both there. Editors are never honoured enough; it was lovely to sit with Sue as to watch the movie that she’s been nearly as excited about as I have.
Then some of the girls realised that Toby Wallace was in the audience. I don’t know what the word is for buzz to the power of 10, so I’ll share a text I received on the way home from a 13 year old friend. 
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