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The Day We Met Oprah
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After losing his iPhone on an Air Canada flight, Philip arrived at his destination only to discover his bags weren’t there. Jet lagged from getting back to Vancouver from Mumbai five days earlier, Nimisha boarded the cheapest flight she could find to Sundance, which meant long delays and over eight hours of travel (a direct flight to Utah takes only two hours but is double the price!). So after a very crazy day of traveling and major costs we reached our hotel room (only $400/night) and began our incredible Sundance Film Festival experience in Park City, Utah. And man, was it worth it!!!
Phil, Nimisha and OPRAH at the Rocco/OWN party at Sundance Film Festival.
We found out last year that 65_RedRoses was going to have its US television debut on the Oprah Winfrey Network(OWN). Rocco Films, the company that acquisitioned our documentary, threw an intimate party to celebrate the first installment of films to play as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club. While we were excited to be invited to the launch event, it didn’t register just how big of a celebration this would be for the filmmakers and their documentaries, until about an hour into the evening.
Firstly, we chatted with Rosie O’Donnell, who is as friendly and engaging as she is hilarious! She is incredible and totally obsessed with documentaries! When we introduced ourselves, she knew who we were because she had already screened “65_RedRoses”. She has a special connection with the film because her nephew has Cystic Fibrosis. On top of her own show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” which will be launching on OWN, she’ll also be hosting a post-show special after each documentary. She loved “65_RedRoses” and was really supportive of the film’s message.
Nimisha, ROSIE, and Phil at Sundance.
The night rolled on and familiar faces like Geena Davis and Forest Whitaker strolled about the room. Suddenly an announcement was made for us to gather around the small stage, where a reserved table for “65_RedRoses” was waiting for us. Before we even realized what was happening, “Mama O” entered the room and the party shifted from excitement to full on hysteria! Now we don’t normally get star-struck, but this was one of those moments where we felt like every filmmaker in the room totally let loose! We couldn’t believe that OPRAH (the queen of television) was standing just a few feet away from us. After watching her on TV for over twenty years, OPRAH was telling US how excited she was to have our film on her network. INSANE!!! We both immediately thought of Eva, how she would’ve felt to know that our little Canadian documentary had come this far. As Oprah spoke, behind her a huge big television screen displayed our poster, and the beautiful and determined face of Eva appeared, bright red hair glowing. Eva had always dared to dream big, and now everything we had worked so hard for, was actually becoming a reality. In that moment, as we stood there and celebrated the film’s success, we knew our friend Eva was with us.
When it actually came time to meet Oprah, it was a complete blur to us. We thanked her for inviting us to be involved in this exciting milestone for doc programming.
So there it is! Our photo with Oprah! We did it Eva…we did it.
We also met an amazing young man named Joey Borgogna, who works with the Creative Visions Foundation and has a project with OWN. Joey was a living donor for a girl named Brandy who had Cystic Fibrosis, and donated a lung to her.
Meeting Joey was a reminder to us of why we made this film in the first place. The film is dedicated to all the all the incredible donors out there who have given the gift of life, and the many people who are still waiting on the transplant list for a chance to live out their dreams.
Love, love, love,
Phil and Nimisha
65_RedRoses Benefit Concert & Sundance Festival
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It’s been almost one year since our beloved Eva lost her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. To mark the anniversary, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Vancouver Chapter) and the Massey Theatre are hosting a benefit concert on February 11th. (Facebook Event)
Local musicians include headliner Dan Mangan, who provided the closing credits song to Markvoort’s award winning film, as well as The Zolas, Hannah Georgas and Corrina Corrina – all of whom are performing for free! Tickets to the event are $34 (purchase here) and all proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Eva’s name.
You can also read up on how to win tickets from #hummingbird604 here.
Many will gather to celebrate her love and legacy at this event and we hope you can all make it.
Related press: Shore 104.3 fm, New Westminster News Leader, hummingbird604, Vancouver is Awesome, Georgia Straight
In other news, Nimisha and Phil are on their way to Sundance for a week of PR for the Oprah Winfrey Network – 65_RedRoses has been chosen for Oprah’s Documentary Club and will broadcast on OWN in the spring. Stay tuned for more news and thanks again for your love and support!
Happy Holidays!
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Eva loved Christmas! She loved searching for the perfect tree, making hand made cards and gifts, and singing Christmas carols. Even though she was struggling with chronic rejection at this time last year, she still gathered all her family and friends around her bed at home, and hosted an online fundraising event for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. See the video here!
Her approach to life was that if you’re ever feeling sad or down the best solution is to do something nice for someone else. A simple, but powerful lesson that stays with us even now.
So in the spirit of celebrating life, love and friendship, we want to thank you all for your continued support of Eva’s movement for organ donation and CF awareness. If you’re searching for a new year’s resolution we hope you will consider registering to become an organ donor, or encourage others to do so. If you’re looking for a worthy charity please donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Canada or America. They have a number of events going on throughout the year, and in Eva’s hometown there is going to be an amazing benefit concert on February 11th featuring Dan Mangan (For Tickets and Information Click Here!)
Eva made every breath count, and we’re going to make every screening, every dvd sale and every broadcast of 65_RedRoses count. 2011 is going to be an amazing year, as Eva reaches American audiences for the first time on the Oprah Winfrey Network and shares her message of hope.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to sharing more updates with you in the new year! Thanks for all the love.
Nimisha and Phil
Directors of 65_RedRoses
SHARE THE BEAT!
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Hi Everyone! It’s Phil Lyall here, co-director of 65_RedRoses, writing you from Toronto!
2011 is already shaping up to be a very exciting year for 65_RedRoses. On top of the Oprah announcement, I wanted to share some developing news regarding the films outreach in the fundraising community.
I recently spoke with Jamie Redford (son of Robert Redford) who is Founder and President of The James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the need for organ and tissue donation through film, educational outreach and the web. Jamie founded the organization in 1995, two years after receiving a liver transplant. He recently watched 65_RedRoses with his wife and was deeply moved by Eva and her story. It obviously brought him back to his own experiences waiting for transplant. One powerful moment that stuck out to him was the scene where Eva is about to go under for surgery and she whispers “I love everyone so much”. He remembers being in that exact moment and thinking this may be his last breath. He might never wake up again and that shook Mr. Redford to the core.
Jamie and Eva share an obvious link because they are organ recipients but they also encountered organ failure . A week after Jamie received a new liver, it began to fail and the doctors put him back on the list for a second transplant. Like Eva, he went back to the organ donation waiting game, getting sicker every day and feeling like “the clock was really ticking”. Miraculously, another donor was found and, this time, the transplant was a complete success. Inspired by his life-saving transplant, he produced an award-winning HBO documentary, The Kindness of Strangers (1998), that integrated the stories of transplant recipients and the families of the organ donors who lost their loved ones. Even though Eva never received her second transplant, she always said that the two years she was given to live “fully” with her new lungs was the greatest gift she had ever received. Now that Eva is gone, her legacy and her message of organ donation awareness lives on and Jamie is eager to spread her voice and influence to further audiences.
Jamie has invited 65_RedRoses to be part of an event called “Share the Beat”. It benefits the American Society of Transplantation (AST) – www.a-s-t.org and the Redford Animaction Project: It’s a RAP! www.redfordanimactionproject.com. It is an evening that celebrates the hope in transplantation by using the power of music and storytelling to raise awareness and funds for the transplant community. Clips from 65_RedRoses will be screened at the event (along with a few other films) as well as a speaker close to Eva’s story will be in attendance.
The event is in early 2011 in San Francisco. Tickets and scheduled date will be announced in the next few months. If you are interested in attending the event and supporting transplant awareness please bookmark this site and check in regularly for updates:
As well, we’ll be sure to keep you up to date on any further developments regarding “Share the Beat”.
Thank you Jamie for your incredible on-going efforts in spreading transplantation awareness and thank you for including 65_RedRoses to help further the cause in the US!
All the best everyone!
Phil 😉
65_RedRoses picked up by Oprah Winfrey’s Documentary Club!!!
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IT’S FINALLY HAPPENED!!! 65_RedRoses is going to have it’s American broadcast premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network!!!
Phil and I are so proud of our entire team, especially Eva, whose unconditional love and support is what made all of this possible. From the very beginning she recognized the importance of reaching a global community and in our final conversations together she spoke about how much she wanted the film to reach her American friends and supporters. And now, for the first time, they will be able to see a new, updated version on OWN!!!
Read Article: OWN SMELLS ROSES WITH DOC PICK UPS
Meg and Kina – can you believe it? You’re finally going to be able to see the film on American TV!!!
We will keep everyone updated on air dates and American press as we get closer to the premiere. A special thanks goes out to the wonderful Chuck Braverman, who immediately extended his help to us when we approached him about taking 65_RedRoses to the US. We thank Force Four Entertainment, our producers, crew, friends and family for always believing in this project.
To Bill, Janet, Annie and Hunter, we thank you for all the love.
EVA!!! YOU ALWAYS TOLD US TO THINK BIG!!! WE DID IT!!! American broadcast coming up in 2011 girl!!!
Love,
Nimisha
Knowledge Broadcast of Full Version
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Hello Friends! We are so excited and happy about the Knowledge Broadcast of 65_RedRoses at 9pm on November 16th in Canada!!! They are airing the full version, along with an update I recorded a couple of months ago.
This fall has been a time full of remembrance for me, it’s strange to think about how much has changed in a year. Last November we were watching the world premiere broadcast of the film with Eva at Vancouver General Hospital. It was an incredible night, Eva turned the premiere into a giant pajama party and Dr. Yee even stopped by on his break to see us all gathered around the TV. I know that everyone’s downloading shows and movies these days, but I really can’t tell you how exciting it was as a director to see Eva’s story on television for the first time, and know that across Canada people flipping through channels could tune in and watch the film in their homes.
I hope that we reach a lot of viewers tonight, especially in BC, Eva’s home province. If you’re visiting our campaign site for the first time, our mission is to increase the number of organ donors in Canada. So on behalf of the 65_RedRoses team we hope that you will consider taking ten minutes to register online through this site and give the gift of life.
If you wish to make a financial contribution please donate to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – their researchers are working very hard to find a cure for CF.
Love, love, love and love some more! That’s what our girl Red wanted.
Cheers from Mumbai,
Nimisha
Co-Director/Producer 65_RedRoses
Geminis in Toronto!
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Hello!
Hope everyone out there is doing well.
I stopped in Toronto for my very first Geminis, and it was a total rush to be nominated with so many great filmmakers. Phil and I met up at the Coolhaus, which is normally a concert space. The thing I love about Toronto is that the industry there is full of consummate professionals. It was a beautifully set up and really well organized event. While Phil and I were both a bit disappointed that we didn’t win (major congrats goes out to the filmmakers behind Reel Injun) I can honestly say it was just amazing to be there. For the first time I felt like I was really a part of the Canadian film and television community, and that the work that I helped to create was acknowledged by all of my peers. This year we’ve had some incredible screenings in a ton of cities around Canada and the United States. We’ve even been lucky to win some amazing awards, which is always fun. But really, the best part has been receiving comments or messages from people who have been touched by Eva’s story. When I think back on the whole experience, it’s hard to believe that we did it. We made a film. And that’s enough to make anyone feel like a winner.
Phil and I with the awesome George Stroumboulopoulos (Gemini winner and host of The Hour).
65_RedRoses meets The Tudors
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At the taping of the Urban Rush interview yesterday I met a wonderful Canadian actor named Torrance Coombs, who is breaking hearts (and getting his head chopped off) on shows like The Tudors and Heartland.
In the spirit of Halloween he brought along the prop head that was molded for him on The Tudors, where he played Thomas Culpepper. I didn’t realize that fake heads heads don’t just look authentic for the camera, they FEEL life-like. The outer layer was like touching cold dead skin.
I’ve been meaning to catch up on a few missed TV shows, and The Tudors is definitely on that list! For more info on Torrance click on: Tudors Torrance Coombs
My interview on Urban Rush and Torrance’s can be seen at: www.shawtv.com
Nimisha on Urban Rush on Oct 28th
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Last month one of the producers of Urban Rush (an entertainment talk show here in Vancouver) called to ask if I was available to come in for an interview to talk about the Gemini nomination. We never got a chance to be on Urban Rush with Eva while we were promoting the film at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2009, so I was excited when Laura (the producer) invited me to be on the show.
She also said they’d really like to promote the cause attached to the film so I’m excited to talk about 65_RedRoses as well as spread awareness about the movement that we are slowly building around organ donation in Canada and the US. For anyone in Vancouver the interview should air three time on Oct.28th (5pm, 7pm and 11pm) as well as at noon on Friday Oct.29th.
Only a few days left before heading to Toronto! So much to do! Still have to talk to our brilliant animators over at Sequence about creating new online pages for the new updated version of the film.
Peace & Love,
Nimisha
Between Two Lungs
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Today marks three years since Eva got her double lung transplant and took her first breaths at a new life.
In the years following her life-changing transplant Eva would celebrate by throwing an annual birthday party for her lungs. First birthdays warrant a room full of friends, good music and lots of cupcakes, and no one loved a party more than Eva. By the fall of 2008 she had broken down any director-subject wall I had attempted to put up before. She welcomed me into her life as a friend and I realized for the first time what transplant had really done for her. With healthy lungs, she was free to be her true self, and the person I saw in front of me was totally different from the one that I had been filming for months in a hospital room. This Eva had fire red hair, and was an unstoppable force.
I got an email last night from Eva’s mom and she wrote: “remember where you were three years ago today?”. It’s funny how October 23rd and 24th 2007 are dates that will forever stay in my heart. I remember Eva’s pager going off, and her reaction – total disbelief mixed with pure happiness. For those of you who have seen the film, we often get asked by people if the scene is real – how were we there? Is Eva acting?
No one can fake a reaction like getting The Call. It was chaos. Hand shaking, heart pounding, chaos.
Philip, who co-directed the film was the one shooting that day and I still can’t figure out how he managed to stay in focus and keep his hands steady while I held onto the boom and prayed that the camera battery wouldn’t die or that the tape wouldn’t run out. After the pager went off, it was 36 hours of non-stop filming.
While transplant is not a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (my hope is that one day soon a cure will be found for this terrible disease) what transplant did for Eva was give her more time. I recently interviewed her parents for an updated version of the film, and when I asked Eva’s dad how he felt about organ donation, without hesitation he responded, “transplant worked for Eva.” As Eva said herself, in an interview with David Kincaid for CTV news during the Vancouver International Film Festival last year, “It was better to have breathed and lost than to have never breathed at all.”
When Eva was diagnosed with chronic rejection and put back on the wait list last fall, I didn’t doubt that she would get another set of lungs. A few months earlier we had gone to see a play with her friends and she had met someone who was living with only one lung. I remember her saying that she could manage fine if she was given just one functioning lung. The last time I saw her I remember her saying that the previous night she had come close to death. She remembered coming to consciousness and her arms waving as if she were swimming. She said she had felt as if she was drowning, but at the time she wasn’t ready to go.
I never think about what would have happened if Eva’s pager had gone off a second time. What I think about is the time that I got to spend with her before she left. Whenever I see anything beautiful now, I take a moment to just breathe in deep, and let the love take over.
