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Me and Earl and the Dying Girl combines light-hearted humour and unique animated effects with a captivating cast that explores the complexities of life and death.

Relative newcomer Thomas Mann stars as Greg Gaines, an awkward, self-depreciating floater as he deems himself. Always floating around the edges of each social group, determined to get through his senior year at high school unnoticed with only his long-time friend and fellow film maker Earl Jackson (Ronald Cyler II) as his constant companion. But Greg soon learns that his classmate Rachel Kushner (Olivia Cooke) has been diagnosed with leukaemia and is forced by his parents to befriend her. After some hesitation and caution they slowly become friends.

Often compared to The Fault in Our Stars, Me and Earl and The Dying Girl takes the less romantic road and instead uses humour to create the meaningful relationships that are portrayed on screen. The relationship between Greg and Earl was one of the highlights in the film, with Earl’s bluntness combining well with Greg’s eccentricities.

I found that the use of animation was a quirky way to diffuse the tension and sadness in the film and allowed the audience to briefly see inside Greg’s overactive mind. The film also included intricate stop motion animation and live-action short films to represent Greg and Earl’s classic film parodies.

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl first started off as a book by Jesse Andrews which was published in 2012. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, the film won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The awards are no surprise, with constant humour mixed in with tender scenes, the film deserves all the praise it can get!

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Running Time: 105 minutes

Published on August 25, 2015 on West End Magazine

 

Trainwreck is a refreshing and entertaining romantic comedy, (emphasis on the comedy) about a modern day New Yorker who after being stuck in her promiscuous ways, finds herself having something that is completely strange and new to her, a real relationship.

As a young girl, it was drilled into Amy’s (Amy Schumer) head by her father (Colin Quinn) that monogamy isn’t realistic, a belief that she has kept to this day as a pseudo-adult leading a promiscuous dating life while working at a men’s magazine in New York City. Though when she gets assigned to interview a charming sports doctor (Bill Hader) she gradually gets the wakeup call that’s been long awaited.

The script was originally written by Amy Schumer herself with Judd Apatow serving as director. Who as a legend in the film-making industry is known for directing such awkward yet honest experiences of what life can be like in the modern day world. His hits include The 40-Year-Old-Virgin and Knocked Up and I have no doubt that he will be adding Trainwreck to his list of successes.

Amy Schumer played the character of Amy as well as one can when she based the character after herself, with her unpredictable behaviour and blunt humour you couldn’t help but laugh at her cheeky one liners. The movie also included other prominent actors and sports stars including Lebron James, John Cena, Tilda Swinton and an appearance from Daniel Radcliffe.

As it is a romantic comedy, it is somewhat predictable, but it sets itself apart from other clichéd rom-coms with its comedic value that had the audience laughing for most of the film. Though don’t be mistaken it’s not all laughs, as there were some tender moments scattered throughout the film that tugged at the heartstrings and rounded out the movie to one that comes close to being the perfect package.

Director: Judd Apatow

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Running time: 122 minutes

Words by Emily Facoory

Published on June 1, 2015 on West End Magazine

A few months ago the Nundah Community Enterprises Co-operative (NCEC), Espresso Train Cafe and Catering, won the Australian Small Social Enterprise of the Year Award.

It’s true – Nundah is well and truly out of the 4101 area. However, this is the kind of community story that we West Enders love, so if you are up and exploring Brisbane’s north side, make sure you pop in and grab a coffee at this wonderful cafe.

After establishing in 1998, Espresso Train has provided meaningful employment for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. The Australian Social Enterprise of the Year Award is designed to recognise social enterprises at different stages of their business cycle. To be considered they must be employing less than 20 full-time team members and have excellent vision and strategic direction among other qualifications.

The NCEC operates two branches, its Espresso Train Café and Catering Organisation and its Parks and Maintenance section. Employing around 20 people, they create on-going part-time employment.

“There is potential for people with particular skills to fit into business, rather than having a role which you ask people to fit into,” says President Morrie O’Connor.

“A lot of businesses exclude people with disabilities from general society. If you were creative you could actually look at how you design the work around the person.”

Steve Goodale is one of the main supervisors at the Expresso Train cafe, along with being a qualified chef, he teaches the employees how to cook, how to run the café and other life skills to build up their self-esteem.

“I’ve been working here for the past three years, before that I was a health food chef, so we try to integrate that into here and make sure that the constituents are eating healthy and living a fun lifestyle.

The best thing about working here is that everybody likes to be here, we’re like a big family, we have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously,” he said.

Prior to joining the co-op the employees usually experience long-term unemployment or very short term jobs that have only lasted two or three weeks.

Coordinator for NCEC, Richard Warner said, “we are probably close to an optimum size for doing this type of thing, we could grow a little bit but our interest is in supporting other groups to create their own community businesses which involve and include marginalised people.”

After winning the Social Enterprise of the Year Award Richard said that there has been a little bit more interest in the cafe.

“We’ve had a few more visitors down to the café and we’ve had other communities and groups of people interested in finding out about what we do, so they can do it themselves,” he said.

Published on October 8, 2015 on West End Magazine

 

The Brisbane French Festival was held at South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt this past weekend and consisted of an array of different stalls selling everything from French cuisine to French books, homewares, art and tours.

The festival started off on Friday night with the Paris Underground Cabaret where magic and illusions were performed along with burlesque and circus routines. The Air France Fashion show was held on both days showcasing French fashion designer Jérôme L’Huillier and fellow designer and muse Mette Pedersen’s eponymous fashion label.

There was an endless supply of French delicacies on display with never-ending queues where crowds sampled such treats as French éclairs, crepes, macarons and French pies.

The festival was also full of free entertainment throughout the weekend with magic shows, parkour and fencing demonstrations, street performers as well as dance and musical performances from the Brisbane Academy of Dance and The Hoo Ha Swing Ensemble among others.

Masterclasses where also on offer, allowing participants the opportunity to learn the proper setting of a table, a chance to taste and learn about the wines of Bordeaux and Loire Valley and the trick to matching French dessert wines with French cheeses. Also included was the Wine Pavilion which offered an impressive array of French wines from a variety of regions.

Kids were kept well entertained with a range of activities including pakour and fencing demonstrations, paper plane making, face painting and an educative tent where French stories where read and songs where sung.

The Wheel of Brisbane was also lit up for the occasion with the ferris wheel illuminating the evenings with the colours of the French Flag. The festival was a huge success with crowds loving being immersed in French culture.

Published on July 13, 2015 on West End Magazine

Kerry Schilling is Brisbane’s own wildlife warrior, rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife such as possums, kangaroos, wallabies and gliders. She has been an animal hero for more than 30 years and has launched her own wildlife centre, Kerry’s Wildlife Rescue and Care.

“The idea for Kerry’s Wildlife Rescue and Care first came around 15 years ago, my husband said to give it up, that it’s never going to work. But I said I’m going to make it work and here I am now,” she said.

At the moment Kerry is caring for around 10 animals but gets sent in more every day, “I work 24/7, feeding times are every three hours, right around the clock,” she said.

People can join the centre and learn courses that teach them how to become a carer. All of Kerry’s courses are onsite and cost only $10 for a 3 hour course.

“My goal for the future is to get as many carers as I can to understand our wildlife, they need our help. People need to stop chopping trees down, we don’t need too much development. The animals were here before us, if we don’t have wildlife, what’s this earth going to be like.

At the moment I have 16 carers and an ambulance driver who picks up animals that need rescuing, but we desperately need more carers and donations,” Kerry said.

For more information, you can contact Kerry Schilling on 0431 674 016 or visit Kerry’s Wildlife Rescue and Care Centre at 4 Reis Street, Woolloongabba.

Words by Emily Facoory | Images by Christian Anderson

Published on May 6, 2015 on West End Magazine

 

Brisbane’s iconic South Bank has just been listed on Queensland’s heritage register, which will now protect the area from plans for high rise development. This includes two 30-storey towers that were under plans to be built above the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the Queensland Museum.

Dr Steven Miles who is the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection said, “these buildings, widely recognised as a unique part of Brisbane’s skyline, are some of the most celebrated works of the late architect Robin Gibson. The listing ensures any changes to the Precinct remain true to the spirit of its original design. The Australian Institute of Architects’ nomination of the Queensland Cultural Centre attracted a record 1254 public submissions—the most received by the Queensland Heritage Council for a single nomination in the history of the Heritage Act.”

Council chair Peter Coaldrake said the listing did not prevent future appropriate development or expansion. “Times change, technology provides new opportunities and there has been an understandable level of anxiety that the listing not involve the building being frozen in time,” he said.

Designed by Architect Robin Gibson the buildings were made to draw the eye towards the river and establish the state’s cultural precinct. Other prominent Brisbane spots that were also in the new heritage listing include the Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, QPACand The Edge at the State Library of Queensland.

Published on June 16, 2015 on West End Magazine

 

Local mum and entrepreneur Tess Freund of Monkey & Mum has been seriously busy this past year. She’s opened a studio and shop here in West End, launched a Fair Trade Range with a women’s development group in India, and has now been nominated for the 2015 St George Banking Group AusMumpreneur Awards.

Monkey & Mum have created a unique recipe that nobody else seems to be using. They specialise in unusual and bespoke necklaces, designed for mums but which are also safe and entertaining for their babies.

“Mums can get a bit forgotten after the baby arrives, and that’s when they need to be noticed and celebrated the most,” says Tess.

Monkey & Mum’s new studio has a relaxed feel with a kid’s corner and a tea station. Tess’s commitment to celebrating mothers goes above and beyond with Monkey & Mum launching their Fair Trade Range earlier this year, created in conjunction with a women’s development group in Jaipur, India. The group is mostly mothers – women have been oppressed by gender inequality, social constraints, child marriage, lack of education or abject poverty. This range provided them with the skills, confidence and economic power to turn their lives around.

The nomination for the AusMumpreneur Awards, presented by The AusMumpreneur Network, recognises Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success. The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business.

“After my first son, I tried to return to my job part time as previously arranged, but managers had changed, and earlier agreements went out the window” says Tess. “Working for myself means a lot of hard work and late nights, but it also means I get to pick my kids up from school, and I love that!”
At times it can be challenging to raise a family whilst running a successful business but Tess has proven that it is an achievable goal. “You will face so many obstacles – money will run out, ideas will fail again and again, and people will doubt and criticise you. If you can dream big though, believe in yourself and follow your heart, you’ll have the perfect recipe for success!”

Published on August 4, 2015 on West End Magazine

 

The Melbourne Cup Trophy was welcomed to Brisbane last Thursday with a full day of celebrations hosted by Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland. A community breakfast, tour of the local health precinct and corporate luncheon provided the Brisbane community with a chance to experience the magic of the $175,000, 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup Trophy.

Coinciding with MIFQ’s 30th birthday, the event also helped create an avenue to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community and the role MIFQ plays in supporting people. Indulge had the opportunity to speak with the owner of The Hat Box, Dale Olsson who donated two hats to be auctioned off at the event.

Dale Olsson has been the owner of the Hat Box in the Brisbane Arcade for the past 11 years, pursuing her love of hats and racing after being a high school teacher. The hats that Dale auctioned off at the event included a ladies yellow wide brimmed hat that went for $350 and a man’s Akubra hat. According to Dale, big hats are on the agenda for the upcoming racing season along with every shade of pink and cobalt blue.

“For the last few years at Melbourne Cup time we’d be wearing little hats that you call perches, but I’m finding that this year the trend has been towards big hats again. So we’ve made quite a few large brimmed hats and they do look beautiful, they’re reminiscent of Gone with the Wind and all those lovely feminine romantic styles,” she said.

Dale has 15 milliners from all over Australia that make exclusive, original designs for The Hat Box and with many of her clients entering fashions in the field they want their hats to be one of a kind. Over the 11 years that she’s owned the brand, Dale said that one standout experience was making the hat for Anna Bligh when the Queen came to town.

Her golden tip for wearing a hat to the races is to never take it off and to make sure it’s well anchored on and bobby pinned in place. “There’s nothing worse than having it fall off,” she said.

Published on October 5, 2015 on Indulge Magazine

 

Armi Alive! is an insightful and striking film that shows the trials and tribulations of one of Finland’s best known female entrepreneurs. The Finnish movie revolves around the portrayal of a theatre company performing a play about Armi Ratia’s life. Armi Ratia was the founder of the Finnish clothing and textile company Marimekko in 1951, based in Helsinki, the company is best known for its brightly coloured printed fabrics and classic styles. The film focuses on the years between 1949 and 1968. Revolving around Marimekko’s initial formation, its international success and Armi’s frequent rocky relationship with the company. A complex character, Armi was headstrong, bold, feisty and did anything to get what she wanted, often resorting to extreme lengths. The actress who played Armi, Minna Haapkylä, fully immersed herself into the role, to the point of struggling with the contradiction of Armi’s personality and temperament. The movie often switched perspectives from the actors performing the play to them and the director sitting around and discussing the film in between rehearsals. I found it created insight and gave a unique perspective from both angles. The concept of filming the theatre company acting out Armi’s life added an interesting and unique dimension. Though I found that the overall structure of the film was often confusing at times especially when the scenes shifted from the actual play performance to the cast talking. The production design was quite simplistic but could be forgiven seeing as the film benefited from concentrating on the beautiful prints and clothing.

There were also charming dance numbers throughout, portraying the clothes in an entertaining way instead of a plain runway show. There was a brief case of nudity and the purpose behind it was unclear but other than that the film was relatively tame. By seeing both sides of Armi, the loving side she showed towards her employees and the reckless side she cultivated through drinking and spending large amounts of money really showed a diverse perspective of this incredible and striking woman. The film allows people to gain insight into the struggles and successes of being an entrepreneur and the way in which they defined Armi and made her become one of the greatest entrepreneurs in Finland.

 

Published on July 24, 2015 on Indulge Magazine