A Birth Mother Heals Through Her Creative Life in Film: Vivien Hillgrove and her upcoming documentary 'Vivien's Wild Ride'
Art Heals All Wounds
03/22/23
•49m
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Today, I’m joined by legendary film and sound editor Vivien Hillgrove to discuss her upcoming documentary, Vivien’s Wild Ride.
After being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that blurs central vision, life as Vivien knew it completely shifted. Her experience losing her eyesight transported her back to the confusion and isolation she felt as a pregnant teen who was persuaded into giving her daughter up for adoption. In Vivien’s Wild Ride, she explores how secrets and sadness shape our lives and the freedom that’s available when we finally release that shame.
Vivien describes how she’s been grappling with the reality of losing her sight, which is one of the most crucial senses that filmmakers rely on. After the initial shock and adjustment, Vivien has discovered that her loss of sight provides a unique perspective on blindness both as a condition and a metaphor.
In our conversation, Vivien brings us back to one of the darkest periods of her life and talks about how her introduction to filmmaking brought her out of it. She shares stories of how her film community embraced and empowered her to live her truth and express it through art. Vivien’s Wild Ride expands our understanding of loss, love, and healing.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Vivien’s main motivation for creating a memoir documentary
● The three stories that unfold in Vivien’s Wild Ride
● Vivien’s description of the ascent into creativity and Charles Bonnet syndrome, a condition that causes visual hallucinations
● Processing grief and trauma through art
● What Vivien hopes the audience will take away from Vivien’s Wild Ride
Guest Info:
● Vivien's Wild Ride on Facebook
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● Art Heals All Wounds Newsletter
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Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by award-winning artist, playwright, and librettist Catherine Filloux to discuss how she explores the intersection of social justice and theater in her work. In our conversation, Catherine expands on the stories that have captured her heart and informed her career, including the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and the Dirty War in Argentina. Where Elephants Weep is a rock opera that follows the love story of two Cambodian-Americans who return to their homeland. Catherine outlines the expansive research that she and composer Him Sophy did to bring this story to life and explains why she’s dedicated to exploring the generational impact of the Khmer Rouge regime. Because the play was banned after it was broadcast for the first time on Cambodian national television, Catherine and Him Sophy are updating and relaunching it next year. Catherine’s also working on a one-woman play about the extraordinary life of visual artist and activist Claudia Bernardi. Catherine gives an overview of what we can expect from How to Eat an Orange and why she was inspired to pursue this story. We also discuss the potency of storytelling in the theater, especially as we’ve been driven towards screens and experiencing art alone. Catherine leaves us with an inspiring message about her passion for honoring survivors' stories and highlights why it’s revolutionary to remember.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Catherine’s early introduction to theater and what sparked her interest in playwriting
● An honest look at the United States’ complicity in international conflict
● Why Where Elephants Weep was banned in Cambodia
● The deep impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on Cambodian arts and tradition
● Using the theater as a setting to honor the victims and survivors of human rights violations
Guest Info:
● Catherine's Website
● Catch Where Elephants Weep on Broadway on Demand through April 22, 2023
● Stay updated about the premiere of How to Eat an Orange at La MaMa
Follow Me:
● My LinkedIn
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
● Art Heals All Wounds Newsletter
Next Episode
Today, I’m joined by Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea, aka La Doña, to discuss the inspiration and meaning behind her “Femmeton” music.
As a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator from The Mission in San Francisco, CA, La Doña’s music draws on many of the social-political issues of her neighborhood. From women's empowerment and trans-inclusivity to gentrification and climate anxiety, she offers an honest look at her life as a young, queer, Latinx person in the Bay Area.
La Doña brings an intentional femme perspective to the typically misogynistic themes of reggaeton. In our conversation, she walks us through two songs: Cuando Se Van and Nada Me Pertenece. She also opens up about the pressure that so many Bay Area musicians experience and factors that ultimately drive them out of the city. But despite those challenges, Cecelia is dedicated to continuing to show up for her community and keep her culture alive.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● The inspiration behind La Doña’s music and lyrics
● How gentrification has disrupted the cultural fabric of many Bay Area communities
● Challenging the narrative that musicians need to move to LA to be successful
● How La Doña and other Bay Area artists work to maintain space for their culture
● Experiences that have informed Cecelia’s songwriting process
Guest Info:
● Nada Me Pertenece Music Video
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
● Art Heals All Wounds Newsletter
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