Catherine Filloux, Playwright and Librettist: Remembering is a Revolutionary Act—Honoring the Stories of Survivors
Art Heals All Wounds
03/15/23
•43m
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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
Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by writer Aimée Baker and filmmakers Vanessa Cicarelli and Jason Greer. Aimée is the author of Doe, an award-winning poetry collection in which she commemorates the lives of missing and unidentified girls and women in the United States. She is Vanessa and Jason’s full-length documentary about Aimée and her eye-opening work. With true crime podcasts and series topping the charts, I often wonder if we’re all becoming desensitized to the real-life horror of the subject matter. Doe and She have a more empathetic approach to the genre. Aimée, Vanessa, and Jason work to honor the victims, particularly those who don’t make front-page news.
In our conversation, we discuss the importance of making visible something that’s in danger of being forgotten or disappearing. Aimée, Vanessa, and Jason highlight the lack of attention and sympathy that missing BIPOC women receive, as well as challenge the narrative that girls and women are asking for trouble when they engage in certain behaviors considered as risky. We also get into details about both the writing and filmmaking processes. Aimée opens up about what inspired her to pursue these stories and how she took care of herself during such an emotionally challenging project. Vanessa and Jason share how they built trust with Aimée when she was hesitant about the film and what their overarching goals are for it.
Listen, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Using poetry to express possible parts of the story of missing and unidentified women in the United States
● Vanessa and Jason’s connection to Aimée’s work and why they wanted to make a documentary about it
● What Aimée discovered about the incredible bias about who does (and doesn’t) get media coverage when they’re missing or unidentified
● The range of emotions that all three artists experienced while engaging with these stories
● A deeply moving reading from Doe called “Dustland Fairytale”
Guest Info:
● Watch or Download She
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
Next Episode
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
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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