On Sunday March 3 Writing NSW had our first Talking Writing event of 2019 with author Marele Day (Lambs of God, The Sea Bed) and screenwriter Sarah Lambert (Love Child, A Place to Call Home, Love My Way) discussing how Lambs of God was transformed from page to screen, facilitated by Suzanne Leal.
It was a true pleasure listening to these two outstanding writers speak so eloquently about everything from the struggles of the writing process to current issues like feminism, equality and how one can reclaim their own self-narrative.
Have a listen to find out why Sarah thought it was so important for modern audiences to see this 1997 classic on their television screens.
Lambs of God the television series will be released through Foxtel later this year.
Check out some of our Live Tweets from the event below.
“It’s not based on anywhere, but it became so real that I feel like one day in my travels I’ll be somewhere and I’ll go, that’s it.” – Marele Day on how real the setting for her novel, Lambs of God felt, despite being imagined. The power of building worlds! #TalkingWriting
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019
Sarah said making Lambs of God into a screenplay was such a challenge she almost gave up but she loved it cause of the strong feminist themes & felt now was the time to tell this story, so she overcame her fears and decided to give everything into telling it. #TalkingWriting
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019
“Once we tell the truth about things, we get to move on and write a new history for ourselves, and that felt to me what the truth of this piece is” – Sarah on the way Lambs of God brings to light traditionally repressed narratives #TalkingWriting
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019
Sarah -I always loved this idea of when they become nuns they cut their hair &it’s woven into their robe & it symbolises their story, it’s always with them. Then this priest comes in &they take his hair from him, & force him to knit his hair &reconsider what his story is..
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019
Sarah believes Lambs of God offers a hopeful outlook on society & what it could become, “if we own these stories..you can remake yourselves if we tell the stories right.” #TalkingWriting
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019
“I wanted to keep being bold & for us to examine if we get shocked by it, why we get shocked by it.” – Marele on including confronting images in her narrative
— Writing NSW (@writingNSW) March 3, 2019