Housewares companies have provided props for a short film, Ethel, about the real life experience of an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s. Three Wise Monkeys, the production company behind the project, visited Exclusively Housewares to ask for support. Among those helping out are: simplehuman, Auteur with Bobble, Microplane, Stasher, The DRH Collection and GreenPan.
Mike Holmes, director of The DRH Collection (which has provided ceramics from the brand BIA) said the company was delighted to support both the film and the cause. Mike notes: “We recently learned that the colour red in particular invokes hunger, so that is often used – or at least sought after – in care homes to encourage Alzheimer’s sufferers to eat. Equally, things with texture are important, as it makes them engage more with an item, hopefully picking up some food as they go along.”
The film’s co-producer Patricia Rybarczyk said that her production company had received a terrific response from the housewares industry. “I think it’s a subject matter that touches everyone,” she commented. “For any company who supports the project with product for on-set use or funding, we will be announcing that support using their logo across all of our social media – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – as well as an on the crowd-funding website Indiegogo and the film’s website www.ethelshortfilm.co.uk.”
Continued Patricia: “In addition, 10% of any money we raise towards the film will be going to www.BATFoundation.com which has developed a drug-free Alzheimer’s therapy that is centred on table tennis. It’s incredible and it really does make a difference to patients.”
Top: A short film, Ethel (which was filmed in August) relied on the generosity of the gift and housewares industry to provide props, including this teapot by BIA from The DRH Collection, used in this pre- production promotional image.
