Meeting at Hogarth Gateway Club Leads to Award Winning Film

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Joanne Bruce features in short film about a week in her life

Joanne Bruce in A Week In My Life

March 14, 2023

A short film that came about as a result of a friendship that developed at a Chiswick community centre has won an international award.

Joanne Bruce and Charlie Druce had met over 20 years ago at the Hogarth Gateway Centre which is an activities and social club for people with disabilities on Duke Road.

Joanne was born with cerebral palsy, which affects her coordination, muscle control and movement. She and Charlie decided to create the film as part of Hounslow Council’s Summer of Culture which ran between June and August 2022.

The festival encourage people in the borough to showcase the best musical, dance, drama, art, sports and fun. Joanne decided to document a week in a video produced by Charile but they had little idea that it would lead to international film success.

The 12-minute video, entitled A Week In My Life, chronicles Joanne’s day-to-day life - from working as a customer service representative at Boots, socialising at the Hogarth Gateway Club and enjoying a Tai Chi session, to simply getting out and about in the community and enjoying life.

The finished product was such a hit that it has been named the Best Documentary Short in the Los Angeles-based One Reeler Film Awards. It joined other winners in different categories from around the world, including the US, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Charlie said, “I’ve wanted to make a film with Joanne. She’s a wonderful, kind-hearted person. And funny, too. Her spirit and capacity for life are incredible. Meeting her shifted my mind about what a person with a lifelong disability could achieve. That’s the idea of the film. To give Joanne the chance to show us the extraordinary variety of things she gets up to, and in doing so, hopefully, change a few more minds.”

And the film’s star, Joanne, added, "It makes me very proud to talk about my life – my job, the Hogarth Gateway Club, my family. I wanted the film to show people what it’s like to live day to day with a disability. I want people to think before they speak. It’s great that the Council has supported this project.”

 

As part of the Summer of Culture programme, community members could apply for grants to create artistic contributions to the festival. Joanne and Charlie’s film was funded through one of the Summer of Culture grants.

Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities Councillor Shivraj Grewal said, “At its heart, the Summer of Culture was a celebration of all the people that make life in our borough so special. Joanne and Charlie’s film captures that spirit perfectly. This video also shines a light on the experiences of disabled people within our community and helps to foster greater understanding.

“The fact that this film has been recognised with a prestigious international award is a well-deserved accolade.

“Joanne’s enthusiasm and zest for life are inspirational. I would urge everyone to view A Week In My Life.”

Hounslow Council’s Culture Team are now looking for opportunities for the film to be shown on cinema screens in the borough.

As a legacy of the Summer of Culture, Hounslow Council’s Digital Festival of Storytelling is currently underway. It is a chance for residents of the borough to learn more about the art of storytelling through a series of online performances and workshops. The festival also offers the opportunity for people to submit their own video stories that will be added to a special festival archive.

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