Produced By Hugh Welchman
Also stars Lang Lang
Heather Graham plays a MOTHER? Ok, the Hollywood favourite who you’ve seen in movies like Austin Powers, Rollergirl, and Hangover takes on a role of a mother of two children in Hugh Welchman’s latest movie The Flying Machine…a beautifully movie composed around the etudes of Chopin co-starring the world famous pianist Lang Lang. What is meant to be an introduction to the world of classical music and the celebration of Poland’s musical son, The Flying Machine takes families on a journey through the eyes of a young girl.
Graham loved the idea of playing a mother in a family film. UrbanMoms was invited to a private media interview with Graham to discuss her foray into the genre of family films. She was approached by Welchman to play this part of a busy single, working mother who has two young children. Graham admits to not knowing too much about Chopin prior to reading the script but loved the fresh approach to the film. She herself had taken piano lessons as a young girl “I took lessons but I never did it well”, says Graham. “This opportunity opened up a new appreciation for classical music for me.”
Being a fan of Lang Lang myself, I asked Graham what it was like working with him, the classical darling known around the world.”Lang Lang is remarkably talented. You can ask him to play any classical piece from any composer and he would just start playing…he truly loves classical music”. I wondered if Lang Lang would listen to anything else other than classical, say hip hop, during down times? “Uh..no, he’s always listened to classical. It’s his passion”, says Graham with a laugh.
“[Heather Graham] is a great draw and a wonderful actress..she did a lot of research and is going through that process of discovering the music, which was good because that’s the process her character was going through”, says producer Hugh Welchman, who was also present at the only Canadian screening.
This movie is made in two parts — stop motion and live action inside a stop motion world. Welchman (Oscar winner for Peter and the Wolf) brought together 13 independent directors to string together 22 shorts composed by Chopin to carry through the story of a young girl in search of her father. She discovers an old piano, which transforms into a Flying Machine. Welchman admits that he knew very little about classical music when the Poland’s Minister of Culture approached him to create a movie in celebration of Chopin’s 200th anniversary. Welchman’s vision was to lead the movie by music…often the movie scores are done after the film is created. “Chopin’s music didn’t have a narrative and not only that, he wasn’t even inspired by anything tangible that you can hang a story on – his music isn’t inspired by any famous legends…or a special place”, says Welchman. With the movie score lead by world-famous pianist Lang Lang, the audience is transported through the story by music and the emotions that lead them. The only way I can describe this movie is its sense of clarity in sound and movement. It’s truly a beautiful journey with Chopin that pleases even the littlest ears.
she’s so beautiful!!!