Photos in the Attic makes THE TODAY SHOW
Donna had a wonderful opportunity to tell the Photos in the Attic story on national Television. The journey continues!
Check it out at
https://youtu.be/H-FmYOrxd_s
Donna on the Today Show
Donna had a wonderful opportunity to tell the Photos in the Attic story on national Television. The journey continues!
Check it out at
https://youtu.be/H-FmYOrxd_s
Donna on the Today Show
A new Lost Digger of Vignacourt has been identified! .
As everyone knows our time in Vignacourt was so exciting this year. The photos and videos show it all! In fact our last day was extra wonderful as we were able to discover a previously unknown soldier in the Lost Digger collection!
Through an incredible coincidence with Photos in the Attic movie director Franco di Chiera and a personal friend of his, Tobin Saunders we were able to discover that Private Harry Saunders, Tobin’s grandfather had in fact been in Vignacourt at the time of the announcement of the 1918 Armistice and had his photo taken with other soldiers as well as being photographed in the Vignacourt town square on the 11th November.
This is the only photo in the collection that now has an identified digger in full view with hundreds of other soldiers!
He is also pictured in the garage entrance to the Thuillier barn.
Harry was an Observer as identified by Tobin’s dad William Saunders who turned 90 on the day of the discovery.
William and his brother Norman also have rare and unique photos sent home from Vignacourt . There are very few of these that are in existence.
We are going to be speaking with Tobin Saunders from Ballina and his dad William and Uncle Norm very soon to see if we can piece together even more information about this incredibly exciting find.
Our Director Franco di Chiera said, “I’d become familiar with Thuillier’s photographs through Donna and Michael’s amazing research for our movie. Because of that, I was able to recognise the photos Tobin had posted on social media for this year’s ANZAC Day, honouring his grandfather Harry Saunders.” Franco's find gives him real insight and ownership of this incredible story and the film project that has been underway for nearly 10 years. Screenwriter and author Donna Fiechtner believes this latest discovery shows the extraordinary reach of the story and how its a living history.
The Vignacourt Director Valerie Vasseur was also so excited to make the discovery after her painstaking work to identify James Dillion recently and commemorate him at the recent Anzac Commemorations there.
Anzac Day 2024 may be an opportunity to tell the Harry Saunder’s story! The team also paid tribute to the efforts of war artist George Petrou and others in identifying these Lost Diggers from France.
Photos in the Attic
This beautiful story is now available in hard copy, ebook and on audible!
This beautiful story is now available in hard copy, ebook and on audible!
The Photos in the Attic Journey
You may know that for a number of years, we have been working on our movie project Photos in the Attic , based on the incredible Lost Digger’s photographic plate collection rediscovered in the village of Vignacourt in northern France in 2010.
Vignacourt and Childers are linked in a friendship agreement due to the fact that the See brothers ( locals of Childers) were identified in the collection.
Well the movie is still in development but you are all invited to special events to launch the book.
Stay tuned!
Check out a small taste on audible!
https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Photos-in-the-Attic-Audiobook/B0BTDVZC7K
Well we finally have it!
It’s a wonderful read and is a fitting offering before the movie.
See what Australian Director Franco Di Chiera has to say about Photos in the Attic!
"Donna Fiechtner’s Photos in the Attic is a really beautiful written story with the potential to be a true classic. In the 1st World War, many young Australians not only volunteered to defend their motherland, Britain, but to see the world and embark on a big adventure. Of course, it was, an adventure, but not what they imagined. A virtual hell on earth with horrific injuries and death, they suffered mental illness and grief. But also, wonderful mateship and extraordinary romance. The story captures all of these elements.
There is also the exquisite beauty and life affirming nature of Louis and Antoinette Thuillier's iconic photographs of Australian soldiers - the inspiration for the movie.
Ultimately, Photos in the Attic is a love story with much complexity, exploring divided loyalties and the madness of war. It pulls at the heart strings and shows how youth sustains the weight of passion and unpreparedness, to face the most extreme challenges head on.”
Franco di Chiera- Director
Photos in the Attic book launched in Melbourne!
Specially invited guests gathered recently in Melbourne to launch Donna Fiechtner’s beautifully penned Photos in the Attic . Former Premier Ted Baillieu AO, Fromelles researcher Lambis Englezos, Film Director Franco di Chiera, Artist George Petrou AO , RSL members, Shrine of Remembrance Trustees and descendants of the Lost Diggers of Vignacourt collection were among the guests on hand to launch the book.
It was a wonderful evening of history and memories that this book inspires so beautifully!
Listen to Donna Fiechtner as she speaks to Sam Muscat on The Vibe 88.9 fm about her beautiful story.
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Donna also talks to Quentin on 4ZZZ
https://on.soundcloud.com/cwmS6yFAatqJ63aQ9
b3GLbgjWA6uXowgL9
Donna also talks to Quentin on 4ZZZ
https://on.soundcloud.com/cwmS6yFAatqJ63aQ9
MEDIA STATEMENT
11th November 2022
“HOW 2 WW1 SOLDIER GHOSTS AT THE END OF A BED, LED HISTORIAN DONNA FIECHTNER TO WRITE HER FIRST SCREENPLAY AND NOVEL ABOUT ONE WAR, TWO WORLDS, & THREE PEOPLE IN LOVE.”
PHOTOS IN THE ATTIC
We are excited to announce ”Photos In The Attic” the novel (based on the screenplay) will be hitting the bookshelves and online stores in time for Christmas via a publication deal with BigSky Publishing Australia. This will also include an audio book deal with Wavesound who have a relationship with Audible, the biggest audio book seller globally.
Order your copy now.
https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/books/photos-in-the-attic/
Publication of the novel now, gives Producers of the film the opportunity to engage with our audience, prior to production and release of the film. An Ultrafilm’s co-production with Realworld Pictures, the Photos In the Attic movie team includes Award winning filmmaker Franco Di Chiera who will direct, and Ultrafilms Sabella Sugar, producing.
Written by historian Donna Fiechtner and inspired by the discovery of photographic plates in an Attic in Vignacourt in Northern France dating back to WW1 and eventually acquired by Australian Philanthropist Kerry Stokes and later donated to the Australian War Memorial.
Donna’s niece was visited by two WW1 soldier ghosts whom she felt had some eerie connection with the historic French find inspiring her to learn more about this fascinating occurrence and embark on a literary journey.
“Photos in the Attic” is a compelling romance that follows the heart-wrenching story of a soldier caught between the love of two women. The tale is brought to life with the discovery in France of the Thuillier photos from WW1 taken in Vignacourt. These images hold answers to some questions raised by a current day character VALERIE BERNARD, a village local.
We go back in time and meet ROSIE MARCHAND leaving her hometown of Albert on the Somme. A survivor of the war, she finds shelter in the home of her cousin, photographer LOUIS THUILLIER, a shell-shocked veteran of Verdun who with his wife ANTOINETTE takes pictures of soldiers behind the lines.
For Australian BILL FOSTER, the war is a faraway adventure where he is driven to go and join his brother who is already there. He is in love with ISABELLA DE LUCA, a passionate Queensland woman. MICK DE LUCA, cane farmer and Isabella’s father fights with Bill constantly for Isabella’s attention. JIMMY WALTON, Bill’s indigenous mate, enlists in the army also and they both go off to war together.
In the Vignacourt hospital an injured Bill meets Nurse Rosie. Bill cannot understand why Isabella has not written him any letters. This along with his brother being declared dead and Jimmy being killed in battle brings Bill to the verge of a complete breakdown. Rosie is his strength during this time and she nurses him back to health. Their feelings for each other deepen. As the war ends, Bill makes a difficult decision to return home. This devastates Rosie, they part in anger. Bill returns to Childers and finds that his whole life has fallen apart there. Isabella was pregnant and both mother and baby died during birth. Will Bill’s hatred for De Luca rise to the surface? What is his future? Is it in Australia or France and does it feature Rosie? How do the photos found in the attic tie Bill and Valerie Bernard’s lives together?
Enquiries:
Publisher BigSky Publishing
Publicity@bigskypublishing.com.au
Author Donna Fiechtner
Dfekna@hotmail.com
+61413782121
Producer Sabella Sugar
Sabella@ultrafilms.com.au
+61414767796
www.photosintheatticproject.com
11th November 2022
“HOW 2 WW1 SOLDIER GHOSTS AT THE END OF A BED, LED HISTORIAN DONNA FIECHTNER TO WRITE HER FIRST SCREENPLAY AND NOVEL ABOUT ONE WAR, TWO WORLDS, & THREE PEOPLE IN LOVE.”
PHOTOS IN THE ATTIC
We are excited to announce ”Photos In The Attic” the novel (based on the screenplay) will be hitting the bookshelves and online stores in time for Christmas via a publication deal with BigSky Publishing Australia. This will also include an audio book deal with Wavesound who have a relationship with Audible, the biggest audio book seller globally.
Order your copy now.
https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/books/photos-in-the-attic/
Publication of the novel now, gives Producers of the film the opportunity to engage with our audience, prior to production and release of the film. An Ultrafilm’s co-production with Realworld Pictures, the Photos In the Attic movie team includes Award winning filmmaker Franco Di Chiera who will direct, and Ultrafilms Sabella Sugar, producing.
Written by historian Donna Fiechtner and inspired by the discovery of photographic plates in an Attic in Vignacourt in Northern France dating back to WW1 and eventually acquired by Australian Philanthropist Kerry Stokes and later donated to the Australian War Memorial.
Donna’s niece was visited by two WW1 soldier ghosts whom she felt had some eerie connection with the historic French find inspiring her to learn more about this fascinating occurrence and embark on a literary journey.
“Photos in the Attic” is a compelling romance that follows the heart-wrenching story of a soldier caught between the love of two women. The tale is brought to life with the discovery in France of the Thuillier photos from WW1 taken in Vignacourt. These images hold answers to some questions raised by a current day character VALERIE BERNARD, a village local.
We go back in time and meet ROSIE MARCHAND leaving her hometown of Albert on the Somme. A survivor of the war, she finds shelter in the home of her cousin, photographer LOUIS THUILLIER, a shell-shocked veteran of Verdun who with his wife ANTOINETTE takes pictures of soldiers behind the lines.
For Australian BILL FOSTER, the war is a faraway adventure where he is driven to go and join his brother who is already there. He is in love with ISABELLA DE LUCA, a passionate Queensland woman. MICK DE LUCA, cane farmer and Isabella’s father fights with Bill constantly for Isabella’s attention. JIMMY WALTON, Bill’s indigenous mate, enlists in the army also and they both go off to war together.
In the Vignacourt hospital an injured Bill meets Nurse Rosie. Bill cannot understand why Isabella has not written him any letters. This along with his brother being declared dead and Jimmy being killed in battle brings Bill to the verge of a complete breakdown. Rosie is his strength during this time and she nurses him back to health. Their feelings for each other deepen. As the war ends, Bill makes a difficult decision to return home. This devastates Rosie, they part in anger. Bill returns to Childers and finds that his whole life has fallen apart there. Isabella was pregnant and both mother and baby died during birth. Will Bill’s hatred for De Luca rise to the surface? What is his future? Is it in Australia or France and does it feature Rosie? How do the photos found in the attic tie Bill and Valerie Bernard’s lives together?
Enquiries:
Publisher BigSky Publishing
Publicity@bigskypublishing.com.au
Author Donna Fiechtner
Dfekna@hotmail.com
+61413782121
Producer Sabella Sugar
Sabella@ultrafilms.com.au
+61414767796
www.photosintheatticproject.com
Photos in the Attic is a really beautiful story with the potential to be a true classic. In the 1st World War, many young Australians not only volunteered to defend their motherland, Britain, but to see the world and embark on a big adventure. Of course, it was, an adventure, but not what they imagined. A virtual hell on earth with horrific injuries and death, they suffered mental illness and grief. But also, wonderful mateship and extraordinary romance. The story captures all of these elements.
Producer David Lightfoot, who sadly passed away recently, was very passionate about the story, having been a war veteran himself. He felt it accurately and sensitively represented post-traumatic stress syndrome or PTSD, something many more recent returned soldiers continue to suffer. And the film will be dedicated to him. In addition, the story doesn’t shy away from the role of indigenous Australians in fighting for their country, something frequently overlooked.
There is also the exquisite beauty and life affirming nature of Louis and Antoinette Thuillier's iconic photographs of Australian soldiers - the inspiration for the story. They have achieved a legendary, if not, sacred status after being purchased by Australian collector and billionaire businessman, Kerry Stokes who donated them to the Australian War Museum in Canberra where they’were curated and toured the country. These are the same photographs that come to life in the film.
Ultimately, Photos in the Attic is a love story with much complexity, exploring divided loyalties and the madness of war. It pulls at the heart strings and shows how youth sustains the weight of passion and unpreparedness, to face the most extreme challenges head on.
Latest News........
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“Photos in the Attic”
“Photos in the Attic”
A love story set on two sides of the world and the backdrop of the Great War! The beauty of the Australian countryside and life on the cane fields of Childers. An Australian soldier enduring the horrors of war. A small French a refuge from the horrors and a special friendship. All captured by two photographers and locked away for 100 years and finally a mystery revealed.
This is Photos in the Attic.....
This is Photos in the Attic.....
The Creative Team.
Director/Producer Franco Di Chiera
Screenwriter Donna Fiechtner
Producer Pita Productions
Producer Sabella Sugar
Associate Producer Michael Fiechtner
Executive Producers Caroline Russo
Robert Catena
Screenwriter Donna Fiechtner
Producer Pita Productions
Producer Sabella Sugar
Associate Producer Michael Fiechtner
Executive Producers Caroline Russo
Robert Catena
Franco Di Chiera
Director/Producer
A Pioneer Member of the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AFI/AACTA), Franco’s early works, Waiting ‘Round Wynyard, La Scala Lo Scalone (Stairs and Staircases) and Bad News Bachelors screened at film festivals in Sydney, San Francisco, London and Edinburgh and sold to SBS, TV1 Sweden and NOS The Netherlands. He directed for national broadcaster ABC, The Artist, The Peasant (L’artista, Il Contadino) and The Joys of the Women (Le goie delle donne), released theatrically in Australia and nominated for an Australian Film Critics Circle Award.
His film Pipe Dreams was one of ABC’s highest rating programs for the year. Other ratings successes include SBS productions No Milk No Honey, Hoover’s Gold and The Fabulous Flag Sisters which also screened on Fox Italy and won the Jury Prize at Rome Fiction Fest.
He directed the mini-series Three Forever (Tre per sempre), starring Bud Spencer and produced by Domenico Procacci of Rome-based company Fandango whose films include the award-winning Gomorrah. The series screened on SBS in Australia and RAI in Italy where it attracted over 7 milllion viewers. It also sold to France and Germany. His Death of the Megabeasts screened in the U.S., France and Australia and won a Gold Remi Award at Worldfest - Houston International Film Festival. His Skin Deep presold to SBS and Arte France and was produced by Marco Visalberghi, winner of the Gold Lion at Venice for Sacro GRA. His Jack the Ripper – Prime Suspect was broadcast on Network 7 in Australia and on UK-TV. Distributed by BBC International, it also sold to Netflix U.S.
He produced the drama series Under the Skin, winner of an AFI/AACTA Award for Best Miniseries and Australian Writers Guild Awards including Tony Ayres’ The Long Ride whose series Clickbait recently reached No.1 worldwide on Netflix. Episode Best Wishes screened at the Venice International Film Festival. He was SBS Executive on the landmark indigenous package of dramas, From Sand to Celluloid and the feature, The Quiet Room by Rolf de Heer, director of the cult classic, Bad Boy Bubby. Episode No Way to Forget screened in Un Certain Regard at Cannes and The Quiet Room, in Official Competition, respectively.
He was also executive producer on East Timor - Birth of a Nation narrated by Academy Award winning actor Cate Blanchett and Uncle Chatzkel with producer Emile Sherman whose The King’s Speech won an Oscar for Best Film. Franco directed the romantic comedy Big Mamma’s Boy, starring singing sensation Holly Valance who starred in the hit series Neighbours and the film Taken. The film screened at CinefestOz, was released theatrically in Australia by Madman Entertainment and sold to Fox Movies. He directed the The New MoMA for DAM - Design Art Magazine online and produced the web project Forgiveness Day for The New York Times, currently streaming.
He is writer on the mini-series The Rocky Road and the feature film Chasing Sophia, collaborating with producer Sabella Sugar of Ultrafilms. He is also co-writer of the Cold War spy drama, Little Europe and the director attached on the period romance, Photos In The Attic, set in France and Australia. Franco has performed senior industry roles including Drama Development Executive Screenwest, Commissioning Editor SBS, Executive Producer Film Australia, Director WA Screen Academy Edith Cowan University and Production Investment Manager Film Victoria.
Sabella Sugar
Producer
A principal at Ultrafilms Pty Ltd (founded in 1997), by the late David Lightfoot. Ultrafilms have a number of projects in development in which Sabella is heavily involved.
Sabella was an Executive Producer on the feature film 'Never Too Late,' Directed by Mark Lamprell, it features screen veterans Jackie Weaver, Jack Thomson and Academy award winner James Cromwell. Released in 2020, Never Too Late was no.4 at the Australian box office.
More recently, she was an executive Producer on the thriller ‘The Girl At The Window’ starring Radha Mitchell and Vince Colosimo scheduled for release mid 2022.
She is a Company Director of Strategic Film Distribution. Through their unique platform and technology, Strategic Film Distribution provides a number of services including; AI online targeted marketing campaigns for films. Their technology uses emotional intelligence testing providing in-depth market reports and analysis on audience market testing for films and trailers prior to release. Enabling producers to gain valuable insights as to the effectiveness of their campaign.
Sabella previously has a background in the Financial Services Industry spending over 8 years working with an AFSL share market advisory service where she presented and produced the daily market update reports.
Producer
A principal at Ultrafilms Pty Ltd (founded in 1997), by the late David Lightfoot. Ultrafilms have a number of projects in development in which Sabella is heavily involved.
Sabella was an Executive Producer on the feature film 'Never Too Late,' Directed by Mark Lamprell, it features screen veterans Jackie Weaver, Jack Thomson and Academy award winner James Cromwell. Released in 2020, Never Too Late was no.4 at the Australian box office.
More recently, she was an executive Producer on the thriller ‘The Girl At The Window’ starring Radha Mitchell and Vince Colosimo scheduled for release mid 2022.
She is a Company Director of Strategic Film Distribution. Through their unique platform and technology, Strategic Film Distribution provides a number of services including; AI online targeted marketing campaigns for films. Their technology uses emotional intelligence testing providing in-depth market reports and analysis on audience market testing for films and trailers prior to release. Enabling producers to gain valuable insights as to the effectiveness of their campaign.
Sabella previously has a background in the Financial Services Industry spending over 8 years working with an AFSL share market advisory service where she presented and produced the daily market update reports.
Caroline Russo
Executive Producer
Caroline Russo is a Queensland-based Executive Producer and International Screen Industry Consultant. She was Executive Producer on the indie film Stalker and the horror movie Boar, picked up by Universal Distribution.
She has collaborated with filmmakers, connecting projects with producing, financing and distribution partners. In the last year, Caroline has been working on the film Ruby Choice, starring actress Jane Seymour and the LA story, Who is Gatsby Randolph?, documenting the meteoric rise of of an alter ego music producer. As Executive Producer, she secured distribution for the project.
Currently, she’s involved in the international feature film Photos In The Attic, to be shot in France and Australia.
Executive Producer
Caroline Russo is a Queensland-based Executive Producer and International Screen Industry Consultant. She was Executive Producer on the indie film Stalker and the horror movie Boar, picked up by Universal Distribution.
She has collaborated with filmmakers, connecting projects with producing, financing and distribution partners. In the last year, Caroline has been working on the film Ruby Choice, starring actress Jane Seymour and the LA story, Who is Gatsby Randolph?, documenting the meteoric rise of of an alter ego music producer. As Executive Producer, she secured distribution for the project.
Currently, she’s involved in the international feature film Photos In The Attic, to be shot in France and Australia.
Robert Catena
Executive Producer
Executive Producer Robert Catena has a background in finance and stockbroking over a 30 year period. He’s a representative of CPS Capital Group and Director of Mercury Anetac Capital in Western Australia, advising companies. He has been involved in a number of film and television productions including The Fabulous Flag Sisters screened on SBS in Australia and Fox Italy, where it won Best Documentary at Roma Fiction Fest.
He was Executive Producer on the feature film Big Mamma’s Boy selected to screen at CinefestOz, released nationally in Australia by Madman Entertainment and sold to Fox Movies. He helped finance the development of the miniseries The Rocky Road and is an Executive Producer on the feature Chasing Sophia.
Donna Fiechtner.
Screenwriter
Donna Fiechtner is an accomplished educator ,author, mother and wife. She is interested in historical stories and the way they connect people of the past to the present. Donna has spent over 30 years in the school environment as a teacher and administrator and she loves making learning fun and meaningful for her students no matter what age they are. She and her husband Michael, offer Education, Travel and Leisure services to a range of clients through their Intercultural Consulting Group Consultancy.
During her life she has lived in both Japan and France immersing herself in all that culture has to offer.
Donna has co-authored an inspiring book on the WW 1 Graffiti on cave walls in Naours in Northern France and has written the most recent screenplay and an accompanying novel for a feature film in development-Photos in the Attic. The story is set during WWI in Vignacourt, France and Childers, Queensland where principal screenwriter Donna Fiechtner and fellow creative collaborator and husband, Michael , are based. Both historians, it is told through their unique and insightful lens. It’s based on an original script by Donna and Michael together with Hollywood screenwriter Shirley Pierce who has done projects for MGM, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Disney. “
Donna is keen to share her talents with those around her and be involved in life changing opportunities .
Michael Fiechtner
Associate Producer
Michael Fiechtner is a passionate historian, widely read and a qualified educational specialist having spent over 35 years in various school and higher education settings and positions both in Australia and overseas ,providing intercultural opportunities across the world. He is also the Director of Intercultural Consulting Group... concentrating on leisure, education and travel services to a range of clients. He is currently focused on providing Environmental Education amongst a wide range of interests.
He and his wife Donna have travelled extensively over the past 20 years immersing themselves in projects in both Japan with the Hiroshima Peace Park and World War 1 battlefields in France. Michael and Donna have made it their life passion to research WW1 stories and have a strong interest in the Western Front and the untold stories. They have been involved in the village of Vignacourt in France - Home of the Lost Diggers Collection and Naours home to the collection of WW1 Grafitti.
Michael and Donna have co-authored a book on the Naours caves in Northern France and also have devoted a great deal of their time and efforts into writing and attracting attention for their feature film based on WW1 and Vignacourt titled Photos in the Attic currently in development. This is their first foray into the com[lex world of movie making. They claim the journey to make it may be a better movie than the actual movie !
Michael’s passion is engaging with interesting people from diverse backgrounds and developing interesting projects to get involved in that can make a difference!
Associate Producer
Michael Fiechtner is a passionate historian, widely read and a qualified educational specialist having spent over 35 years in various school and higher education settings and positions both in Australia and overseas ,providing intercultural opportunities across the world. He is also the Director of Intercultural Consulting Group... concentrating on leisure, education and travel services to a range of clients. He is currently focused on providing Environmental Education amongst a wide range of interests.
He and his wife Donna have travelled extensively over the past 20 years immersing themselves in projects in both Japan with the Hiroshima Peace Park and World War 1 battlefields in France. Michael and Donna have made it their life passion to research WW1 stories and have a strong interest in the Western Front and the untold stories. They have been involved in the village of Vignacourt in France - Home of the Lost Diggers Collection and Naours home to the collection of WW1 Grafitti.
Michael and Donna have co-authored a book on the Naours caves in Northern France and also have devoted a great deal of their time and efforts into writing and attracting attention for their feature film based on WW1 and Vignacourt titled Photos in the Attic currently in development. This is their first foray into the com[lex world of movie making. They claim the journey to make it may be a better movie than the actual movie !
Michael’s passion is engaging with interesting people from diverse backgrounds and developing interesting projects to get involved in that can make a difference!
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.....follow the Photos in the Attic movie project on Facebook now....
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