Skye Hope on the Blind Freedom set. Photo: Supplied.
Blind Freedom has enjoyed major success since its completion, collecting awards all over the world.
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Most recently, the short film’s leading lady and Echuca local Skye Hope, was awarded Best Actress Short Film at the World Cinema Awards.
The Echuca Twin Rivers Public School student played the character of Ruby McGuire in Blind Freedom, an orphaned outcast who struggles to be accepted by her community.
When it was announced that she had won the award, she said she only found out after her teachers had congratulated her.
“I was at school and my teachers were like, ‘Oh, good job on your award’ and I was like, ‘What award’,” she said.
“Then she showed me a screenshot of it, and then I was like, whoa, I didn’t know I got that.”
Claire Duncan and Skye Hope captured during the filming of Blind Freedom. Photo: Supplied.
While the novelty never wears off, Skye is no stranger to winning awards for acting, having been named Best Young Actress at the London Independent Film Awards for her role in short film Loki and Me.
Being on set for both films has ignited a passion for acting in Skye.
While Skye was enjoying her time on the Blind Freedom set, her mum, Brooke Stokes, said unbeknown to everyone, Skye was on the verge of a health crisis.
“Skye is actually lucky to be here,” she said.
“The week that she was filming, it was literally two days after she finished filming, we found out ... she had type 1 diabetes, and she spent two weeks in ICU.
“She was filming while her body was in DKA, she’s lucky to be here. Had we had waited one more day ... she 100 per cent would not be here.”
Diabetic ketoacidosis, known as DKA, occurs when people suffering from diabetes don’t have enough insulin.
It can cause symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, dehydration, shallow breathing, confusion and drowsiness, which could lead to coma.
Ms Stokes said she was proud of what Skye had accomplished despite being sick.
“She’s an absolute trouper. She’s done really well to be that unwell and complete a movie, and I just think that deserves a mention,” she said.
Craig Wyhoon and Isaac Hope with Skye Hope who plays the films protagonist, Ruby. Photo: Supplied.
For Skye, however, the illness didn’t ruin her experience on set.
She said she enjoyed being among the crew members and friends and trying out equipment.
“I really like doing films, it’s really fun,” she said.
“I got to spend more time with all my friends like behind the scenes ... I just really liked hanging out with them and speaking with all the crew members.
“We got to take pictures, and we got to pretend to record stuff with the cameraman and the big mic ... we got to hold that, and we got to wear the headphones, and we could hear what people were saying.”
While Blind Freedom has not been released to the public, it has been submitted to major local and international film festivals, which require exclusive screening rights.
A private screening for cast, crew and sponsors was also hosted in June.
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