Regulars / Homebodies
Homebodies -
Staying in with Hannah Camilleri,
creator of Little Shits
Staying in with Hannah Camilleri,
creator of Little Shits
Now that we’re in the thick of lockdown again, we’re getting back to checking in on some familiar faces from around town, to find out what they’re doing with their time in isolation.
Hannah Camilleri is a Melbourne-based actor and writer, and her latest endeavour is Little Shits, a new webseries that masterfully captures the unique chaos of sharehouse living. Over six short episodes, we’re invited into the dynamic of a burgeoning home, in all its idiosyncratic glory. It’s subtle, irreverent and hilariously self-aware, and there’s just something guiltily pleasing about seeing these relatable frustrations played back for us that makes the series ridiculously easy to blitz through.
Hannah Camilleri is a Melbourne-based actor and writer, and her latest endeavour is Little Shits, a new webseries that masterfully captures the unique chaos of sharehouse living. Over six short episodes, we’re invited into the dynamic of a burgeoning home, in all its idiosyncratic glory. It’s subtle, irreverent and hilariously self-aware, and there’s just something guiltily pleasing about seeing these relatable frustrations played back for us that makes the series ridiculously easy to blitz through.
Between working hard to get Little Shits onto our laptop screens and presumably complaining about her housemates, here’s what Hannah’s been up to in lockdown.
What are you reading?
I’m one of those readers that has a stack of books next to the bed that are interchanged. I dip in and out of fiction and non-fiction; The Visiting Privilege, Joy Williams, short stories (helps with the interchanging); The Clever Guts Diet, Dr. Michael Mosley - did you know that if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach it’s absorbed into your bloodstream quicker as the absorption takes place through your stomach lining as opposed to eating something first and it being absorbed later in your small intestine? ; When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron, “We think that the point is to… overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again.” It was a bit of relief to read that. I’m after a novel now which requires more of a commitment.
What are you watching?
We’ve been watching a few films including Uncut Gems, which feels like an updated more fulfilling version of Thief (1981) (which we also watched during isolation), Death Becomes Her, many problematic moments but it’s worth watching it for Meryl Streep and No Country For Old Men, I appreciated that the characters watched their backs when entering a new space even if we as the audience knew that no-one was home/there. We’ve also been tackling Seinfeld from top to bottom; and Sopranos, as a household.
What are you reading?
I’m one of those readers that has a stack of books next to the bed that are interchanged. I dip in and out of fiction and non-fiction; The Visiting Privilege, Joy Williams, short stories (helps with the interchanging); The Clever Guts Diet, Dr. Michael Mosley - did you know that if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach it’s absorbed into your bloodstream quicker as the absorption takes place through your stomach lining as opposed to eating something first and it being absorbed later in your small intestine? ; When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron, “We think that the point is to… overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again.” It was a bit of relief to read that. I’m after a novel now which requires more of a commitment.
What are you watching?
We’ve been watching a few films including Uncut Gems, which feels like an updated more fulfilling version of Thief (1981) (which we also watched during isolation), Death Becomes Her, many problematic moments but it’s worth watching it for Meryl Streep and No Country For Old Men, I appreciated that the characters watched their backs when entering a new space even if we as the audience knew that no-one was home/there. We’ve also been tackling Seinfeld from top to bottom; and Sopranos, as a household.
What are you listening to?
Pang, Caroline Polacheck, and Designer, Aldous Harding, are those albums that you can put on and you never have to skip a song. When I’m alone it doesn’t matter but when in company, when there’s an outlier of a song, everyone’s thinking the same thing, ‘What is that and can you change it or turn it down?’ I’ve also been listening to the track that Pat Mooney wrote for Little Shits on repeat. Pat’s also in a band Curves who make tracks I can really sing and move to.
Pang, Caroline Polacheck, and Designer, Aldous Harding, are those albums that you can put on and you never have to skip a song. When I’m alone it doesn’t matter but when in company, when there’s an outlier of a song, everyone’s thinking the same thing, ‘What is that and can you change it or turn it down?’ I’ve also been listening to the track that Pat Mooney wrote for Little Shits on repeat. Pat’s also in a band Curves who make tracks I can really sing and move to.
Anything happening in the kitchen?
Most of the day might be spent in the kitchen. Warm breakfasts and lunches is a thing now. When I studied theatre in Etampes, France, there were a lot of businesses shut from 12pm - 3pm and I never understood why they would compromise their businesses so much. Much of the way businesses run is to be open or available in some way 24/7 but not for Etampes. Now I really appreciate what they were doing. Now I take time out for lunch too, dining al fresco on the backyard bricks with pasta and maybe a sip of wine. It’s more palatable to have warm breakfasts and lunches in winter.
What’s keeping you busy?
To be honest, and to feel honest, I’ve been working on this series. Who knew that film production had all these moving parts? Most people in the film industry. I met/corresponded with sound designers, colourists, FX for the first time. Post-production was a whole new world to me. I was going to release them as is but then Pat Mooney who’s an inspiring filmmaker encouraged me to finish it properly. Pat’s part of a trio, PlexGoldwin, with Mitch Goldberg (our Editor) and Thom Neal (our Director of Photography). They make fanciful and refreshing short films exclusively on film, like their latest Jeannette Is The Dog, so it was a blessing to have them do their professional thing. I’m excited to share these Shits with everyone. Interpersonal relationships are difficult, particularly working relationships, but living with people who are not your family or partner could very well be the epitome of difficult. It can be tiring having to constantly assert yourself in your own home.
Most of the day might be spent in the kitchen. Warm breakfasts and lunches is a thing now. When I studied theatre in Etampes, France, there were a lot of businesses shut from 12pm - 3pm and I never understood why they would compromise their businesses so much. Much of the way businesses run is to be open or available in some way 24/7 but not for Etampes. Now I really appreciate what they were doing. Now I take time out for lunch too, dining al fresco on the backyard bricks with pasta and maybe a sip of wine. It’s more palatable to have warm breakfasts and lunches in winter.
What’s keeping you busy?
To be honest, and to feel honest, I’ve been working on this series. Who knew that film production had all these moving parts? Most people in the film industry. I met/corresponded with sound designers, colourists, FX for the first time. Post-production was a whole new world to me. I was going to release them as is but then Pat Mooney who’s an inspiring filmmaker encouraged me to finish it properly. Pat’s part of a trio, PlexGoldwin, with Mitch Goldberg (our Editor) and Thom Neal (our Director of Photography). They make fanciful and refreshing short films exclusively on film, like their latest Jeannette Is The Dog, so it was a blessing to have them do their professional thing. I’m excited to share these Shits with everyone. Interpersonal relationships are difficult, particularly working relationships, but living with people who are not your family or partner could very well be the epitome of difficult. It can be tiring having to constantly assert yourself in your own home.
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The garden is keeping me busy too. I’ve propagated some nasturtiums (but I’ll tell you something for free - they need no encouragement), a vine that is yet to reveal itself and I’ve planted some radishes. So we’re living off the land, essentially.
Anything you’re doing differently?
I’m getting stuck straight in, in the morning, and saving any chores, errands, phonecalls, walks, exercise for the afternoon. The morning is the time, how have I only caught onto this now?
What’s the worst isolation idea you’ve had so far?
Selling coffees out the back of our place. We back onto a laneway and figured that we could sell coffee via our back gate. Black coffee only, to keep business moving. It would be a speakeasy coffee bar where it’s the prohibition of keeping close company as opposed to alcohol.
What’s something keeping you inspired?
Whittling my stuff down to zero so when I look around, everything’s in use and relevant. I shouldn’t wait for this moment to make important additions to my lifestyle because I may be waiting awhile but it’s not a totally unhelpful goal to have during this time.
Best ways to support the community at the moment?
I’m crossing the road when I see people to give them space. I’m nodding more to acknowledge others. Saying hello to my neighbours. Looking after myself so I can be there for others. I suppose in an ideal world my comedy would be reaching people and having a nice effect but I’m realising while I write this that I’m not doing nearly enough in this domain of my life.
How can we support you?
Watch the first one and if you’ve got a good feeling about it then you might watch all six but if you’ve got half of a feeling then give it another shot with the second one. You can watch them on Youtube but they also live on a cute little website made by the very versatile Tom Hitchcock who was also one of our sound recordists.
Anything you’re doing differently?
I’m getting stuck straight in, in the morning, and saving any chores, errands, phonecalls, walks, exercise for the afternoon. The morning is the time, how have I only caught onto this now?
What’s the worst isolation idea you’ve had so far?
Selling coffees out the back of our place. We back onto a laneway and figured that we could sell coffee via our back gate. Black coffee only, to keep business moving. It would be a speakeasy coffee bar where it’s the prohibition of keeping close company as opposed to alcohol.
What’s something keeping you inspired?
Whittling my stuff down to zero so when I look around, everything’s in use and relevant. I shouldn’t wait for this moment to make important additions to my lifestyle because I may be waiting awhile but it’s not a totally unhelpful goal to have during this time.
Best ways to support the community at the moment?
I’m crossing the road when I see people to give them space. I’m nodding more to acknowledge others. Saying hello to my neighbours. Looking after myself so I can be there for others. I suppose in an ideal world my comedy would be reaching people and having a nice effect but I’m realising while I write this that I’m not doing nearly enough in this domain of my life.
How can we support you?
Watch the first one and if you’ve got a good feeling about it then you might watch all six but if you’ve got half of a feeling then give it another shot with the second one. You can watch them on Youtube but they also live on a cute little website made by the very versatile Tom Hitchcock who was also one of our sound recordists.
Check out the first episode of Little Shits above, and if you're in a binging mood, you can watch the next three parts here. The final two episodes are out tomorrow (18/8) and next Tuesday (25/8), so stay tuned.
