Photo: Hare’s Foot Clover Trifolium arvense – www.nhgardensolutions.wordpress.com Photo: Ancient woodland – www.ecohustler.com Photo: Tamworth Sow With Piglets – credit Knepp Castile Estate Photo: Sara Proudfoot Clinch – selfie
It’s been a long while since I last posted. So much has happened; life, health, survival took over and here I am now facing a fresh new start.
I have had many new starts in my life so am undaunted at this new burst of energy igniting a new phase of creativity. For this new awakening, I have changed my company name to Proudfoot Films (which sits under the umbrella of Rosy Lee Productions Limited). This new name is important to me as it connects me to my ancestors and my beloved grandfather Leslie Richard Proudfoot Ormiston who was a great influence on me. A proud naval man, he taught me discipline, preparation was key, always clear up after you have started a job, always be early and never late, respect everyone in life, do every job well and respectfully even if it is sweeping the roads, how to grow vegetables and keep a garden, diy and so much more.
In turn, Proudfoot connects me to my beautiful mother, Dian, who carried this name until she married and encouraged me to use it as my ‘film’ name. Hence Sara Proudfoot Clinch; producer, writer and director was born in 1992 when I made my first film at the NFTS. My mother loved the philosophy of the Native American Indians and we both fantasised that Proudfoot was our tribal name connecting us to this great honourable culture who respect the land, their environment, mother earth, animals, natural medicine, the spirit world and peace.
Many of you will know that I am also a holistic health therapist running a small clinic Proudfoot Holistic Health from my home. This has and always will be an essential part of my life. It keeps me grounded and steeped in natural health, feeds my spirituality and I feel honoured to assist clients on their journey towards good health, fertility and a happy life. This past year I have studied herbal medicine which has grown a deeper connection for me with mother earth and all the incredible gifts she has to offer us. It’s very exciting to dig up the roots of the Comfrey Symphytum Officinale plant, wash and scrub them, chop them up, dry them for a couple of weeks, then infuse them in a jar of sweet almond oil for a few weeks, then add this to melted beeswax to make an ointment to relieve pain and inflammation of rheumatic or achy joints, sprains and broken bones with great results. Historically it was known as ‘knit bone’. Now we know why.
Alongside this is my great love for archaeology and in particular the fascinating era of pre-history where our ancestors lived so deeply connected to the land and their environment, their lives governed by the stars, the moon, the sun, rivers, trees and mountains. These hunter gatherers killed animals not just for food but respectfully used the entire animal, its skin for clothing and bedding, its sinews for string and baskets, its bones, antlers and horns for tools. Importantly, as tribes, they shared their food so no-one went without. They were at one with nature, drinking water from rivers, eating berries from the bushes, making medicines from plants, trees and flowers, building homes from wattle and daub and making fire by rubbing sticks together or crashing flint stones together to create a magical spark to light fire into their dry fluffy tinder. Their sacred rituals have mystified us to this day with magnificent avenues of standing stones, evocative stone circles, fabulous quoits and hallowed burial mounds of all shapes and sizes. Recently I have been inspired by the wonderful film ‘Wilding’ about Knepp Castle and its journey of healing the land by bringing it back to a pre-historic landscape. This really touched my heart to the core.
So what next? I am stepping gingerly on tippy toe back into the creative world of writing. Instinctively my heart yearns to make another film. I have several ideas, some old and some new. I am sitting with them in a meditative space, breathing slowly in and out, taking my time, looking at the space in between, the other and awaiting the signal for my first next step. I know Proudfoot will guide me.
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