The Audience Speaks (Selected Responses).

When we were making CONDOMS, FISH & CIRCUS TRICKS we got some people to help us by watching a rough cut. We got hooked on audience response and still are. Send us your comments and, space permitting, we'll try to paste them here. "One round, one condom!". Street theatre at Durban City Hall

"This film has changed my life as I am sure it will everyone who watches it."
- Kim Grimard, Paradise, Nova Scotia.

"Because my South African-born husband and I had just returned from a trip to the AIDS heartland of KwaZulu Natal, I borrowed Diane's copy of Condoms, Fish & Circus Tricks and, frankly, sat down expecting to be watching another important-but-dull doc.
I never saw that. Your film was mischievous and meaningful; it was elegant, thoughtful and respectful. You let the people living and dying with HIV speak for themselves -- you gave them dignity by giving them the last word -- and you clarified the convoluted southern African politics surrounding this disease without stooping to simplification.
And I listened hard. It was beautifully written."
- Catherine Dunphy, Feature Writer, Toronto Star.

"…the story presented was about the African people, not about the journalists. These people are real. I can better understand the emotion that I hear in the voice of Stephen Lewis when he speaks of these people."
- C. Johns, Richmond Hill, Ontario.

"One thing we missed was shots of you and Robert. We think that it is nice to see what the interviewer looks like."
- Ian Hendry, Retired Engineer, TTC Toronto. (Oh, O.K. - ed.)

"Just a formal thank you for your significant contribution to our 'Beads of Hope' fundraising campaign. It was truly a partnership that worked, brought out about 120 people and generated $1,300.
People seemed eager to support this HIV/AIDS relief project and were in fact grateful to be given the opportunity…. I hope you are gratified to have touched a nerve in folks with your film and commentary."
- Gisele Gilfillan, Minister, Wakefield United Church, Quebec.

"I am presently in my 4th year at Carleton doing Human Rights Policy. I was extremely interested in your documentary as I am presently doing a school paper on HIV/AIDS in Malawi and Botswana which will be submitted to WUSC for them to read. I found your film to really allow me to see the affect that HIV/AIDS has on Malawi. Thank you and thanks for producing your film."
- Lauren Nicholson, Carleton University student.

"Our advisory committee was virtually unanimous in praising your unique approach, clear visual representation and gripping commentary. Yours is certainly an outstanding production that should be made available to a larger audience and we do hope that our conference is but a first step towards reaching that goal."
- Claus Mueller, Curator, Intl. Film & Television Exchange, New York,
Screening Days at the United Nations.

"Hi Brenda/Robert. I just returned from Vancouver where I tested out the film (a very much improved version) on some 'young' and not so young folks and it was a big hit. Lots of discussion, new understanding, good questions, more empathy for the predicament etc etc."
- Donald Sutherland, Director
Bureau of HIV/AIDS, STD & TB, Health Canada.