OSCAR winner Adam Elliot proudly told GAIA Skin Naturals founder Michelle Vogrinec on Tuesday night that he uses her products to shave his head.
The Berwick-born animator was the guest speaker at the 22nd Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards at Sandown Greyhounds on 19 March.
The Hallam business walked away from the night with yet another award to add to its collection – the 2012 Small Business Award – and was a finalist for the Corporate and Social Responsibility Award.
GAIA Skin Naturals began when Michelle and Simon Vogrinec searched for a product to soothe their first child’s acute eczema.
They lived on an organic produce farm and soon turned to concocting herbal ointments in their own kitchen.
In the 10 years since GAIA Natural Baby was born, the company’s range has expanded to GAIA Made for Men, GAIA Pure Pregnancy and GAIA Skin and Body Care Products.
The business exports to 32 countries, and Mrs Vogrinec met with representatives from China just hours before the awards ceremony to tap into the country’s lucrative market.
Mr Elliot told the dinner’s large audience that he used to catch a Grenda bus down Springvale Road to Haileybury Keysborough.
“And Dandenong Hospital saved my brother’s life,” he said, searching for other connections to the area. He received 150 stitches at the hospital after falling through a plate-glass window.
It was while Mr Elliot was living in Elwood, however, that he created Harvie Krumpet – the 22-minute clay animation film that won the 2003 Academy Award for Animated Short Film.
When he received the trophy he checked the back for his name – to make sure the surreal experience was in fact reality – and instead found Elwood’s postcode, 3184.
His was the 3184th gold man the Academy had awarded.
“I’m not religious but at that point I thought I was Jesus,” Mr Elliot said.
He never thought he’d even finish the $320,000 film, so didn’t hold out much hope when it was announced as a nominee up against $7 million creations from Disney, Pixar and Fox.
“Even my mum said we were no chance of winning,” he said.
Limited funds almost stopped Mr Elliot and producer Melanie Coombs from attending the ceremony.
He’s glad friends and family convinced him to make the trip.
“We were as surprised as Disney was when they read out our names,” he said.
He was soon staring out from the stage, wishing he’d planned an acceptance speech and watching a timer count down the seconds he had left to get out his thankyous.
He looked to the crowd for one person to deliver his speech to.
“I gave my speech to Oprah,” he said.
Mr Elliot said the greatest thing to come from the experience was being able to make his first feature film.
Mary and Max had an $8.2 million budget and screened on the opening night at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in the US – a first for an Australian production and the first time in 20 years an animated film had received the honour.
But what’s touched him the most about the Oscar experience was a mother telling him her dying eight-year-old son had watched Harvie Krumpet over and over during his final weeks.
“That’s why I make films,” he said.
“As storytellers we have the power to nourish people.”
