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In addition to winning the Academy Award®: for this film, Maryann De Leo has received two Emmys®, the 1995 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award, and the CableACE Award for her 1991 HBO documentary "Rape: Cries from the Heartland". She was awarded the bronze award at the 1998 Tokyo Video Festival for the 1997 HBO documentary "Six Months To Live: Alternative Medicine and the Fight for Life". De Leo also collaborated with Jon Alpert on the memorable 1995 America Undercover documentary "High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell".
MARYANN DE LEO INTERVIEW
HBO: What first inspired you to make this film?
MARYANN: Inspiration probably comes from more places than you realize, the obvious place in this case -- a friend went to see a UN photo exhibit organized by Adi Roche of the Chernobyl Children's Project and he was so moved and shocked at the photographs he implored me to go to see it. I didn't, then another friend mentioned the same exhibit and said you should make a film about what's happened there. On the second mention I knew I had to go and see the exhibit. Once there standing in front of the photographs -shocking images of children, I made the decision to go to Chernobyl to make a film.
HBO: Although there were obvious risks, were you at all hesitant about going to Chernobyl to film?
MARYANNE: No, I was probably too uninformed to realize there might be some danger. I also knew my life was not going to be lived there in Chernobyl. I knew I would be coming back to a relatively safe radiation free life.
HBO: The film is at times heart wrenching to watch, especially when we see the
effects on the children. How were you able to handle your reactions while filming?
MARYANN: I don't know. Sometimes it was difficult to see the conditions the kids lived in. In this film I felt a huge responsibility to those kids to at least tell their story. I think that affected me more when I came back and realized what a difficult story it would be to tell and also for the audience to watch.
HBO: Have things improved for the Chernobyl and surrounding communities? What's the latest?
MARYANN: I don't think things have improved much. As long as the sacarphogus is leaking, cesium 137 is still spreading. The heart surgeon, Dr. Novick is returning for more trips to do heart surgery, which means more kids will get the surgery they need to save their lives. Adi Roche and her charity continue to send convoys of medicine, supplies, ambulances, etc. to help the people there. They continue to bring children from Belarus to Ireland for rest and recuperation.
HBO: What would you like for viewers to take away from your film?
MARYANN: To not forget the people there, the kids, the elderly, the parents. I'd also hope they witness the power of one person, like Adi Roche and Dr. Novick and all their volunteers who saw a need and decided to help and did something. Also, I want people to remember that we all have the power of one and also to consider the risks of nuclear reactors.
HBO: Any new projects coming from you?
MARYANN: Yes, I've got a couple of projects in development for HBO and I'm working on a film about domestic violence. I'm writing about my experiences while making "Chernobyl Heart" and I might even write a feature film.
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