TANJA’S Philip Hearnshaw, who helped bring to life the world’s most famous talking pig and dancing penguin, can no longer dance and is losing the ability to speak.
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The associate producer of Babe and executive producer of recently released Happy Feet 2 is in the last stages of motor neurone disease (MND).
Mr Hearnshaw was diagnosed with the incurable disease – in which nerve cells that control movement, speech and breathing gradually fail – five years ago, after he noticed he couldn’t swing an axe properly.
Now, he has to be lifted by crane in and out of bed, and is reliant on an oxygen pump for breathing.
The average life expectancy after diagnosis with MND is around three years, which, in Mr Hearnshaw’s case, is just another example of a life characterised by surpassing the average.
His film career has spanned 30 years, with credits including first assistant director (controlling the film’s schedule) of Playing Beattie Bow and Babe 2, associate producer of Babe and Happy Feet and executive producer of Happy Feet 2.
He was employed by long-term partners at the Kennedy Miller Mitchell production company to work on Happy Feet 2 despite his deteriorating physical condition.
“It was unexpected, because I had already been diagnosed,” Mr Hearnshaw said.
“They just asked me to come and be involved, that was my job description and I got as involved as I could – I couldn’t wait to go to work.”
On set, Mr Hearnshaw used all of his experience and organisational skills to “bring together many disparate people” behind the vision and creative energy of director George Miller.
Happy Feet 2, sequel to the iconic animated story of a “funky little penguin” who can dance but not sing and is cast out from the flock, was released last Christmas.
In some ways, Mr Hearnshaw said, it had been the most exciting project of his career.
“To work on a film like that, which is really at the front edge of the wedge in terms of technology, makes you feel terrific,” he said.
“When we tried to make Babe, we had to put the shoot on hold and wait up to six months for the technology to catch up.
“On Happy Feet 2, if the boffins weren’t inventing two or three new things each week, they weren’t working hard enough.
“But we did beautiful work on Babe.
“That was probably the pinnacle for me, because the planet had never seen anything like it before.”
From boyhood, Mr Hearnshaw was interested in the ability of pictures to tell a story, and began his “career” showing 16mm films on a Saturday night.
He is best known for his animated work, but has been assistant director on projects ranging from Beattie Bow to the 2001 comedy/drama “La spagnola” and TV series Anzacs and Robbery Under Arms.
His approach to working with animated characters, he said, was much the same as working with actors.
“You are still looking for a performance, still looking for a character to shine,” he said.
Now at home in his “beloved Tanja”, Mr Hearnshaw is happily retired.
Cared for by wife Cathy, son Dean and home care services, he spends most of the day in bed, looking out over his locally famous garden and meditating.
However, the man who holds a pilot’s licence, was an avid sailer and lover of dressage said he never had trouble accepting his illness.
“There was no period of non-acceptance for me, even when I was diagnosed.
“You just think ‘oh what a bummer’ and say ‘thanks Doc, see you later. Good detective work.’”
According to Cathy, while many predicted he would miss the cut and thrust of the film industry, Mr Hearnshaw has had no trouble saying good bye to it because he had always wanted to be in Tanja.
“Coming here permanently was a very clear idea for him and his illness, which means he can’t really work anymore, made that possible in a way,” she said.
“There were a lot of people who also said, with Philip’s condition and needs, we would never be able to live in a rural area.
“But we have been amazed at the level of services available, and the sense of community is priceless.”
Mr Hearnshaw has requested his ashes be scattered at nearby Bithry Inlet.
Hopefully, however, that is a long way off - MND is unpredictable, and there are cases of people living for decades with the condition.
“I want to try and force the air in.
“I’ll keep going for as long as I can figure out a way,” Mr Hearnshaw said.
