'Texting grandma' fundraising to get to premiere

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'Texting grandma' fundraising to get to premiere

3News NZ

Joyce Irving, the star of 'Dotty'

Joyce Irving, the star of 'Dotty'

By Ali Ikram

If you follow the sign down her drive you'll find Joyce Irving is fundraising like mad.

She’s selling everything, including 22 varieties of jams, chutneys, pickles and mustard. Ms Irving says she picked up her preserving skills out of necessity.

“Well needs must, I had seven children and we had very little money."

She's flogging a book about cats, and even CDs of her reading the bible.

The 91-year-old is the star of ‘Dotty’, a short film about an old lady trying to send a text message.

It's been selected to play at the Montreal Film Festival in two weeks time, and she desperately wants to be there.

“Why aren't I there? I would love to be there, I would just love to be there so I started doing something about it,” she says.

The filmmakers behind the short are taken aback by their leading lady's commitment to getting to its world premiere.

Writer and director Mick Andrews says she talked to him about selling her jewellery.

“She said ‘Mick I could die next week, I would really like to go to Montreal, I want to see that film play for ten minutes - anything else is a bonus’.”

Now they've set up a fundraising page on the Give A Little site to help come up with the remaining $4,500 to get Ms Irving and her daughter to Montreal.

She's even shaken down a local designer to dress her for the big night.

“Well I suppose I don't have much life left and life is for living as far as I’m concerned.”

3 News

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Comments

5/09/2012 2:21:54 p.m.

Tisha Wilson wrote:

My Mother Joyce had a wonderful time in Montreal . Mick the co-director was there. A fabulous film Mick and the team. Thanks to all the generous fabulous New Zealanders who helped Joyce to get to Montreal!

24/08/2012 10:10:51 a.m.

Debz wrote:

Come NZ Govt do this 91 year old a favour. Im sure u are all capable of getting money together to send this beautiful kuia and her daughter over to Montreal. For what you are all doing now do something right for once! Hope u get to go over Joyce.

22/08/2012 7:32:49 p.m.

Gail Tudor wrote:

Joyce, have a wonderful trip, but how do I buy some of those terrific looking bedsocks you've knitted?

18/08/2012 9:48:00 a.m.

Roimata Tangimai wrote:

Hi, is Joyce in auckland and if so where can we purshase her jams?

Thanks Roimata.

18/08/2012 9:19:35 a.m.

Hailee wrote:

Joyce I'd like to buy some of your tv socks please how can I do that.?