Molly O'Brien always wanted to be like her Aunt Orin.
"Growing up, Orin was the adult I admired most," says O'Brien in her Oscar-nominated documentary short The Only Girl in the Orchestra, which can be seen at the 2025 Oscar Nominated Shorts programs at Arts Council of White Lake - Nuveen (ACWL-Nuveen). "She had the life I wanted for myself, a New York City artist's life. An independent woman's life."
Molly's Aunt Orin, a double bassist, was the first woman to join the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Orin is unquestionably brilliant—Leonard Bernstein called her "a source of radiance in the orchestra"—but she's never been comfortable with the attention that her talent and trail-blazing has brought upon her.
"I didn't want the limelight to be on me. I just back off from all of that," says Orin in the documentary. Which is perhaps ironic given that Orin's parents, John O'Brien and Marguerite Churchill, were famous screen actors who Orin says were always glad to be noticed in public.
Molly's documentary explores Orin's approach to life and the benefits of blending into an ensemble. As Orin explains, "Part of the pleasure of playing in an orchestra is that you can join what everybody else is doing."
Molly generously took time to speak with ACWL-Nuveen about what it's like to make a documentary on a subject who prefers to be in the background, how to stay open to letting a story change as it takes shape, and what her Aunt Orin's advice to "Stay on the train" means.
ACWL-Nuveen will screen the Documentary Oscar Nominated Shorts program on Thursday, February 27 at 6PM and the Live Action Oscar Nominated Shorts program on Friday, February 28 at 6PM. Information and tickets can be found here. ACWL-Nuveen is offering a discount if tickets are purchased for both programs. Complimentary beverages and popcorn will be available at the screening. We'll also host an Oscar prediction contest for the Documentary and Live Action Shorts.