ScreenACT Newsletter

ScreenACT Special Notice

18 September 2006

Dear members of the ACT and Capital Region Screen Industries,

This notice is to inform you of changes to the ScreenACT office effective today.

Many of you will be aware that, as part of the recent ACT Government budget changes, it was decided ScreenACT would not continue in its current form, although a final decision was delayed for the purpose of consultation with the industry.

That final decision is still to be made, but in the meantime voluntary redundancies were offered to staff within BusinessACT and Edward Chalmers and I elected to take up that offer with our final day in the office being today. I apologise that we were not in a position to communicate this to you at an earlier date.

There have been various communications from sections of the Screen Industry in support of continuing the functions of ScreenACT and we have put forward our own submission in regard to the continued operation of the office, based on our views on how the office could have been set up to make it a more effective and better resourced proposition for the benefit of the whole industry.

Whatever the final decision, I hope that it will be for the benefit of the whole of the industry, including developing filmmakers/digital media artists; producers of broadcast content; producers of corporate videos and TVCs; freelancers; game development/ animation/multimedia professionals; and the education sector.

Future contact information for location/filming enquiries

To support the transition process, we recently updated the ScreenACT website to include key contact and permitting information for ACT and Commonwealth Government owned properties, as well as many of the major attractions in the ACT. This information can be found at: www.screenact.act.gov.au/filming/filming_permits.html.

The ScreenACT mailbox (screenact@act.gov.au) will also be maintained for ACT enquiries that fall outside the information provided under permissions and protocols on the website.

For NSW Capital Region location and filming enquiries, Robert Pickles remains in the ScreenACT office. Robert’s contact details are available at: www.screenact.act.gov.au/contact/index.html.

The ScreenACT industry directory (www.screenact.act.gov.au/resources/industry_directory.html) and industry links (www.screenact.act.gov.au/resources/industry_links.html) also remain available on the website for the information of visiting productions as well as the local industry/community.

The events calendar will remain on the website at: www.screenact.act.gov.au/media/events_calendar.html with the information most recently submitted to us. The e-newsletter will be discontinued, so we encourage you to visit the websites of the various industry associations, festivals and events carried on in the ACT for information on what’s on in the ACT and region (see our industry directory and industry links pages for contact details).

Thank you

I’d like to thank those members of the industry who have emailed, telephoned or visited us to express their appreciation for the location support and information services we have been able to provide. I’d also especially like to thank those in the industry who have been supportive of the office over the past two years and who have understood how the office operated in tandem with other ACT Government departments, such as artsACT and BusinessACT, to support the industry.

I’d like to thank Edward Chalmers, our Admin and Liaison Officer, who took to the position with enthusiasm and professionalism earlier this year at a hectic time after we had been understaffed for several months. Edward is heading to the more tropical environs of Queensland and I wish him all the best for his future!

I’d like to thank Robert Pickles for his keen knowledge of the industry and sense of humour in the office! I wish Robert every success with his continued role with ScreenACT and CRDB.

I am taking the opportunity to have some time away from the office to focus on the birth of my second child, due in a couple of months. I will also be contributing to the free regular e-newsletter, Canberra Film News, and am happy for members of the industry to submit items for publication in that free resource, in the same way that you have relied on ScreenACT’s e-newsletter for news, events and opportunities – you can contact me for this purpose care of: info@canberrashorts.com.

Regards,

Simone Carton
Manager, ScreenACT

1 – 2pm, Sunday 30 September, Visions Theatre, National Museum of Australia

The ANU's Centre for New Media Arts holds a series of public lectures each year in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia. The series focuses on artistic practice in new media and ties in with the postgraduate program. Guest speakers are invited to present a lecture about their areas of research in new media. All of the CNMA lectures are free and open to the public - no booking is required.

Jay Kyburz, Andrew James and Simon Eschbach of Irrational Games will present a brief overview of making graphics for the next generation of video game consoles such as the XBox 360 and the Playstation 3.

The session will be divided into three sections. In the first section, Andrew will show how art assets evolve from a concept sketch, through to a final asset in the game. In the second section, Jay will show how assets are arranged in a game level and talk about the 3 constraints of level building: aesthetics; performance; and gameplay. Finally, Simon will show how new technology, such as real time physics, is bringing game worlds to life.

Irrational Games has been operating here in Canberra for over 5 years and is responsible for titles such as Freedom Force, Tribes: Vengeance, and Swat 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate. Irrational's latest game Bioshock received rave reviews when previewed at this year's E3. It's due out mid-2007.

Andrew James is the Lead Artist at Irrational Games Australia. He studied Industrial Design at the University of Newcastle, and worked as an animator and 3d artist for 5 years with Brilliant Digital Entertainment in Sydney and Los Angeles. He has worked on games, music videos and animated children’s DVDs.

Jay Kyburz is the Lead Level Builder at Irrational and studied Industrial Design at the University of Canberra. Jay has worked in the games industry as an Artist and Designer for over 10 years.

Simon Eschbach is a recent Software Engineering graduate from the University of Canberra. After spending 18 months of his study focussed on games programming, he joined Irrational Games Australia to work on their latest title in September 2005.

For more information contact Lyn Stevens on 6125 5640. Website: www.anu.edu.au/newmedia

8 – 10am, Monday 30 October

The AFC is hosting a breakfast event in each state to:

• inform practitioners about the work of the Film Development Division of the AFC
• give practitioners the opportunity to meet FD Project Managers
• promote the 2006/2007 Guidelines
• educate applicants about the Film Development assessment process
• profile projects that were developed and/or funded by the AFC in 2005
• reinforce IndiVision and the AFC's work in low-budget feature development
• provide a networking opportunity for practitioners.

The Canberra breakfast will be held on Monday 30 October from 8-10am (venue to be announced). The event is open to any filmmaker interested in finding out about funding and the film development role of the AFC. The event will include a talk from AFC Project Managers (Mike Cowap - Film Development representative for Canberra and also Richard Brennan) followed by a Q&A. Breakfast will then be available along with the opportunity for filmmakers to ask further questions or to network with the AFC and each other.

The AFC would also like to continue to provide practitioners with the opportunity to discuss their specific projects in one-on-one meetings with the Project Managers in the day/s before and/or after the event. If you are interested in this opportunity, visit the AFC website for updates or contact Liza Lakusa at the AFC for more information.

For more information contact Liza Lakusa on (03) 8646 4300. Website: www.afc.gov.au

Welcome to the September 2006 edition of the ScreenACT Newsletter: a source of information from the ACT Government for the local Film, Television and Digital Media industry and enthusiasts. We welcome your feedback and news.

In this Issue

• From the Editor
• Article submissions
• Events calendar submissions
• Information for prospective location providers in the ACT and Capital Region
• AIE Canberra Open Night
• New business expo coming to the region in 2007
• Digital Compositing – a great tool for filmmakers
• AIE 2007 Applications open now!
• Dates announced for SNOWYfest 2007
• Yakka Oy – locally produced film
• National Film and Sound Archive Cinémathèque at the Electric Shadows Cinema
• September Canberra Shorts
• Home Brewed 2006 comes to Canberra
• Home Brewed screening at Lake Crackenback
• Best of SNOWYfest 2006
• The 10th Canberra International Film Festival
• New Media Lecture Series – Jonathan Nix: From Material Gain to the Missing Key
• ACT Filmmakers Network Briefing Session 2006 #3: Interactivity – The New World of Production Development
• ACT Filmmakers Network Briefing Session 2006 #4: Documentary Productions – What do broadcasters want?
• ACT Filmmakers Network Briefing Session 2006 #5: Cinematographer and High Definition Video
• Ztudio 3 minute Opportunity
• FNI(A) Awards – Final Call for Entries
• The 5th Live-In-Lamp - Tasmania
• Cutting-edge cinema for National Film and Sound Archive
• Game Connect: Asia Pacific
• Will video games make the leap to art?
• The 2006 Inside Film Awards

There has been quite a lot of talk in the press recently about declining levels of visiting productions shooting in Australia. Interestingly, the number of location enquiries coming through directly or via organisations such as Ausfilm seem to have increased in frequency over the last month.

ScreenACT responded to a number of enquiries last month, including forwarding images of Goulburn’s old psychiatric institution as a suggested location for one upcoming US feature. Given the diversity of locations in the Capital Region, many of our location enquiries spread out to the ACT’s neighbouring NSW council areas and our Regional Production Liaison Officer (NSW Capital Region), Robert Pickles, has kept busy working with the various local councils in responding to these enquiries. Within Canberra, ScreenACT is pleased to have been able to assist numerous student and established local filmmakers over the past few months to identify suitable locations for short films within the ACT. One interesting enquiry from a student filmmaker included seeking an underground train station entrance - while not a common location request for Canberra, ScreenACT was able to suggest an alternative location offering the look and feel of an underground train station entrance, to save the student a trip outside the ACT.

While on the topic of student or independent filmmaking in Canberra, ScreenACT often hears from filmmakers looking for private locations in which to shoot. You may even have received a request yourself to offer up your lounge room for a friend’s short film. In this month’s newsletter, we have included some general guidelines that prospective location providers may wish to consider before opening up their home, office or other private location to a film crew (see item below)!

As we head towards October, the film festival season in Canberra and the Capital Region is hotting up, and this month’s newsletter offers a sneak preview of what’s coming up. The month kicks off with the Home Brewed International Film Festival screening in Canberra on 5 October and Lake Crackenback on 6 and 8 October, followed shortly afterwards by the Best of SNOWYfest 06 at Electric Shadows on 9 October. While we haven’t received details for publication in this newsletter from the festival organisers, the Canberra Short Film Festival is also coming up from 13-22 October. And to finish off the month, the Canberra International Film Festival is screening from 26 October to 5 November. So, if you are a budding filmmaker or film buff, October will be the month to get out and see some great films - see the Screenings and Special Events section of the newsletter for more details on these events!

ScreenACT welcomes news stories, upcoming events and other items of interest from subscribers for inclusion in our newsletter.

Please ensure all articles are accurate and have been proofread prior to submission. ScreenACT holds no responsibility for the publication of inaccurate information submitted to it by external parties and reserves the right to edit and/or refuse articles at its discretion.

Articles should be submitted by email to screenact@act.gov.au with “Newsletter Item” in the subject line.

Events calendar submissions and online industry directory

Just a reminder that upcoming events of interest to the local screen industry and enthusiasts are listed on the ScreenACT website at: http://www.screenact.act.gov.au/media/events_calendar.html.

If you have an upcoming event, send details to screenact@act.gov.au with “Events Calendar item” in the subject line, and include the event name, brief description, venue, date, time, cost, contact details and website address (if applicable). ScreenACT reviews all submissions before publication and reserves the right to edit entries to fit the calendar format.

Also a reminder to local filmmakers that the online industry directory is a free resource provided by ScreenACT for you to list your business and to search for production and support services available in the ACT and Capital Region. ScreenACT has had several enquiries about the directory since it was posted online and hopes the industry is starting to benefit from another avenue for publication to the wider market. The industry directory can be viewed at: http://www.screenact.act.gov.au/resources/industry_directory.html.

Shortly you will also see some additional information added to the website, including permit and contact information, so keep an eye out for these changes.

Prospective location providers in the ACT and Capital Region are reminded to consider the impact on their property of any filming activity, including whether the filmmaker or production company has appropriate insurance coverage. Some general points to consider might include:

§ Consider the nature (eg feature, short film, commercial, TV series) and size of the production, including:

• the number of individuals in the cast and crew
• any vehicles to be used on/parked outside your property
• Number of days required for the shoot, including preparation and wrap up and shoot hours for each day (get a timetable upfront)

§ Obtain contact details for the production company (including emergency contact numbers for during the shoot).
§ Enquire as to whether the filmmaker/production company has appropriate insurance in place (obtain a copy of the policy).
§ Ask whether any special effects are to be used (eg prop guns, weapons, fire effects – ScreenACT can put you in touch with the appropriate authority if applicable) – consider building fire regulations and safety procedures.
§ You may wish to request a “walk through” with crew members at your location to review the potential impact of the filming activity, including how the shoot may impact neighbouring residents/properties.
§ In setting a fee for filming activity, consider the type of production and varying budgets of filmmakers! For example, an independent feature film is likely to have a very low budget, particularly when compared to a television series, commercial or major feature. A starting point may be the revenue you might otherwise forego by closing your location for a film shoot (eg where the location is generally let out for other purposes). You may also want to consider incidental charges, such as electricity, water or phone usage.
§ Establishing rules or guidelines in writing as part of your location agreement before the shoot may be useful to ensure both parties have the same understanding upfront.
§ Ensure that the filmmaker/production company will be responsible for cleanup and removal of any rubbish on completion of the shoot and will return the location to its original condition. Conduct an inspection of your property immediately on conclusion of the shoot with a representative of the production company/ filmmaker.

The points listed above are general guidelines for reference purposes only. ScreenACT makes no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness of these guidelines and we recommend you obtain independent legal advice in relation to any agreements entered into with individuals or production companies in connection with filming activity on your property.

5:30 to 7pm, Tuesday 26 September, Block E, Phillip Avenue, Watson

Want to find out more about AIE and the courses on offer in 2007? Attend one of the AIE open nights to view student artwork & games, chat to the friendly staff and tour their facilities. AIE Teachers and Students will also be on hand to answer any questions you have about careers in the games, film and 3D industries.

If you are unable to make it to the open night, campus tours can be arranged for other times. Please contact enquiries@aie.act.edu.au for more information.

Regional Events Australia will present the inaugural Capital Region Business Expo in May 2007. Their aim is to establish the Capital Region Business Expo as the leading business-to-business expo within the region targeted at the SME market of Canberra and Queanbeyan and will be based on successful expos held throughout NSW and Victoria.

The event aims to:

§ Facilitate the networking of the operators of local businesses for future business growth.
§ Provide easily accessible quality information and education.
§ Provide the infrastructure for the marketing of sponsors’ and exhibitors’ products and services to a quality audience of business decision makers and their influencers.

The inaugural Capital Region Business Expo will comprise:

§ Exhibition sites/displays of a minimum 70 businesses and organizations, all who provide products and services to the Capital Region business community.
§ A program of over 35 free Business Seminars.
§ Keynote presentation.
§ Networking functions.
§ Special industry forums.
§ Workshops.

The Expo will be held over two days (Wednesday 23 May and Thursday 24 May) at the Hellenic Club of Canberra, commencing at 9.00am on the Wednesday (through to 6.30pm) and from 9.00am to 5.30pm on the Thursday.

For more details, visit www.capitalbusinessexpo.com.au or call Regional Events Australia on 1300 55 32 35. Regional Events Australia presents business expos throughout regional Australia: www.regionaleventsaustralia.com.

Editor’s note: ScreenACT received an invitation to participate in coordination of the Expo along with other areas of ACT Government and the CRDB. As most businesses in the local screen industry fall within the SME category, the expo may present the industry with a good opportunity to present their work on a coordinated basis to a wider business market. If you would be interested in a coordinated industry approach, contact ScreenACT.

The Academy of Interactive Entertainment’s latest course, Certificate III in Screen (Digital Compositing) is now up and running! This course teaches students the fundamentals of using Combustion for live action and 3D digital effects. Taught in three modules, the Certificate III covers topics including special effects (fog, smoke, fire, etc), integrating 3D footage, greenscreen filming, colour manipulation and correction, retouching footage (removing wires, unwanted scenery, people, etc). Interest in this course has been high, though there are still a couple of places left for this year.

Expressions of interest in a more in-depth digital compositing course for 2007 are also being taken. Please contact AIE on 6162 5131 or email enquiries@aie.act.edu.au to register your interest.

Round One applications close 26 October 2006

Applications for AIE’s Certificate IV in 3D Animation for Games and Film are now being accepted. The Certificate IV, offered in partnership with CIT, introduces students to 3D Studio Max and the skills required to produce industry-standard 3D modelling and basic animations. During the course, students work through the elements of digital art essential to the games, film, television, design and other 3D industries.

Completion of this course is the essential foundation to help students decide on future training directions and industry destinations.

Please visit www.aie.edu.au or contact AIE on 02 6162 5131 for more information.

The 2007 SNOWYfest International Film Festival will be held from Wednesday 13 June through to Sunday 17 June at the Alpine Hotel in Thredbo. Details on the call for entries will be available shortly. For more information about SNOWYfest and the call for entries for 2007, email info@snowyfest.com or visit the website, www.snowyfest.com.

Clear Vision Films has announced the release of their first Action Feature Film for sale.
The film is Yakka Oy and was shot mainly in Canberra and privately funded.

For further information, contact Warren Coulton on 0438 647 281, email wcoulton@clearvisionfilms.com or visit the web site www.yakkaoy.com.

Electric Shadows Cinemas, City Walk, Canberra, admission by subscription ($15 for any three films; excluding the Late British Silents: $15 or $12 concession/NFSA Cinémathèque members)

In September, the NFSA Cinémathèque at Electric Shadows Cinemas presents two late British silent films with musical accompaniment, and a season of films by Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, a contemporary of Bertolucci and Pasolini.

In collaboration with the Electric Shadows Cinemas and the ANU School of Music, the NFSA is screening rarely seen late British silent films with live music accompaniment. High Treason (1929) is often described as Britain’s own Metropolis – a fascinating projected vision of the 1950s complete with rocket cars and videophones. The film will be accompanied live by renowned US musicologist and silent film pianist Peter Muir.

Volatile Bodies: the Films of Marco Bellocchio scans this filmmaker’s career from his early socio-political satires such as Fists in the Pocket (1966) and China is Near (1967) through to his richly textured later films – Goodmorning, Night (2003) and My Mother’s Smile (2002). Although long active in Italian cinema, Bellocchio's four decade-long career regained international attention with the impact of Goodmorning Night, an extraordinarily dream-like account of the 1978 kidnapping of Aldo Moro by the Red Brigade. This season gives new audiences a chance to see Bellocchio's early work, long unseen in Australia. Both Fists in the Pocket and China is Near feature majestic scores by Ennio Morricone.

FISTS IN THE POCKET (unclassified 18+) screens 9 September, 200pm
HIGH TREASON (unclassified 18+) screens 10 September, 3.00pm
CHINA IS NEAR (unclassified 18+) screens 16 September, 2.00pm
GOOD MORNING, NIGHT (M) screens 23 September, 2.00pm
MY MOTHER’S SMILE (M) screens 30 September, 2.00pm

The full program can be viewed online at: www.nfsa.afc.gov.au/cinematheque.

8pm, Thursday 7 September, Holy Grail, Civic, Free admission

The September edition of Canberra Shorts features local and international short films, movie trivia, plus an interview with Sydney Director Scott Murden, who is about to shoot the feature film The Dinner Party here in Canberra.

Canberra Shorts welcomes submissions from local filmmakers at all times. Entry is free!

For updates on Canberra Shorts and SNOWYfest, email info@canberrashorts.com or check out the website at www.canberrashorts.com.

Canberra Shorts is proudly supported by the SNOWYfest International Film Festival, Mortgage Australia Group, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, ACT Filmmakers Network, Electric Shadows, RONIN Films and the Holy Grail.

8pm, Thursday 5 October, Holy Grail, Civic, Free admission

The Home Brewed International Film Festival hits Canberra again this October. Screening almost 2 hours of stunning world-class short films, it promises to be a great evening at the Holy Grail in Civic. A perfect chance for local filmmakers to come along and see what they can aspire to in the development of their craft. The night will include giveaways of drinks, movie passes and magazines for the audience.

For more information, visit www.homebrewed.com.au.

7.30pm for 8pm screening, Friday 6 October and 4pm, Sunday 8 October, Cuisine Bar, Novotel Lake Crackenback, Free admission

The Home Brewed International Film Festival is screening in Lake Crackenback as part of the 2006 Festival. The festival runs from 5-21 October 2006, with screenings in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong, Bowral and Lake Crackenback. The Lake Crackenback screenings will show finalist short films from Australia and overseas.

For more information, visit www.homebrewed.com.au.

6:30pm, Monday 9 October, Electric Shadows Cinemas, City Walk, Canberra

A selection of the best films from the SNOWYfest International Film Festival will screen at Electric Shadows in October. The screening will give Canberrans a taste of the world-class films shown on the first weekend after the June long weekend each year at SNOWYfest Thredbo.

The films will include finalists in both the Best Film and Best Capital Region Film categories. Highlights include the overall winner, Binta & the Great Idea (from Spain), locally produced documentary Our Community, and Insecurities, a documentary exploring in a mature and professional manner the impact the fear of terrorism has on people’s lives. Check the cinema for further details closer to the screening.

For more information about SNOWYfest and the call for entries for 2007, email: info@snowyfest.com.

Thursday 26 October – Sunday 5 November, Electric Shadows Cinemas, City Walk, Canberra

Now in its 10th successful year, the Canberra International Film Festival will be the biggest and most exciting cinematic fiesta ever staged in Canberra. It will be held in the heart of the city at Electric Shadows from Thursday 26 October to Sunday 5 November.

The 2006 Festival promises to be one of the biggest yet. Programming is well underway with films from Germany, the USA, Russia, Brazil, Argentina and China. In 2005, the Canberra International Film Festival featured 24 films from 16 countries, 11 of which were Australian premieres.

The Festival boasts an abundance of entertainment to suit everyone with a thrilling collection of quality international and Australian films. The subject range is vast and ranges from war dramas, refugees’ stories, amazing nature documentaries, and political dramas as well as historical and intriguing documentaries. There are touching romantic dramas, stories of terrorist atrocities and films that celebrate the love and compassion that fires the human spirit.

The Festival has consolidated its place in Canberra’s arts calendar due to creative programming that has brought quirky, thought provoking and original films. This is a festival widely recognised for its ability to program independent films that go on to win coveted prizes and awards, capturing the hearts and minds of festival cinemagoers and ultimately grabbing the attention of a mainstream audience.

The eleven-day festival brings together a large and diverse audience of film lovers, arts enthusiasts and the general public. In addition to attending the screenings, audiences may choose to do a workshop, participate in a seminar or take the opportunity to meet film critics, filmmakers, actors, distributors or other film lovers.

The 2006 Festival program will be announced in early October. For updates and previews of what will be on offer, visit: www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au.

1.00 - 2.00pm, Saturday 9 September, National Museum Of Australia, Free admission

In his lecture, award-winning Australian animator Jonathan Nix will talk about his first animated film Material Gain, and why it took twenty years before he made his second film Hello. He will discuss his background in music and visual art, how he got into animation, and what he is up to now. This lecture showcases how Jonathan Nix developed as an animator and provides an insight into how to become one.

Jonathon’s animated films and music videos have screened on television and in numerous film festivals around the world. He is currently producing his fourth animated film, a 26-minute hand drawn film The Missing Key produced by Cartwheel Partners in Sydney. Jonathan’s work can be viewed at: www.studionix.com & www.so-net.ne.jp/cotocoto/jona/.

For more information, contact Lyn Stevenson on 6125 5640 or at cnma@anu.edu.au or visit the website: www.anu.edu.au/newmedia.

Presented by the ANU Centre For New Media Arts.

7:00pm, Wednesday 27 September, National Museum of Australia, Free admission
Consumers are becoming more demanding about their consumption needs.
This session considers what is the new and progressive relationship required between television/film content and the interactive component of content for websites, IPOD, RSS and content for mobile phones to add value to planned production.
The creation, use and complexity of developing content for producers is progressively becoming more complex. We are now living in the information age and the session looks at some of the questions and considerations practitioners should consider when developing their productions.
The session will be presented by Christy Dena, a cross-media entertainment creator, consultant and researcher, who has mentored at Australia’s cross-media lab (AFTRS LAMP), and advised film and TV practitioners in Australia and overseas.
The ACT Filmmakers' Network is supported by the ACT Government, through artsACT and the briefing sessions are funded and supported by the Australian Film Commission.

7:00pm, Wednesday 25 October, National Museum of Australia, Free admission
Documentary production is recognised as one starting avenue to a career in the production industry. But what type of stories are they looking for?
This session looks at what you should consider in developing and building cases to make your job developing productions more effective and to gain the interest of broadcasters.
The ACT Filmmakers' Network is supported by the ACT Government through artsACT and the briefing sessions are funded and supported by the Australian Film Commission.

7.00pm, Wednesday 29 October, National Museum of Australia, Free admission

High Definition capture and post-production is becoming increasingly prominent in the film and television industry. But is it all its cracked up to be?

This session looks at how cinematography is being affected by HD technology in film and digital environments.

The ACT Filmmakers’ Network is supported by the ACT Government through artsACT and the briefing sessions are funded and supported by the Australian Film Commission.

Deadline extended: 15 September 2006

ZTudio, the production arm of Stacey Testro International, is very pleased to announce that the deadline for applications for the 3 Minute Opportunity has been extended to 15 September 2006. This unique opportunity aims to discover, develop and produce a feature film.

Do you have a feature script that you can express in 3 minutes of footage? If you are selected, ZTudio will develop, finance, produce and market a 10-20 minute short film with a view to producing the feature. For more information on this opportunity please visit the website www.ztudio.com.

This initiative is part of ZTudio’s commitment to develop independent opportunities for film, television and theatre for the global market.

For enquiries and Application Forms, contact Emma Woolley on (03) 9645 9181 or by email at: info@ztudio.com.

Entry deadline extended: 24 September 2006

Visit ucfilmsociety.tripod.com to download an entry form or www.geocities.com/fni_a/ (website still under construction).

For enquiries, contact Nora Preston on 6161 1596 or 0407 601 662 or email fni_a@yahoo.com.au.

Submission deadline: 25 September 2006

Discover emerging media opportunities and create compelling next generation media at the next AFTRS Laboratory for Advanced Media Production residential.

LAMP is designed to future-proof projects by guiding creative teams through the opportunities offered by broadband and IP television, web 2.0 social networks, mobile media, games, virtual worlds and non-linear storytelling. In the last 10 months LAMP has run four major labs developing over 30 projects in a process which has transformed the creative mindset of 92 people. AFTRS LAMP has worked with high level creative teams from ABC TV, News Interactive, Firelight, Bush TV, Movie One and a host of independents to workshop and prototype cutting edge services.

LAMP is now calling for creative teams from all parts of the Australian media industries to submit cross-media projects to its 5th lab to be held at beautiful Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania between 29 October and 3 November 2006. Participants will be led by Australian and international mentors with specialist skills in design, writing, business, user experience and technical aspects of cross media production. They will also use the latest software, develop an interest grabbing pitch and work with some of Australia’s leading cross media developers. LAMP is truly practical, production and market focused.

Visit www.lamp.edu.au to check the selection criteria and download an application form. For all general queries email: lamp@aftrs.edu.au.

The 5th Live-In-LAMP in Tasmania is proudly supported by Screen Tasmania through the Department of Economic Development.

The Australian Film Commission has announced that Arc, a state-of-the-art 250-seat cinema, will be built in the National Film and Sound Archive headquarters in Canberra. Set to open early next year, Arc will feature sophisticated projection equipment which will allow the public to experience the best archival prints from the NFSA’s own collection as well as thousands of films restored by other film archives around the world.

NFSA Director Paolo Cherchi Usai said the cinema was the fulfilment of a dream
pursued by the NFSA since its beginnings in 1984. For the NFSA’s Chief Programmer, Quentin Turnour, it represents a unique opportunity to present archival prints as they should be seen.

Arc will also eventually be fitted with digital projection equipment.

For viewers, one of Arc’s most distinctive qualities will be its interior design, a showcase of dramatic lighting, soundscapes and dynamic artworks projected onscreen while audiences enter the theatre.

“This will not be a commercial cinema – the Arc will be special in that it will make the
experience of waiting for the movie to start as exciting as the film itself, with sounds and images creating a truly unique atmosphere,” Mr Cherchi Usai said.

The construction will involve a major restructure of the NFSA’s North Gallery exhibition
space in Acton.

The NFSA will launch a fully-fledged film program once the venue is open, with NFSA
curators working towards making Arc the leading repertoire cinema in Australia.

The full media release can be viewed on the AFC website at: http://www.afc.gov.au/newsandevents/mediarelease/2006/release_484.aspx.

Early bird registration opens 14 September

Game Connect: Asia Pacific will be held in Brisbane from Thursday 30 November to Saturday 2 December 2006.

The inaugural Game Connect: Asia Pacific Conference will be the first conference staged in Australia for Australian and Asia Pacific Game Developers. Game Connect: Asia Pacific will focus on best practice, learning, discussion and growth of game development and sharing of knowledge.

The Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, situated in Southbank, Brisbane.

This unique event presents an opportunity to meet and network with others within the game development industry. The conference is anticipated to attract over 300 delegates from across Australia and the Asia Pacific. Delegates will include developers from Australia and the Asia Pacific region, publishers of game software from international and local companies as well as telco carriers and game distributors.

Early bird registration will open on 14 September. For more information or to register interest in attending, visit: www.gameconnectap.com.

Local firm, Micro Forte, and founder John De Margheriti featured in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald’s weekend edition Spectrum liftout (September 2-3, 2006). The Article, Art of the Game, considered whether video games will ever transcend the realm of entertainment to become works of art.

The article points out that “not much difference can be observed between the methods of making games and animated films. A games design team, with its director, producer, artists and programmers, looks strikingly similar to the teams toiling at the Pixar or Dreamworks animation studios on films such as Cars and Madagascar. Some of the artists and programmers cross between the industries.”

For anyone interested in reading the full article, ScreenACT has a copy in its office.

Editor’s note: On a related theme, GameSpot UK reports that, at a launch event held by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the British Academy Video Games Awards 2006, the chairman of BAFTA, Hilary Bevan-Jones, said that the expansion of the video game awards to the level of their prestigious counterparts in film and television was a recognition that “this art form has truly come of age”. The full article can be viewed at: http://au.gamespot.com/news/6157048.html?sid=6157048∂=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6157048

Scoring closes: Midnight, 16 September 2006

The 2006 Inside Film Awards invites you to participate in the people’s choice awards for Australian film. All current Australian features, short films and documentaries are eligible. Whether you’ve seen one of the latest Australian feature films, a great short film or a cutting edge documentary, you can start rating now.

Films can be rated via SMS or the website. To SMS ratings, just text a score between 1 and 5 (5 being the highest), followed by a space, and the film title to 1990 8008 (ie 4 FILM TITLE) (55c per SMS). To rate via the web, log onto www.ifawards.com, click on the register button at the top right hand corner of the home page, fill in your details and start rating films. You can rate as many films as you like but you can only rate each particular film once. By rating films online you will not only help to decide the winners of this year’s Inside Film Awards, but you will also go into the draw to win a fantastic VIP prize package to attend this year’s event on the Gold Coast.

The Inside Film Awards will be held on 17 November at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland and will be broadcast live on SBS at 10pm with delayed telecasts screening on SHOWTIME.

For full competition requirements, conditions, prize details and registration to rate films go to the 2006 Inside Film Awards website: www.ifawards.com.