From the Editor
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 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!