ScreenACT Newsletter

ScreenACT is pleased to announce it has established a $45,000 fund, offering individual grants of up to $10,000 to help boost the local production industry.

The ScreenACT 2008 Project Fund will be offered early in the new year, and is geared towards film, television and digital media projects that have a business focus and are intended to eventually return a profit.

Applications for the ScreenACT Project Fund are now open, and the deadline is January 25th, 2008. The fund is open to ACT and Capital Region practitioners.

ScreenACT will be holding an information session for interested applicants at Canberra Museum & Gallery “Public Meeting Room” on Friday December 7th at 12 midday.

More information, application forms and eligibility criteria are available on the ScreenACT website.

ScreenACT is offering travel assistance of $750 each to 4 suitable applicants to attend the Australian International Documentary Conference in Fremantle, WA 20-22 February 2008.

The AIDC is one of the largest screen industry conferences in Australia. It provides a market place for documentary product for national and international buyers and distributors, showcases the work of Australian and international documentary makers, and creates a forum to discuss content, craft, technology and future directions.

In providing this travel assistance, ScreenACT wishes to assist ACT and Capital Region screen industry practitioners in their professional development and/or to raise investment funds for their productions.

Funding will be at a set amount of $750 per person as a contribution towards travel costs.

In addition ScreenACT will provide a group information session for the 4 successful applicants with Andrew Pike of Ronin Films to gain some insights into the workings of AIDC and suggestions of how best to utilise the experience of attending. This will take place in Mid January and will be a one hour session

Applications close Thursday Dec 6th, 2008.

To apply, or for more information, please download the application form at http://screenact.encode.net.au/res/File/ScreenACT%20AIDC%20funding.doc

To learn more about AIDC see http://www.aidc.com.au

ScreenACT, in conjunction with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) is pleased to announce two scholarships in Games Programming at the AIE, Australia's leading games development and 3D animation training organisation.

Brendan Walsh, ScreenACT Manager said “We see this as a great way to help get students into courses that have a high chance of resulting in very real local jobs within the games industry. It is not only the students benefiting, but also ACT businesses.”

Each scholarship, worth $1400, will assist students from the ACT and Capital Region to study either the Certificate IV in IT (Games Programming) or Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development (Software Development).

“This is a great opportunity for students to get assistance in an area that will further fuel the growth of the game development and simulation industries in Canberra” said Mr Neil Boyd, Head of School, AIE Canberra.

“Game Programming Graduates from the AIE have been in great demand by local companies including 2K Australia (Bioshock), Micro Fortè (Fallout Tactics), Simmersion and Catalyst Interactive. ScreenACT's scholarships will make games programming course more accessible by students with financial constraints” Mr Boyd said.

The Certificate IV in Information Technology (Games Programming) is the first step towards a career as a programmer in games development and focuses on C++ for games, games math and 3D programming. The Certificate IV leads in to the Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development (Software Development) which furthers their skills in all aspects of C++ programming and game design before focusing on individual specialisations including graphics, shaders and effects, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and networking.

Since 1996, AIE has enabled graduates with the skills necessary for careers in the world's fastest growing digital media industries. AIE graduates can now be found working in games, film and 3D production studios throughout the world. AIE's Canberra and Melbourne campuses offer a wide range of courses from full time Advanced Diploma studies to part time and online Certificate II and Certificate III courses.

To apply for the scholarships contact AIE (www.aie.edu.au) on (02) 6162 5131 or email enquiries@aie.act.edu.au

The introduction of The Australian Screen Production Incentive represents a significant change to the Australian screen financing landscape.

In this national seminar series, the AFTRS Centre for Screen Business (CSB) will deliver practical advice about how to use the new producer offset or rebate as part of a finance plan for screen productions.
CSB has commissioned three leading producers, who have worked with a leading lawyer and accountant, to create case studies demonstrating how to use the rebate as part of a financing strategy for a feature film, a TV series and a documentary. These case studies will be analysed by a panel of industry experts.

The seminar will be presented in association with FFC, SPAA and ATO. The seminar will be chaired by CSB Director David Court; details of speakers still to be confirmed

When:Wednesday 28 November; 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Where:National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton, Canberra

With local support from ScreenACT and The NFSA the seminar is offered for free; but numbers are limited and places will be reserved on a first come first served basis: To reserve your place go to: http://myregistration.aftrs.edu.au/sr.cfm?v=E742

“The Informant” is a Screentime Productions telemovie for Network Ten; and they will be doing one weeks filming in Canberra in late November.

They are currently seeking local extras for up to a day's work in a variety of roles; including workers in a very modern office setting, bistro diners and staff, shopping centre shoppers, a photographer and a car raffle organiser.

To apply for a role, download this document (http://www.screenact.com.au/res/File/Canberra%20Extras%20details.doc), complete it, and return as an email to casting director Sue Walsh at: suewalsh@iprimus.com.au

EDNA is the Emerging Doco-makers Network of Australia.
The aims of EDNA are to provide resources for emerging documentary filmmakers, foster creative and professional development, offer funding opportunities, screening programs and education at secondary and tertiary levels. EDNA is about providing a new voice with new perspectives. Their website was recently launched, and is continuously being updated. http://emergingdoco.com.au

The Documentary Australia Foundation is a private philanthropic initiative to provide information and resources to philanthropic grant-makers, charitable organisations and documentary filmmakers in order to explore, share and enhance their mutual objectives of creating a better society.

DAF is a DCITA registered cultural organization whose aim is to work as a conduit between funders and the filmmaker in the charitable filmmaking area. It is not a funding body itself. For more information see their website: http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au

The Film Finance Corporation is now finalising the new Producer Offset Rules, which will settle some administrative aspects of the scheme. They plan to release the offset guidelines and application form to the industry this week (subject to receipt of required legal advice by the FFC).

For the latest see: http://www.ffc.gov.au/

SPAA Fringe is now over for another year and sessions, on video, from this year in Sydney have now been posted on the SPAA website.

There are currently 15 sessions posted and they are free to watch:

http://www.spaa.org.au/fringe_2007/index.cfm?dx=blank&contentid=557

NIDA returns to Canberra in the Summer Holidays, in association with the Canberra Theatre Centre, presenting the following courses:

Drama School
A comprehensive week developing performance skills for talented young people. A mini NIDA for the committed player. The course covers a range of performance skills development: improvisation, voice, movement, characterisation, acting technique, acting to camera, devising & rehearsing scenes, auditions and screen tests. Course participants will perform scenes at the end of the week.
Monday 7 to Friday 11 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$495 (earlybird $470). Course 08S1101. 12-15 years

Dramatic Writing
Great stories start with the writer, whether on film, TV or stage. Discover what makes effective characterisation and a good plot. Stretch your imagination, and test findings in short, original scripts.
Monday 7 to Friday 11 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$495 (earlybird $470) Course 08S1102. 16 years +

NIDA Acting Techniques
Identify and experience the essentials of acting. Develop skills in voice, movement, improvisation and characterisation. Respond to scripts and relate to others effectively and prepare to act with ease and skill.
Monday 7 to Friday 11 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$495 (earlybird $470) 16 years+

TV Presenting
Gain an awareness of your natural screen presence and learn how to apply this to presenting on-screen, particularly in the context of television and documentaries. Practise as a TV presenter for lifestyle, game and chat shows.
Monday 7 to Friday 11 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$495 (earlybird $470) 16 years+

Acting to Camera
See yourself on screen and experiment with simple scene-work, both improvised and scripted.
Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$220 (earlybird $200) Course 08S1105. 12-15 years

Devising Theatre for Teachers
For secondary and primary schoolteachers: practical methods to inspire group-devised performances and assist students to shape their work in a variety of venues. 18 years +
Saturday 5 to 6 Sunday January, 10.00am – 5.00pm
$220 (earlybird $200) Course 08S1106

Screen Acting Intensive
Film short scenes from the best in film and TV drama to camera. Get feedback and maximise truthfulness in your performance.
Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 January, 10.00am – 5.00pm
$220 (earlybird $200) Course 08S1107. 16 years +

Video Making Intensive
Understand the basics of screen language and the production process for digital videos. For those who want to apply creative professional skills to making videos at home, school or work.
Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 January. 10.00am – 5.00pm
$220 (earlybird $200) Course 08S1108. 16 years +

For bookings contact NIDA Open Program 02 9697 7626 or email open@nida.edu.au. Full program details available on the NIDA website www.nida.edu.au

ABC TV Arts, Entertainment & Comedy and ABC TV Documentaries (Science) will finance the development of a Science and Arts documentary project to the value of AU$10,000 in a pitching competition at the AIDC, February 20-22, 2008.
The collaboration between these two highly divergent cultures is now a dynamic area of practice. Increasing numbers of artists and scientists are exploring each other's ideas, materials and working methods. Artists are inspired by science and technology as well as providing fresh critical viewpoints of the consequences of new knowledge. The artistic impulse is itself an area of research by scientists.
Proposals from science and arts filmmakers that are interesting innovative formats are welcomed. We would like to receive applications that demonstrate new thoughts or new concepts on how a convergence of arts and science could be expressed on television.

ABC TV Arts and ABC TV Docs are calling for treatments of up to 3 pages for either a one-hour documentary or a documentary series for prime time slots on ABC TV.
The deadline for applications is January 14 2008.

For more information please go to www.abc.net.au/tv/aidc

DOCUmart will again be a major feature of the 2008 AIDC MarketPlace.
Derived from the Forum and Hot Docs markets, the DOCUmart is a vital one-day marketplace for documentary content creators. Short-listed projects will be pitched by the respective production teams to a panel of leading international commissioning editors and distributors of documentary programs.
Pitching your project at DOCUmart will give you and your project valuable exposure to the national and international broadcasters, potential co-production partners, distributors, funding bodies and new media commissioners.

DOCUmart submissions close at 5pm, Monday 3 December, 2007.

For more information see: http://www.aidc.com.au/market-place/documart

MeetMarket 2008, an initiative by the Australian Film Commission and the Australian International Documentary Conference, is back for 2008. MeetMarket is a unique opportunity for Australian documentary filmmakers with fresh ideas and projects in development to meet with potential buyers. Successful MeetMarket submissions will be presented to the International and Australian acquisitions executives attending the 2008 AIDC in Perth from 20-22 February, 2008.
Applicants are required to submit a two-minute video pitch teaser of their documentary project. The International and Australian selectors will choose up to 20 to take part in MeetMarket at AIDC. The buyers will be able to view these online pitch teasers prior to the AIDC and request meetings with the filmmakers. These meetings will be scheduled during the AIDC and will take place in a specially designated room at the Conference.
All successful applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a pitch preparation session the day before the Conference commences.

For more information see: http://www.aidc.com.au/market-place/meetmarket-2008

This is Australia's first management qualification specially designed for media and screen professionals. It will bring together the best and brightest from the ranks of Australian media executives and screen producers. Throughout this 10 month program of intensive weekend workshops students will be exposed to the best contemporary business thinking and practice in our sector. They will engage with the complexities of managing the creative process and develop strategies to grow strong media businesses.

For more information see: http://csb.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectid=ED2AB8C7-145E-3FE8-8270D00196E4D636

The Australian Film Television and Radio School is dedicated to finding and nurturing the next generation of storytellers. With a strong track record of shaping Australia's finest film, TV, digital media and radio practitioners, AFTRS wants to hear from budding screenwriters, producers and directors. In 2008, AFTRS is offering six part-time graduate certificate courses that will be delivered around the country, including two brand new screen drama courses:

- Screen Drama in Screenwriting and Producing
- Screen Drama in Directing and Screenwriting

These two courses will be offered in Sydney in 2nd semester.

Other Graduate Certificates being offered at AFTRS in 2008 include:
- 3D Animation
- Motion Graphics and Emerging Media Design
- Commercial Radio Programming
- Business Administration (Creative Industries)

Applications close November 30
Visit www.aftrs.edu.au for more information and to apply.

The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) represents the interests of Australian producers on all issues that affect the business and creative aspects of independent screen production.
The annual conference is held over three days and is the premiere business and networking event for film, television, and new media producers.
Attendees include key Australian and international industry practitioners involved in all aspects of producing, creating, distributing and financing screen content.
The program offers a mix of interviews, pitching opportunities, panel discussions, workshops, and social events with opportunities for business development and networking in a relaxed environment.

For more information and registration see http://www.spaa.org.au/conference_2007/

Applications for the Australian Writers' Guild/FremantleMedia Scriptwriter Training Initiative are now open.

This initiative will give two writers the opportunity to be part of the NEIGHBOURS story team for up to six weeks commencing in early 2008. The writers will also receive up to $5,000 each (including air fares and expenses if based outside of Melbourne)

Applications Close Nov 23.
For more info see: http://www.awg.com.au/artman/publish/article_464.shtml

The FTO is inviting applications for the next Aurora scriptwriting program from any genre. Aurora has one round per year, which supports up to four projects through an
intensive residential script workshop and development process. The program also assists producers with strategies for marketing their films.

FTO aims to support filmmakers' careers, as well as individual projects. Accordingly, in this round, preference will be given to teams with a director who has already made
and released one feature film. Scripts need to be well developed and at least at second draft stage. A director and producer must be attached as well as the writer. Teams
comprising of writer/directors with a producer attached, as well as co-writers with a director and producer attached will also be considered.

One member of the team may reside outside New South Wales.

Applications close on Monday 26 November 2007.

For more information or to download application forms contact Harriet McKern, Coordinator Aurora.
PH: 02-9264-6400 or mckernh@fto.nsw.gov.au
http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/fund.asp?id=219

The Game Connect Skills and Investment Forum is aimed at addressing the skills shortage. The line-up of speakers includes:

Warren Currell – Canadian Game Developer from Sherpa Games – will be the keynote speaker at the INVESTMENT Forum who will talk about the Canadian experience and the tax rebate the Canadian Government extended to game developers.

This will be followed by a local Venture Capitalist Craig Blair who will talk about the need for more investment into the games industry in Australia. These keynotes will be followed by a Panel Session including:

Mike Fegan – CEO IRGurus - Australian Game Developer and Tom Parkinson – Investment Analyst

The keynote address will be given by Professor (Dr) Katherine Blashki, Chair of New Media Technologies at Deakin University. Katherine will explore some of the issues that contribute to the current skills crisis, exposing some of the myths and attempting some solutions along the way.

The Skills Panel Session will include educators, game developers, school and student viewpoints and coordinated by a local industry player.

There is just over a week to go to the official opening registrations.

For more information see: http://www.gameconnectap.com.au/

Entries are now open for Tropfest 2008. This year all entries are submitted online (although not the actual film).

Films must still be no longer than seven minutes, and must include the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which for 2008 is the number '8'. Anyone can enter regardless of their background or filmmaking experience. Filmmakers will compete for one of 16 Finalist spots, more than $80,000 worth of prizes, and a chance to premiere their films at the world's largest short film festival.

Sony Tropfest 2008 will take place on Sunday 17th February 2008. Now in its 16th year, Sony Tropfest is broadcast nationally via simultaneous satellite screenings in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and a host of regional Australian locations – attracting an audience of more than 150,000 people on a single night.

Deadline for submissions is Thursday 10th January 2008.

Entry guidelines are now available for download at http://www.tropfest.com

PocketVisions is calling for film submissions for the expanded London International Documentary Festival (LIDF) - A Conversation in Film, 2008. The festival is presented in association with the London Review of Books, and with the support of the British Museum, Curzon Cinemas, Barbican and the UK Office of the European Parliament. 2008 sees a continued association with The Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival (New York). The LIDF will run for 6 days between Monday 31st March, and Saturday, April 5th, 2008.

The call for submissions goes out to an international field of applicants. All successful applicants will be invited to be present at the LIDF. LIDF are looking to support new and innovative filmmaking talent, and to ask filmmakers to participate in a series of intertwining 'conversations' to be run alongside the screenings. These 'conversations' will involve academics, journalists, policy-makers, NGOs, and other cultural commentators.

The LIDF is calling for documentary films produced between January 1st 2006 and December 6th 2007, and is particularly, although not exclusively, interested in films that fall within the following categories:
Environment; Human Rights; Memory/history; Ethnography/anthropology; Politics/Philosophy/Economics; Heritage and the Arts; Social and Development issues.

Submission Procedure: Film-makers can enter their films, pay entry fees and find out how to submit their DVD or VHS preview copy at http://www.lidf.co.uk/

Deadline for Submissions: 6th December 2007