ScreenACT Newsletter

Applications for the ScreenACT 2008 Project Fund - Round Two, close tomorrow Friday October 17th at 5pm.

The guidelines and application form are available on the website at http://www.screenact.com.au/content.php?id=72

ScreenACT is offering a limited fund to supply ACT practitioners with up to $250 per person, by way of non-repayable grant, to assist with costs for interstate professional development opportunities or other travel opportunities. The fund is intended to assist ACT Practitioners attend conferences, festivals, seminars, or specific one-off workshops.
The type of events this fund is intended for (but not limited to) is:
-SPAA Fringe
-Game Connect Asia Pacific
-Australian Effects and Animation Festival
-National Screen Writers Conference
-Attending various festivals (providing you have a project that has already been accepted for inclusion in that festival).

Guidelines and application details are available at http://www.screenact.com.au/res/File/ScreenACT%20Prof%20Dev%20Attend.pdf

The Canberra International Film Festival returns to Canberra for 2008! With screenings at the Dendy and Arc Cinemas. This year the festival presents an extensive selection of 75 screenings of 41 films from 20 different countries! The full program is now online at the festival's website:

http://www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au/

The Canberra Short Film Festival, with new festival manager SilverSun Pictures, starts today with screenings at Dendy Canberra.
This year's film selection is spectacular, with entries from all over Australia having competed for a chance to screen in the five programs across the three-day festival from 16-18 October.
The program includes the best films in National Competition, Canberra & Region, Youth, Schools and Music Videos categories.
For the full program see: http://silversunpictures.com.au/csff/tickets_programs.html
Bookings can be made on 6221 8900. Tickets $15 each

This year, the CSFF is proud to welcome to Canberra the industry professionals;
Billy Marshall Stoneking (Script Editor, ‘Chopper') on Screenwriting; Paul Kirwan (VFX Supervisor, ‘Transformers', ‘Pirates of Carribean', ‘Lord of the Rings') on VFX for Film; Justin Dix (Props/Art/Designer on ‘Rogue', ‘Charlottes Web', ‘StormWarning') on Art Directing, roduction Design & SpecialFX Makeup; Dan Krige (Director of ‘West') on Directing feature films; NIDA (the prestigious acting school that spawned Hugo Weaving & Cate Blanchett) on Acting.

SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER

"Production Design, Art Directing & SpecialFX Makeup"
Justin Dix
Canberra Museum & Gallery 2pm -4pm
Justin Dix, owner of melbourne-based WickedofOz Productions, has been working in the Film, TV and Commercials industry for the last 10 years in all the above roles. He's worked on everything from Star Wars, Charlottes Web and Rogue, to Gates of Hell, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, and Storm Warning. Justin and his Melbourne team are some of the most talented production designers in Australia, and this seminar will have everything from stories, pics & film excerpts of their work to inside stories from pro's in the industry, and how you might also make a career in production design, props&specialFX in film! Not to be missed!
COST: $10 per person - 60 places only

"Visual FX in Film"
Paul Kirwan
Canberra Museum & Gallery 12pm-1pm
Paul Kirwan, Special Effects Supervisor, recently returned from LA, has worked on just about every recent major blockbuster you can think of; Transformers, Pirates of the Carribean, PeterPan, Master & Commander, Lord of the Rings, Stealth, Titanic, Dante's Peak, Fifth Element and Babe...and is currently working on Baz Luhrmanns new project, 'Australia'. In this seminar, come find out how Paul works his magic, what creative decisions he made in the above films, how he got into the industry, and how you could also find your way into the same field!
COST: Free - 60 places only

"2K Silicon Imaging Camera"
Rohan Dadswell
Canberra Museum & Gallery 10am - 11am
Local cameraman Rohan D has been working in the industry for the last 20 years, and has a wide range of experience with different types of cameras. Here, he will talk about the 2K Digital HD camera, and the pro's and cons of using digital versus film.
COST: FREE

"48 Hour Film Project 2009 Information Session"
Stavros, ACT FilmMakers Network & the 2007 Cannes winner.
Canberra Museum & Gallery 11am - 1130am
The 48-Hour Film Project is the only worldwide time-based filmmaking competition. Winning filmmaking teams get the opportunity to compete against teams from over 70 international cities in the world and have an opportunity to travel to the annual "World Best of 48 Hour Film Project" in New York and the Cannes Film Festival, to participate in the "Short Film Corner Competition". The competition is run once per year, and will be run in conjunction with the Canberra Short Film Festival.

SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER

"Writers Workshop"
Billy Marshall Stoneking
SilverSun Pictures Lounge 9am - 4pm
Stoneking is arguably the most charismatic and inspiring teach of dramatic writing in Australia. He is in constant demand both in Australia and overseas. He has presented his legendary workshop, the Drama of Screenwriting, in every capital city in Australia and New Zealand. He has also been a featured speaker at Tropfest's Roughcut in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Previously head of screenwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, Stoneking is now also a much sought after script editor and story consultant. He was script editor of the award-winning Australian feature, Chopper (2000); and script editor/consultant on Darlene Johnson's much acclaimed short feature, Crocodile Dreaming (2007). More recently he edited Maya Newell's biographical documentary, RICHARD The Most Interestingest Person I've Ever Met, which premiered at the 2007 Directors Fortnight, Cannes. He is the producer of several critically acclaimed films, including Nosepeg's Movie (which he also wrote), C all It Poetry (50 mins, ABC-TV) and more recently, the groundbreaking 30minute film drama, Jelly's Placenta, which he co- and executive produced. Stoneking travels extensively, running workshops and seminars all over the world. When not on the road he advises and works as a mentor at the International Film School, Sydney.
COST: $20 per person (usually $100) - 15 places only.

"Directing"
Dan Krige
Canberra Museum & Gallery 10am-12pm
Dan Krige, Director of recently acclaimed Australian film 'West', comes from Sydney to talk about film directing, his experiences writing and directing 'WEST', reasons for certain directorial/creative decisions in making the film, general experiences and inside knowledge of the industry, and how aspiring filmmakers might also find their way in.
COST: $10 per person - 60 places only

"Acting Workshop"
NIDA
Canberra Museum & Gallery 9am-5pm
The National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA) is one of the most prestigious acting institutes in Australia, having been responsible for turning out famous actors such as Mel Gibson, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Baz Luhrmann, Richard Roxburgh, Susie Porter, San Worthington, Miranda Otto, Jeremy Sims, Judy Davis, and Catherine McClements. Find out and experience what makes a good actor great, in this workshop run by one of NIDA's best tutors.
COST: $100 per person (Usually $255) - 16 places only

To register & organise payment for any of the seminars/workshops, please email brianna@silversunpictures.com.au, or call 02 6247 9999.

Make sure you catch End of the Rainbow's television premiere this Friday 17th October at 7.30pm on SBS!
The Australian/French co-production is director Robert Nugents first feature documentary, and has already been selected for 19 international festivals, including the Sydney Film Festival, and picked up 3 awards including the First Appearance award at IDFA 2007, the Maysles Award at Belfast 2008 and the International Premiere at London One World 2008.
End OF The Rainbow - television version: Friday October 17th, 7.30PM

Want to take your animation skills to the next level? The Academy of Interactive Entertainment is delighted to be able to offer the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business, Fresh from working on DisneyPixar's WALLE, Simon Allen will share his knowledge and skills gained from years of producing high quality feature film animation in a special workshop here in Canberra.
The Animation Masterclass will cover all aspects of crafting and perfecting your animation and workflow from fundamental animation principles to sophisticated use of gestures and posing that bring characters to life. Other topics covered include believable lip-sync, timing, walk cycles with personality, blocking, animation styles and creating a sequence that has real entertainment value. Simon will show you how to put that final polish on your work to make it the best it can be.
Simon has been working in the industry for 18 years and has worked on 14 feature films including The Matrix: Revolutions and Constantine. Simon has worked on two Academy award-winning features, Pixar Animation Studios Ratatouille and Animal Logics Happy Feet. Simon is currently working as an animator on a series of short films for the Disney Channel titled Cars Toonsand about to commence work on the upcomingDisneyPixar animated Feature Up.
This workshop is designed for both industry professionals and students. Techniques and knowledge covered in these workshops are not software-specific. Don't miss this chance to gain inside knowledge of how Pixar animators create top quality animation.
AIE Canberra ~ One Day Workshop, 9am to 5pm, 11th November 2008
Early Bird Registration: $505 inc. GST (save 15%) closes Fri 17th October 2008
Normal registration: $595 inc. GST
For more information, visit www.aie.edu.au/animation_masterclass
Places are limited so book now to avoid missing out.
Book by contacting AIE on (02) 6162 5131, (03) 9820 8201 or email info@aie.edu.au

Don't let those countless hours of ‘studying' video games go to waste! Grab a group of friends and join the AIE for an evening of games, beer and trivia @ the Holy Grail in Civic.
Thursday October 23rd.

Entry is free. Trivia starts at 7pm. Tables are limited and bookings will not be taken, so arrive early!
(This is an 18+ only event).

Canberra's Academy Of Interactive Arts is offering a range of short courses over the remainder of this year.

These are advanced courses suitable for industry professionals wanting to develop new skill sets and also people who want to brush up on their existing skills. All courses are delivered by experienced professionals.

Professional Game Animation and Workflow. 18/ 19th Oct
Rendering for Realism: Using Maxwell Render for photo-realism. 18/ 19th Oct
Multi-threading Coding: Use all your processors!. 18th Oct
High detail Creature Creation: Sculpting with Mudbox. beginning 21st Oct
MEL Scripting in Maya. beginning 3rd Oct
Game Level Design: Making Entertaining Environments. 8th/ 9th Nov
Get up to speed with Maya: Intensive Training for 3D Artists. Beginning 15th Dec


For more see: http://www.aie.edu.au/courses/short_courses.php

An opportunity to meet women working in the games industry, games educatiors, and and women with an interst in a career in the industry.. includes a bbq lunch, a tournament of concole games, and prizes donated by 2K Australia.

Academy Of Interactive Arts
E-Block
Canberra Technology Park
49 Phillip St, Watson ACT

www.womeningames.org.au

Next week, on 24th and 25th October, Sydney's Chauvel Cinema will come alive with the buzz of talented filmmakers at the 9th annual SPAA Fringe conference. Continuing the tradition of showcasing innovative and aspirational speakers, delegates will be delighted to know that LAMP Director Gary Hayes; award winning Executive Producer Sue Maslin (Celebrity: Dominick Dunn, Japanese Story); and Phil Lloyd, (Writer), Reuben Field (Post Production Supervisor) and Dean Bates (Producer) from Review with Myles Barlow will also be sharing their insights.
SPAA Fringe takes place at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema next week. Oct 24th and 25th. Registrations are still available. For more information, or to register go to: http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/fringe/?page=88

Doco makers are in for a treat at SPAA Fringe with the doco sessions now all in place. From extreme sports doco, Storm Surfers to the making of Ganja Queen, the ‘behind the scenes' documentary on the controversial Schapelle Corby drug trial, to Hairtales, where tears, trauma, hope & hilarity create an amusing insight into how hair can impact on people's lives.

Storm Surfers: A one-hour documentary, Produced by Marcus Gillezeau & Akhim Dev, which will premier on Discovery Channel in December. The documentary combines extreme surfing and weather prediction, sport and science with bravery to find the largest storm fronts and surf them. Featuring big wave legend Ross Clarke-Jones and former World Champion Tom Carroll, Storm Surfers follows their trials and triumphs as they attempt to ride the biggest, most nightmarish super waves in Australia.

Ganja Queen: With unprecedented access and filmed over two and a half years, the documentary takes us behind the scenes of one of the most compelling crime stories in Australia's history. Ganja Queen aired on HBO in the US and Nine Network Australia.

Hairtales: World Premiere.Directed by Scott Anderson & Cath Moore and produced by Oliver Lawrance, an intimate and irreverent portrait of 12 individuals whose personal and professional lives have been changed forever through hair. From a prized corset made entirely out of dreadlocks to a hair-growth specialist convinced that bald men are accident prone.

Hybrid Distribution: Peter Broderick helps filmmaker's design and implement state-of-the-art distribution strategies. He will give an overview of the newest distribution strategies being used to maximize revenues, target and build core audiences.

SPAA Fringe takes place at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema next week. Oct 24th and 25th. Registrations are still available. For more information, or to register go to: http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/fringe/?page=88

Hollywood entertainment executive Chris Adams, CEO of Accelerant and View2gether.com will be a keynote speaker at the SPAA Conference.
Chris Adams is an internationally recognized new media pioneer, entertainment industry executive and social entrepreneur with nearly twenty years of experience in creating partnerships, programming and relationships between and to the benefit of digital media, entertainment and online brands.

Chris Adams will speak on his plans to produce studio-financed films and highlight several projects he is currently working on with Australian filmmakers, tell the tales of how they were incubated and how, along with his producing partners, they are taking these films into the market.

He will deliver his address on Friday 14 November at 9:00am.

For more on the SPAA Conference see: http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/c08/

This year's SPAA Conference will introduce DOCO Day to its programme with a special address by Neil Nightingale, Head of the BBC Natural History Unit, on Thursday, 13 November at 10:30am.
Nightingale has been Head of the BBC Natural History Unit since 2003 groundbreaking factual programmes during this time have included the critically acclaimed and award-winning, Life In Cold Blood, Planet Earth, the Saving Planet Earth season, Wild China, Big Cat Diary, and Elephant Diary.
Geoff Brown says, "Following on from SPAA's delegation of documentary filmmakers to Canberra in June, we wanted to focus part of the Conference on the current issues concerning documentary in Australia. Integrating relevant sessions into one day will provide an opportunity for further discussion and debate. Along with the first SPAA Documentary Forum to be held at the Conference, it promises to be lively day."
Sessions throughout the day will include: a spotlight on the Oscar-winning producer for Taxi to The Dark Side, Eva Orner; a Screen Australia plenary; a dedicated session on the Producer Offset scheme, and a panel discussion on Thinking Outside the Box: Redefining the TV Show.
A Documentary Forum in the afternoon will provide a comprehensive overview of SPAA's documentary policy and platforms to those delegates with a particular interest in the documentary medium. Delegates will have an opportunity to meet with guest speakers, SPAA Councillors and Policy personnel. This will be the first of 4 annual documentary forums that SPAA will run during the year.
Doco day will be a great opportunity to meet international and domestic speakers and guests, and talk to SPAA Councillors and Policy personnel.
For more on the SPAA Conference see: http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/c08/

Nickelodeon Australia is offering $25,000 towards the production of a children's television pilot in the second year of the Land a Pilot initiative.

Nickelodeon programming is funny, bold, playful and non-violent. It's kid-centered, creator-driven and appeals to both boys & girls. Nick offers diverse, contemporary and inspirational content with attitude.

They are looking for a series concept that appeals to the highly competitive preteen 10-12 year demographic - it can be animated or live action, comedy or drama, reality or game show. A program that both challenges and connects emotionally with the audience; reflecting Nickelodeon's irreverent sense of humour with a look & feel that is original and surprising.

for more see: http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/C08/?page=73

Privately pitch your project to a network executive in 5 minutes. This is a no mucking around arena of networking opportunity and face-to face time where you can share an idea and receive feedback on either your pitch or project. The objective of this event is to provide a non-competitive forum where producers/writers can pitch the freshest of ideas and receive feedback from industry professionals. There are no hoops, no prizes, no audience.

Pitchers will be required to have certain project info available as a minimum requirement.
Your pitch will be 5 minutes with no more than 5 minutes feedback from the executives.

7 Ready Steady Pitch is open to all registered delegates. Bookings are on a first- come first-serve basis.
Executives attending Ready Steady Pitch! Are yet to be announced. For more see:
http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/C08/?page=75

Registrations have now opened for AIDC, the pre-eminent industry gathering for factual content creators, broadcasters and screen agencies. In February 2009, Adelaide will play host to this intensive three-day event which will see upward of 600 national and international delegates converge on the city. If you are involved in the factual content industry you simply can't miss the Australia International Documentary Conference!

The 2009 theme Who's Watching? will swing the spotlight onto the role of the audience, with various sessions, masterclasses and discussion panels investigating the questions of who, how, when and where factual media content is consumed. AIDC 2009 has two additional themed program strands: The Art and Craft of Documentary Making and Serious Gaming and Interactive Content.

AIDC's extensive market place will provide excellent opportunities through pitch competitions and other market place and networking initiatives.

For more information on AIDC 2009 and for registration go to: www.aidc.com.au

Privately pitch your project to a network executive in 5 minutes. This is a no mucking around arena of networking opportunity and face-to face time where you can share an idea and receive feedback on either your pitch or project. The objective of this event is to provide a non-competitive forum where producers/writers can pitch the freshest of ideas and receive feedback from industry professionals. There are no hoops, no prizes, no audience.

Pitchers will be required to have certain project info available as a minimum requirement.
Your pitch will be 5 minutes with no more than 5 minutes feedback from the executives.

7 Ready Steady Pitch is open to all registered delegates. Bookings are on a first- come first-serve basis.
Executives attending Ready Steady Pitch! Are yet to be announced. For more see:
http://www.spaa.org.au/associations/8843/C08/?page=75

After three successful years, MeetMarket, the place to meet with international and Australian buyers, returns to the 2009 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in Adelaide next February (18-22 Feb 2009)
MeetMarket is an initiative of Screen Australia and AIDC, and provides a unique opportunity for Australian documentary filmmakers with fresh ideas and projects in development to meet with potential buyers. Submissions selected to participate in MeetMarket are made available to international and domestic broadcast and distribution executives through MeetMarket's innovative online portal.
Applicants are required to submit a two-minute video pitch teaser of their documentary project. Independent selectors will choose up to 20 projects to take part in MeetMarket. The online pitch teasers will be made available to buyers attending AIDC who will then request meetings with the filmmakers. The meetings are scheduled to take place during the conference.
All successful applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a pitch preparation session the day before the conference commences.
Entries for selection close Thursday 20 November 2008.

Guidelines and application forms are available from:
http://www.aidc.com.au/market-place/meetmarket

Deadline: 30 January 2009

St Kilda Film Festival is now calling for entries for their short film competition. Successful entries will have the opportunity to have their film screened as part of Australia's only dedicated competition for music videos?
For more information and to enter, please visit www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/

The Emerging Filmmakers Fund (previously the Young Filmmakers Fund) was established in 1995 to support new and emerging filmmakers in NSW. The Fund provides career development pathways for talented practitioners, and the opportunity for the advancement of up-and-coming content creators, in the highly competitive film and television industry. The FTO encourages exploration, experimentation, and mastery of new technologies in particular. In each round, a maximum of four successful projects receive grants of up to $30,000 for production and/or post-production.

There is now no restriction on age, and instead preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate their commitment to a career in screen content creation.

Application closing date: Monday 3 November 2008

NOTE: All cast and crew must be permanent residents of NSW and Australia.

For more see: http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/fund.asp?id=48

ScreenACT is offering assistance of $750 per person to 4 local practitioners to attend The SPAA conference in November on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Priority will be given to emerging practitioners that have successfully applied for the SPAA Emerging Producers Scheme.

While priority is given to successful applicants of the SPAA Emerging Producer's Scheme, applications will also be accepted from any ACT or Capital Region practitioners wishing to attend SPAA.

Applicants should send a one page document outlining why attending SPAA would be of benefit to their professional development.

Applications should be sent to brendan.walsh@screenact.com.au with SPAA CONFERENCE ASSISTANCE as the subject heading. Applications to ScreenACT close 5pm October 10. Successful recipients will be announced on October 15. Please note that although the SPAA early bird registration cut-off is date is also October 10th, SPAA will allow ALL applicants to ScreenACT (whether successful in their application or not) to apply for Early Bird Rates in any category up until October 20th.

To download the guidelines click here

ScreenACT is running a 2nd project funding round for 2008. $55,000 as individual grants of up to $10,000 each, to help boost the ACT film, television and digital media production industry.

The guidelines and application form are available here on the ScreenACT website.