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16 articles
Spa and Meaa raise concerns over Mark Scott's ABC-sbs merger proposal
9 hours ago
Australian screen sector industry bodies have raised concerns over a "friendly merger" between Australia's two public broadcasters following Mark Scott's last National Press Club address as ABC boss.
In his address Scott told the Press Club the conversation needed to be revisited and that a friendly merger could preserve each broadcasters identity while delivering major savings.
"As commercial TV networks push for deregulation and fewer licensing requirements in the face of steep competition, it.s reasonable to expect they shift investment from quality drama, just as they have from serious documentaries and nearly all narrative comedy and satire. People expect the public broadcaster to step in, to pick up the slack," Scott said.
Scott made these comments in the context of funding cuts to the ABC, calling on Government to at least maintain current funding levels..
Screeen Producers Australia chief executive, Matt Deaner, said any conversation about the merger »
- Brian Karlovsky
New Screen Australia report to measure value of Australian screen sector
11 hours ago
Screen Australia will attempt to measure the economic, cultural and social value of the Australian screen sector in a new report.
The report, supported by the newly formed Australian Screen Industry group will provide the screen sector and government with an opportunity to help shape future policy settings.
Deloitte Access Economics and Olsberg Spi have been commissioned to undertake the research. .
The findings and a screen industry action plan will be launched at a cultural roundtable and showcase event in Canberra on June 21, 2016.
According to Screen australia, the aim of the research is to quantify and articulate what the screen sector contributes to the economy. .
It will also evaluate what local screen content provides to Australian audiences, taxpayers and beneficiaries of cultural impact, including its role in fostering social cohesion and international diplomacy.
Screen Australia chief executive, Graeme Mason, said: "Increasingly we are seeing the value of Australian screen culture to international diplomacy efforts. »
- Staff Writer
Top producers hit Byron Bay for upskill seminar
12 hours ago
Northern Rivers based Screen Producer Lois Randall with Writer Sue McPherson on location at St Patrick's Church Wardell filming Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble. .
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Some of Australia.s most accomplished screen producers will be in Byron Bay next month to present at Screenworks. two-day seminar: The Business of Producing. .
The event, to be held at Sae Institute on March 11-12, is aimed boosting the production skills of local filmmakers, with a view to increasing screen production opportunities in the region.
One of the event.s key speakers and the Head of Production at Matchbox Pictures, Helen Panckhurst said she was looking forward to connecting with local producers.
"There.s something fantastically rewarding about sharing knowledge and connecting with new people and fresh ideas - especially in such a beautiful part of the world." .
For anyone interested in film and television production, this event will provide advice through presentations »
- Inside Film Correspondent
Damian Candusso joins Trackdown
13 hours ago
Sound designer Damian Candusso has joined Trackdown to provide sound design and audio post production services from the Sydney studio.
Candusso has contributed to the soundtracks of The Lego Movie, The Great Gatsby, Little Fish and Happy Feet 1 and 2.
He is also an active researcher in film sound, immersive cinema and virtual reality and has received a PhD for research into immersive cinema, 3-D film and the soundtrack.
Candusso has been nominated for Motion Picture Sound Editors (Mpse) Golden Reel Awards and has worked on several Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award winning films.
Damian has also received the Centenary Medal for Contribution to Australian Culture for his work in the Australian film industry.
Trackdown general manager, Elaine Beckett, said she was thrilled to have Damian on board..
"Over the years we have collaborated on many projects and we are excited to consolidate our knowledge and facilities to provide the Film »
- Inside Film Correspondent
Dancing Road Productions call for submissions from female screenwriters
16 hours ago
Dancing Road Productions is seeking stories with female protagonists, written by women..
"Women creatives and voices are vastly underrepresented in screen storytelling and we need to address this issue front on", the company said in a statement.
"Screen Australia figures show that the imbalance is most notable in traditional film, with women accounting for 32% of producers, 23% of writers and only 16% of directors".
"We at Dancing Road are keen to attract more talented women into our industry and find audience-pleasing stories that entertain and stimulate. If successful your idea would be developed into a feature film, so we want fascinating characters, a strong concept and it must make us smile"!.
"The first step is to send us a one pager outlining your concept. So women writers, heed the call"!.
Dancing Road is run by Helen Leake (Wolf Creek 2, Heaven's Burning, Swerve, Black and White) and Gena Ashwell (Gridiron UK).
The »
- Staff Writer
Stephan Elliott's Flammable Children heads to Qld
17 hours ago
Stephan Elliott and a Guy Pearce doppelganger.
Stephan Elliott's next film, Flammable Children, starring Guy Pearce and Radha Mitchell, will start pre-production in Queensland in mid-August and begin shooting in early October.
The film is being produced by Wildheart Films. Al Clark and See Pictures. Jamie Hilton.
"We are thrilled Stephan and the producers of Flammable Children have chosen Queensland to shoot their film and the opportunities that will be afforded to our world-class local creatives and crew", said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira.
"This news is another major boost to our local industry and follows on from back-to-back domestic and international film and television productions"..
"Productions like Flammable Children create jobs, up-skill our local crew and creative base and create greater certainty to our local industry".
Elliott's film will shoot in South East Queensland, employ around 120 Queensland crew and spend more than $6 million on Queenslanders and Queensland businesses, »
- Staff Writer
Stephan Elliott's Flammable Children heads to Queensland
17 hours ago
Stephan Elliott and a Guy Pearce doppelganger.
Stephan Elliott's next film, Flammable Children, starring Guy Pearce and Radha Mitchell, will start pre-production in Queensland in mid-August and begin shooting in early October.
The film is being produced by Wildheart Films. Al Clark and See Pictures. Jamie Hilton.
"We are thrilled Stephan and the producers of Flammable Children have chosen Queensland to shoot their film and the opportunities that will be afforded to our world-class local creatives and crew", said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira.
"This news is another major boost to our local industry and follows on from back-to-back domestic and international film and television productions"..
"Productions like Flammable Children create jobs, up-skill our local crew and creative base and create greater certainty to our local industry".
Elliott's film will shoot in South East Queensland, employ around 120 Queensland crew and spend more than $6 million on Queenslanders and Queensland businesses, »
- Staff Writer
Sophie Mathisen responds to James Ricketson's letter on Gender Matters, quotas
17 hours ago
*Sophie Mathisen is the writer-director of Drama, and Festival Director at Sydney's Wow (World of Women) Film Festival.
I would like to address James Ricketson.s open letter regarding his view of gender equality, beginning first with an anecdote.
Recently I was engaged in a robust discussion with a man at a New Years Eve party, who challenged me when I stated I was disappointed by the recent installment of Star Wars. A sly smirk spread across his face as I told him about my qualms. Knowing I am a director, he asked me who I would have preferred at the helm of the film, rather than J.J. Abrams. I offered a list, to which he replied .No, no, what females do you reckon could have done it?. Of course, my gender guides my tastes, rather than investment in the form. I gave him my recommendations, along with »
- Sophie Mathisen
Inside Law: Structure to maximise Producer Offset
22 February 2016 3:34 PM, PST
. . . . . . . .
Soniar Borella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dan Pearce.
Two of Australia.s top media and entertainment lawyers — Sonia Borella and Dan Pearce from national law firm Holding Redlich — explore the topic of Production Company Structures for Producer Offset Projects. What is the best structure for your project?
When setting out to produce a new film or TV project one important task of a producer is to consider the most appropriate company structure for the project.
Each project is different and will have its own unique requirements but there are some key considerations which are likely to arise. These include:
Eligibility for and maximising the return from the relevant Australian Screen Production Incentive — for projects which intend to utilise the . . . . . . . .Producer Offset, Location Offset or Pdv Offset. Financing — Financiers and investors will often have certain company structure requirements. Protecting the assets of the producer
Maximising the screen production incentives
Producers need to comply with the »
- Sonia Borella, Dan Pearce
Geraldine Hakewill and David Field on surreal debut feature The Pretend One
22 February 2016 3:30 PM, PST
Star Geraldine Hakewill on set.
In 2010, filmmaker Tony Prescott studied directing at Aftrs, where "the education was based on making a feature, but we made short films"..
"I don't think I'm very good at making short films", Prescott told If.
In 2011 he started developing an idea for a feature that he developed over five years - and forty drafts - with fellow Aftrs student James Raue (whose own first film, Psychoanalysis, is currently touring festivals).
The Pretend One is about a young woman (Wanted's Geraldine Hakewill) and her imaginary friend (Michael Whalley).
Their relationship becomes complicated when a suitor comes to town and Whalley's character becomes jealous.
Talking to people about the kind of Australian film he wanted to make, Prescott "struggled to find a reference".
"One of the closest I could think of was Paperback Romance. [Generally] We don't do magic and we don't do romance".
One influence the »
- Harry Windsor
Essential Media makes two executive appointments
22 February 2016 2:38 PM, PST
Mike Adams of Barnett Law has joined Essential Media and Entertainment as Head of Legal and Commercial Affairs, while Cathrine McVeigh is Essential's new Head of Production.
Adams will be working with company directors Chris Hilton, Ian Collie, Sonja Armstrong and Carmel Travers on Essential's legal and commercial interests, plus business affairs for the company.s full slate of television drama, factual, kids and factual entertainment and feature films.
Adams has been subcontracted to Essential from Barnett Law, a Sydney based law firm he joined as a Director following his recent departure from the See-Saw Films group where, since 2009, he worked as Corporate Counsel & Business Affairs Manager..
At See-Saw, Adams provided support to production activities while focusing primarily on Fulcrum Media Finance.s lending operations and oversaw the negotiation and contracting of numerous film and television projects.
As Head of Production, Cathrine McVeigh oversees Essential.s production slate. »
- Staff Writer
Hot Docs heads down under
21 February 2016 9:57 PM, PST
Palace Cinemas has launched a new film festival to be run in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra after forming a partnership with Toronto-based Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
The new festival of leading international and local documentaries, will start in Australia in June this year. .
.Artistic Director, Richard Moore, said the alliance with Hot Docs was a direct funnel to the best of the best in documentary making.
.With Hot Docs. recent confirmation that there will be a special country focus on Australia for this year.s festival, I see this as the beginning of a long and healthy relationship between Hot Docs and Australia," he said.
Hot Docs executive director, Brett Hendrie said: .We're thrilled to be able to celebrate some of Hot Docs. most exciting recent selections by partnering with Richard and Palace Cinemas to showcase a broad array of entertaining, inspiring and boundary-pushing documentaries. It.s a »
- Staff Writer
Guillermo Arriaga on writing, Iñárritu, Qt and vegans at Aftrs Black Talk
21 February 2016 9:51 PM, PST
Kyas Sherriff (Head of the Indigenous Unit) Guillermo Arriaga, Sue Elphinstone (Indigenous Unit Project Officer). Photographer: Graeme Taylor.
Last week Aftrs relaunched its Indigenous Unit with the first instalment of its Black Talk series..
The Unit's new head, Kyas Sherriff, hosted a session with Mexican writer Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel), in town as a guest of Nitv.
Arriaga was in mischevious form, riffing for an hour on everything from his writing process, his fights with director Warwick Thornton, his creative divorce from Alejandro González Iñárritu, and the damage his "friend" Tarantino has had on cinema.
The screenwriter and novelist started the session off with a flourish, producing an aboriginal flag from his pocket and laying it in front of him, declaring "I want to show my love".
Arriaga was first brought to Australia by Sally Riley, who met Arriaga at the Sundance Labs the same year that Amores Perros bowed at the festival. »
- Harry Windsor
Kyas Sherriff to head up Aftrs Indigenous Unit
21 February 2016 8:09 PM, PST
Aftrs has launched a revamped Indigenous Unit, headed by Kyas Sherriff.
The initial program for 2016 will include the Black Talk series (similar to Aftrs Friday on My Mind), talent labs and Industry events.
Across the Aftrs curriculum, there will be an increased academic focus on Indigenous representation on Australian screen.
The school is also proposing an industry symposium on cultural diversity both on screen and behind the scenes.
The Black Talk series aims to engage the wider screen industry in an understanding of contemporary Indigenous storytelling.
The first Black Talk, on February 17, featured Mexican author, screenwriter, director and producer Guillermo Arriaga (writer of 21 Grams, Babel and Amores Perros)..
Arriaga, who is in Australia as a guest of Nitv, has a history of sharing his knowledge with Australian Indigenous filmmakers, including participating in a previous Screen Australia Workshop with published Indigenous novelists on the craft of writing for screen.
Indigenous filmmaker Warwick Thornton, »
- Inside Film Correspondent
Laura Jones to receive the inaugural Awg Lifetime Achievement Award
21 February 2016 7:04 PM, PST
Laura Jones will receive the inaugural Australian Writers. Guild Lifetime Achievement Award at this year.s National Screenwriters. Conference.
A joint initiative of the Awg and Foxtel, the Lifetime Achievement Award is decided by a unanimous vote of the Awg National Executive Committee, and recognises significant contribution to the Australian screen industry. .
Jones' screenwriting credits include Angela.s Ashes, Possession, A Thousand Acres, Oscar and Lucinda, The Portrait of a Lady, An Angel at My Table, Hightide and Brick Lane. .
.Laura.s characters and stories resonate powerfully with audiences and bring a uniquely Australian perspective to the world,. said Foxtel.s Group Director of Corporate Affairs Bruce Meagher..
.She has achieved a sustained critical and commercial success throughout an entire career which is a brilliant feat for an Australian feature film writer. We are delighted that Laura is the inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award..
Australian Writers. Guild President, »
- Staff Writer
Stephen Page talks black storytelling, eyes narrative feature with Justin Monjo
21 February 2016 5:39 PM, PST
Bangarra founder and frontman Stephen Page has just returned from Melbourne, where he screened Spear, his first feature, at Acmi.
The dance film, which premiered at Toronto last September, sprang from an early Bangarra piece of the same name.
"When I created Spear in 2000, we had Archie Roach singing his poetic, streetwise songs onstage. Hunter [Page-Lochard, the director's son and star of both Spear and the upcoming Cleverman] was a six year-old onstage. It was one of Wayne Blair's first acting jobs".
So many years later, Spear is now Page's first feature, though the director is no stranger to filmmaking..
"I did a dance film called Colours in 1990 that I choreographed with Victoria Taylor for the Sydney Dance Company. It was all based on colours, so each colour had a short dance story and then it was all patched together. I think Screen Australia was involved. I only got reminded about it four months ago, I forgot I actually did it".
"I »
- Harry Windsor
16 articles