| Welcome to the Northern Rivers Screenworks Email News Bulletin
Issue Date: Friday 7 April 2006
The next newsletter will be sent out on 12 May. The deadline for
contributions is 5 May. If you would like to have your information
included in the next newsletter, please assist us in the process by
sending no more than one paragraph to info@screenworks.com.au. We reserve the right to edit or omit information. We look forward to receiving your news and announcements.
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| DEAR FRIENDS,
Screenworks is going through a very exciting and challenging time.
After three years in Jonson Street Byron Bay, we are closing up shop
for a short period and will be moving into new offices in Bangalow in
early June. You can still contact us at the usual phone numbers and by
email.
Board and Management will use the time to work on
our vision for the future. As you may be aware, our three-year funding
from the Department Of Transport and Regional Services was acquitted
last December. We do continue to receive modest funding from the
Australian Film Commission, the NSW Film and TV Office and the
Department of State and Regional Development. This funding is to help
with programs and events (workshops, seminars, clinics) and locations,
but by no means fully covers these programs or the staff and office
space that we require.
The challenge now is to supplement our
funding with income generated from our events, subscriptions to our
newsletter and sponsorship. While we wait for our new offices to be
ready, Board and management will be working on these ideas, plus
re-vamping our website and changing the organization from a private
company to a membership based association.
We will be
re-launching our new and improved Screenworks at a networking event in
June, so stay tuned for details about that. In the meantime, thank you
all for your support during what has been a testing time for the
organization. I would also like to thank everyone who pitched in
and helped us move out of our old offices – Jen (cleaner extraordinaire
and for the storage), Aliison and Stanley (for the cleaning), James
(for the removalists), Dallas & Deb (for the packing and cleaning),
Larry and the FAC guys (for moving the heavy stuff), Frank and Angus
(for the paint job) and anyone else I have forgotten.
Projects, like Heart2Heart and the Development clinics, continue to
operate and you can contact Anne Cheshire directly about those at
either heart2heart@screenworks.com.au or events@screenworks.com.au. For all other business, our phone numbers and email address remains the same: 02 66 809220 & info@screenworks.com.au
Lyn McCarthy
Chairperson
Northern Rivers Screenworks Board
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| HEART2HEART
 Co-ordinators, Anne Cheshire and Mark Purser, report that all six writers chosen for Screenworks' Heart2Heart project are established with their mentors and writing their first drafts. Worshop 1 at Byron Beach Resort went very well with Kathy Mueller (AFTRS Melb) Paul Davies (Stingers/Southern Cross Uni) and script editor Belinda Chayko facilitating.
Workshop 2 was held in Bangalow with Charlie de Salis presenting
"Writing For Directing" and "Non-verbal Storytelling". The Tweed Daily
News covered one of our finalists, Christie Jo MacDonald, with an
interview and pics at Fingal (CJ's childhood neirbourhood and location
of her story). In
addition to funding from the Youth Assistance Scheme, the Heart2Heart
project has attracted sponsorship in cash and kind from Niche Pictures,
Bangalow Chamber of Commerce and Bangalow Psychology. Thanks to those
organisations for their support of this fantastic community project. SBSi COMMISSIONING EDITOR JENNIFER CRONE
We were fortunate to be able to offer a seminar on March 14th with
Jennifer Crone from SBSTV. Jennifer was visiting the area to view a
rough cut of a documentary that local Noelene Hayes is producing, the
Dubbo Elvis story.
Jennifer Crone is the SBSi Documentary Commissioning Editor and is
responsible for documentary and factual commissions in all states
except NSW. She commissions half hour and one hour one-off
documentaries and documentary series for SBS's dedicated Australian
documentary strands "Inside Australia" and "Storyline Australia". She
also commissions larger scale documentary and factual series for SBS.
Jennifer talked about the SBS charter and its commissioning priorities
for 06/07 and also screened clips from recent programming. She was
available for discussion and questions after the seminar. Some of the feedback from evaluation forms: “Gorgeous and most informative” “Very useful” “informative and interesting” “Good compact overview”
Jennifer also participated in one-on-one clinics with local
practitioners Mark Lewis, Cathy Henkel, Jane Hankel and Andrew Bambach. BELINDA CHAYKO - COMMON MISTAKES IN SCREENWRITING
Belinda Chayko has worked for over 10 years as an assessor and analyser
of screenplays both as a consultant for organisations such as NSWFTO,
South Australian Film Corp, the AFC and individual clients.
In her workshop Belinda used examples to demonstrate the key problems
in the development of scripts. These problems were then discussed,
giving participants direct insights into how to direct their own
scripts along a clearer path. Belinda also made herself available to
those who were able to stay on and did an in depth afternoon with four
participants and their scripts. Feedback from evaluation sheets: “very beneficial” “I found the session very helpful for where I am at with my story” “most inspiring” The event attracted publicity in the Northern Star, Life Weekly and Tweed News. Enquiries about future events can be directed to deb@screenworks.com.au |
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| AWESOME PRIZES REELED IN BY LOCAL FESTIVAL
REEL FEST the Northern Rivers Youth Short Film Festival has announced some
awesome prizes which have been generously donated by SAE College, Northern Rivers Community Foundation and ACE Byron Shire.
According
to the organisers, Byron Youth Service, support for Reel Fest has been
flooding in with many organisations in the Byron Shire lending their
support to create a fantastic prize package to get young people out
there and filming.
Entry
to Reel Fest is open to established and aspiring filmmakers aged 25 and
under but you must be a resident of the Northern Rivers. The very
attractive prize list includes:
- a
$2,000 contract to produce a short 5-10 minute documentary. The
winner will have a professional producer and access to all the
equipment that is required.
- a scholarship to the prestigious SAE, to study for a 3 month Cert. 2 in Multimedia, valued at $3,500.
- $1,000 cash to spend however you please.
The
Byron Youth Service recognises that the moving image is a powerful
communication tool for young people. Through Reel Fest they hope to
support work that pushes the boundaries and they are encouraging
entries that are imaginative, humorous, provocative and unconventional.
They hope to see work that is experimental in content, style and
form, with production values secondary to imagination and ideas.
The
films must be 6 minutes or less, be less than two years old and have
rights clearance on the music. The deadline for submissions is
Friday 28th April. Entry forms are available on the website on
www.bys.org.au. Reel Fest will screen at the Byron Bay Community Centre
on May 11th from 7pm.
For more information contact Simon DuBois or Mark Purser and Byron Youth Service on 6685 7777.
BYRON FILM CLUB
The
Byron Film Club (BFC) are now holding their highly entertaining
screenings bi-monthly, instead of monthly. The first screening of the
year on March 27th, featured an eclectic mix of drama, comedy,
animation and experimental short films and was well attended and very
well received. The non-profit
co-operative, guided by Faye, Azza and Frank, is devoted to the
exhibition of local short films and multi-media. Next
screening will be the last Thursday in May. Screenings are held at the
Community Centre, at 7.30pm. After drinks at the Rails not
obligatory, but highly recommended. Visit www.channelbyron.com/forums for updates of the upcoming program. You can also check out their webpage at www.screenworks.com.au/bfc
FILM ARTISTS CO-OP
The
Film Artists Cooperative (FAC), currently have their monthly meetings
from 7:30 to 10 pm on the 1st Thursday of each month at the
meeting rooms of the Byron Bay Services Club, Jonson Street, Byron Bay.
FAC is an independently run filmmaker and digital artist support group
and membership is free. FAC is always looking for new members and
everyone is encouraged to participate. For further
information, contact coordinator Larry Larstead on 66803279 or email fac@screenworks.com.au
REELDANCE
ReelDance is an extraordinary collection of dance film including forms
from around the world. Curated by Erin Brannigan, this is the fourth
festival since 2000 celebrating the art of dancefilm. Sitting between
the performing arts and film culture, this film festival caters to both
dance and film audiences with a focus on screen musicals, music videos
and contemporary dance on screen.
These three genres cover
the breadth and depth of the art form, from the rich cinematic history
of the film musical through popular dance forms and experimental video
techniques featured in music clips, to the poetics of the world’s
greatest contemporary choreographers. The latter include Wim
Vandekeybus, Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker, Lloyd Newson, Jonathan Burrows
and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and companies such as Ultima Vez, DV8 Dance
Theatre, (ex-) Ballet Frankfurt, Black Grace and Les Ballets C. de la
B. Music plays a key role this year with films set to Ravel’s Rites of
Spring, traditional and contemporary music from India, Hong Kong and
Morocco and pop music from the 70s through to the present.
A highlight is the ReelDance Awards Finalists 2006 showcasing the best
local work with shorts from Australia and New Zealand. At
Lismore, they are showing three sessions of the seven-session festival.
Please check for details of the program on the NORPA Website www.norpa.org.au, closer to the time or call NORPA Dance Action on 02 6622 3279.
NOT A FREE AD
Andrew
Cox from Gigantic would love us to give him some free advertising which
we can't do. But, because he is such a nice guy, we will say that he
has just released a new range of DVD-R for professional users at very
good prices and he has lots of other bargains on at the moment. But,
more importantly, he is offering Screenworks subscribers a 10% discount
on DVDs for the month of April. For more details, contact Andrew
directly on (02) 6680-2082 or email andrew@andrewcox.biz
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| AFC’S SCRIPT HOTHOUSE COMES TO BYRON BAY
The
Australian Film Commission (AFC) is calling for writers with
well-developed scripts to apply for SP*RK, a script development
initiative for scriptwriters looking to test their ideas in an
intensive hothouse environment. Deadline for applications is 26 May
2006.
SP*RK provides a space for scriptwriters with a track record to be
inspired and fly with new ideas in a challenging but supportive
week-long residential script lab in Byron Bay, October 22-29 this year.
Writers selected for SP*RK will dissect their scripts with leading
local and international advisors, receiving detailed feedback through
informal one-on-one sessions. Writers will be joined by their director
and producer for the lab's final three days.
Three projects developed at SP*RK 2004 have successfully raised
finance. Tony Ayres is currently in pre-production on Home Song
Stories, a $5.4m feature starring Joan Chen. Khoa Do's Footy Legends is
currently in post-production and is due for release later this year,
while Matthew Saville is following up the success of his mini-feature
Roy Hollsdotter Live (winner of the IF Award for Best Short Film, 2003)
with his debut feature Noise, due for release in 2007.
Matthew Saville said of his experience at SP*RK, "The week of intensive
analysis and discussion with the extraordinary group of SP*RK mentors,
advisors and fellow filmmakers was a wonderful experience. I felt
privileged to be given the opportunity to engage in thoughtful, earnest
discussion about my script with practitioners whose work I so greatly
admire."
The line-up of advisors varies every year, but always comprises
award-winning producers, directors, writers and creativity coaches from
Australia and overseas.
Previous advisors have included:
* producer Lynda House (Muriel's Wedding, Proof, Ned Kelly)
* writer/director Geoffrey Wright (Romper Stomper, Metal Skin)
* writer/script editor Joan Sauers (The Heartbreak Kid, Ferals, Heartbreak High)
* US writer/director/producer David Veloz (Natural Born Killers)
* US producer Geoff Stier (Sense and Sensibility, Polish Wedding)
SP*RK applicants must form teams comprising: a producer, writer and
director; or, a producer and writer or writer/director. Teams should
have a well-developed screenplay in which the structure, themes,
characters and story are clear. Projects can be of any genre and any
budget.
For more details see www.afc.gov.au/spark.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE
A
once in a lifetime opportunity to work with top UK professionals in
their chosen field is on offer for six talented young Australians
thanks to the 2006 Realise Your Dream scheme.
Realise Your Dream
is open to Australian between 19-26 years of age who work or study in
creative fields such as architecture, design, music, film, fashion,
animation, multimedia, performing arts, computer games, etc.
The British Council is behind the unique scheme and uses its powerful
UK network to find suitable mentors and money-can't-buy work experience.
The $10,000 prize covers return airfares, relevant course fees, accommodation and living expenses for each winner.
Entries close on June 16, 2006. Visit Realise Your Dream website for more details: www.realiseyourdream.org.au
BOB MAZA FELLOWSHIP
Applications are now open for the Bob Maza Fellowship. The fellowship
is awarded to an established Indigenous actor to further their
professional development, provide longevity in their career and raise
their profile internationally.
The fellowship must be used
for international travel; further training or short courses at an
international film training institution; or for meetings with agents,
attending castings and establishing contacts in the international arena.
The fellowship is sponsored by the Australian Film Commission's
Indigenous Branch to commemorate and celebrate the life and work of Bob
Maza, and as a tribute to his passion and commitment to the film and
entertainment industry.
Fellowship amount: $10,000. Deadline: 20 April, 2006. Dowload the application form at the AFC's site: www.afc.gov.au
LONG BLACK
Long Black is a strategic initiative aimed at encouraging and
supporting Indigenous filmmakers to work in the longer format, and to
bring to the screen feature stories authored and crafted by Indigenous
people.
The AFC are seeking to invest in the development of
outstanding feature-length drama projects which are based on strong
ideas, are well crafted, of varying styles and content, exhibit a high
level of creative ambition and can demonstrate the possibility of being
financed for production.
Selection will be made on the basis
of a well-developed treatment or FIRST draft script (if already
written), with consideration given to the intrinsic merit of the story
and the strength of the creative team.
Up to five projects
will be selected for development to first draft. Successful projects
will receive up to $20,000 for this stage; this includes fees for the
writer, producer, and script editor, as well as any research costs.
At the first draft stage a residential writer's lab will be held. The
lab will focus on script development and will be tailored to suit the
needs of the projects and practitioners.
Following the
writer's lab, applicants will be required to write detailed development
notes on the direction of the next draft of their screenplay. At this
stage a further selection process will be undertaken to select projects
to be funded to second draft.
Each project should have a running time of no less than 90 minutes. For more info and application forms go to: www.afc.gov.au
JTV DOCS CALLING FOR PROPOSALS FROM EMERGING FILMMAKERS
A
reminder that ABC TV and the Australian Film Commission (AFC) are
calling for proposals from emerging filmmakers who are 35 years and
under for their JTV docs initiative. Deadline is May 12.
They are seeking fresh approaches to half-hour and one-hour
documentaries that explore music, ideas, culture and contemporary
issues through the eyes of generations X, Y and Z. JTV docs are taking
a cue from triple j's mantra - enemy of average - they are looking for
fresh work with a new perspective on the world around us, be it
historical, political, social or just plain personal. Tell them your
tales, from the country or the city, with respect or irreverence,
authority and attitude, so they can launch your JTV doc on the telly.
The ABC and AFC are committing a total of $300,000 to this initiative.
See the website: www.afc.gov.au/funding/fd/docos/fund_75.aspx
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| AUSTRALIAN FILM COMMISSION (AFC)
www.afc.gov.au
Freecall: 1800 226 615. Ph: (02) 9321 6444 Fax: (02) 9357 371428
- April 21: Practitioner Support - Internships. Max per grant: $10,000.
- April 28: Documentaries - Early Development. Max per grant: $5,000.
- April 28: Documentaries - Shooting Time-Critical Material. Max grant: $15,000
- May 3: Industry and Cultural Development - National Touring Exhibition Fund
- May 5: Drama Development - Draft Funding. Max per grant: $26,000.
- May 19: General Development Investment Program. Max grant: $70,000.
- May 26: Interactive Digital Media - Early Development Funding. Max $15,000.
- June 2: Documentary Production. Max per grant: $85,000.
NSW FILM AND TV OFFICE (FTO)
www.fto.nsw.gov.au
- April 10: Expressions of Interest - Production Investment
- May 5: Audience Development
- May 29: Digital Visual FX Scheme.
Updated Guidelines and Application Forms now available from the FTO website.
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| OZ FILM WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Australian feature film Look Both Ways
has won the Dutch Critics Prize at the 35th International Film Festival
Rotterdam held in Rotterdam. The film has also won Best Feature at the
London Australian Film Festival. Congratulations to producer
Bridget Ikin and writer/ director Sarah Watt.
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Northern Rivers Screenworks is supported by the NSW Department of Regional Development, Developing Regional Resources Program.
 
The Masterclass and Clinic programs are supported by:
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