Screenworks events
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Wanted - house in Dec/Jan

Screenworks Industry Networking Night - Thursday 25 August, 6-8pm - Bangalow Hotel, Byron St, Bangalow
Come along to the Screenworks industry networking event at the beautiful Bangalow Hotel on Thursday 25th August, from 6-8pm. It's a great opportunity to network and meet other industry practitioners from the region. If you'd like to stick around afterwards, there's a special Film Quiz Night hosted by Frank Coorey (from 8pm), so give your industry knowledge a work-out! This is a free event – purchase drinks from the bar.

ScreenXchange Focus Group – Thursday 25 August, 3-5.30pm – A&I Hall, Bangalow
Please find below the media release announcing ScreenXchange, a project designed to assist independent media content producers to showcase, market and deliver content.

We would greatly appreciate your assistance on this exciting new project. On Thursday 25 August, 3-5.30pm we wish to provide some information about ScreenXchange and consult with screen practitioners about their current web practice in relation to the screen industries. We are seeking a peer review of a number of functional aspects of the ScreenXchange project, which will greatly assist us as we finalise the functional specification and would like to invite you to attend this meeting. The session will be facilitated by Ken McLeod with the assistance of Kerry Sunderland and Glen Schaefer.

Please RSVP to kate@screenworks.com.au or call 6680 9220. We would greatly appreciate your input to this process!

Tools of the Trade 4 - mobile movies info session - Thursday 8th September 2005 - 6-8pm
Last year, Leonie Dickinson produced 10 x 30 second mobile movies for Telstra, funded by the AFC and Open Channel (in kind support). Leonie is now developing new screen opportunities via mobile phone technology for filmmakers. Some projects can be purpose-made for this new audience, whilst existing projects may easily be adapted for the micro-screen. Leonie will screen the ten mobile movies made last year and discuss the various challenges involved in the process. This is an opportunity to find out about the technical constraints related to the production for the micro-screen format and delivery requirements during an informal discussion session with Leonie at Screenworks. Venue: Screenworks Office. Cost: gold coin donation.

Northern Rivers Screenworks announces major federal funding
Screenworks, in collaboration with Evolve Media Consulting, CLIC Network, Eye Design/Sound Foundation and Channel Byron, is developing ScreenXchange, an e-commerce ready internet portal that independent media content producers can use to showcase, market and deliver content.

The ScreenXchange project has attracted $120,000 from the Department of Communication Information Technology and the Arts’ Information Technology On-Line (ITOL) funding program.

ScreenXchange will support media content providers by offering them toolkits, business templates and the technological backend to sell through the portal.

There are three key components to ScreenXchange:
1. A public interface that gives audiences access to DVDs, CDs, podcasts, ebooks and online ‘events’ produced by independent media content creators
2. A business-to-business interface specially designed for independent production companies, small and micro businesses, education institutions and organisations operating in the Australian creative media sector
3. A proven back-end e-commerce portal that could be licensed for use by other industries built on the commercial application of creativity.

“We’ve listened to our independent screen creatives and have developed this project out of their expressed need to reach new audiences. ScreenXchange is a locally generated project that will help position Australian media content producers by providing innovative online services that assist them to deliver creative content to wider and emerging audiences. The project will provide the technical capacity to deliver subscription services, streaming video, web casting, retail content and pod casting. We aim to position ScreenXchange as a national and, potentially, international provider of services,” says Cathy Henkel, Screenworks Chair.

The consortium developing ScreenXchange is:

- Northern Rivers Screenworks – the representative body for the Screen Industries in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW.
- CLIC Network – an enterprise development enabler, offering innovative projects along with financing and mentoring programs to develop the creative industries in the Northern Rivers Region.
- Lawrence Eastland, trading as Eye Design (providing advertising and marketing services), incorporating Sound Foundation (see www.soundfoundation.com.au), an independent APRA accredited music portal which offers freelance artists a professional platform to both showcase and sell their music around the world.
- Evolve Media Consulting Pty Ltd - a research and production company, developing ground breaking cross platform projects including www.themanwhostolemymothersface.com and www.spikemilliganlegacy.com.
- Channel Byron - Glen Schaefer is an experienced IT&T consultant with over 18 years experience in many areas of the Australian IT&T industry. Glen has provided his services to organisations such as BAY FM Community Radio, NSW Dept of Community Services, Richmond/Tweed Library, NSW TAFE, Optus Communications.

More updates about ScreenXchange in future e-newsletters, including calls for expressions of interest (EOIs).

Screenworks needs your help
As you may be aware, Screenwork’s core funding runs out at the end of December. In late November we will be holding a major fundraiser event - a dinner at the A&I Hall (Bangalow) to which you will all be invited. We are also seeking to hold an auction via eBay with a live feed on the night, of film collectables ie. autographed objects by famous actors, or marked up scripts, animation cells, art department items – items that would have some currency in a national auction arena. We ask for your support to work your networks to source auctionable and donatable items. We also would love to work with a team of volunteers to make this event enjoyable and fruitful for all concerned. Please contact Kaye Blum on 6680 9220 (Tuesday or Wednesday) or kaye@screenworks.com.au if you have an item for auction or wish to volunteer. Our thanks in anticipation!

How has Screenworks helped you?
Has Screenworks helped you or your organisation in some way? If so, we’d really like to hear from you, as we need some testimonials to help us with our fundraising campaign. If you could email a paragraph to kaye@screenworks.com.au we’d really appreciate it!

Congratulations to Pitch N Punt finalists – pitched at SPAA Fringe
Congratulations to Rachel Scollay, winner of this year's Screenworks Pitch 'N' Punt competition with her project 100% Aussie Beef. She received automatic entry into the SPAA Fringe Film Inc pitching competition as her Screenworks’ prize; and she also applied independently for the Holding Redlich pitching competition at SPAA Conference and was accepted. She recently pitched at both.

Congratulations also to Screenworks Pitch 'N' Punt finalist Lorraine Jones, who was accepted to and recently pitched at the SPAA Fringe Film Inc pitching competition with her project WHALE JOURNEYS.

Casino’s Hilton Fatt was also successful in acquiring one of four places to pitch in the Holding Redlich competition at SPAA with his feature FORK YU - a low-ball period comedy set in China about a chopstick manufacturer who faces the arrival of technology – in the form of the fork.

Pitching at these competitions is a great way to receive exposure for your project and access production and financing support.

Congratulations
David Bradbury has been awarded the prestigious Chauvel Award at the recent Brisbane International Film Festival. The award recognizes a distinguished contribution to Australian feature filmmaking. His latest film BLOWIN' IN THE WIND, on the effects of depleted uranium, has secured a Dendy Films cinema release.

Film crew coming to town
You may have heard rumours of a few feature films coming to the region. While dates are still to be confirmed, there will be a low-budget feature shot in the region for a few weeks in September/October. We can't give you any more details at this stage, but please note that because they are shooting in Sydney, Northern Rivers and Longreach, they have already organised crew; so please no calls re getting a gig - it is out of our hands.

Studio space required for film crew
The above-mentioned film crew need a Byron-based studio space for their art department, from approximately last week in September to second week of October. They require some space where there's a phone line and internet connection and will pay a fee for the usage for 16 days. Please contact Kaye on 0413 488 911 if you can help.

Want our help to spread the word?
At Screenworks, we do the best we can to try and support local practitioners as much as is possible. However, we are busy bees, so if you have a screen-related news item or event coming up and you'd like Screenworks to help spread the word, then here's how you can help us to help you! Please write a 50 word summary (maximum), in plain text, with relevant details including venue, time, date and contact details. Email it to info@screenworks.com.au with 'NEWSLETTER' in the subject line. This saves us a lot of time and helps ensure we include your item in our newsletter! Thanks!

Saltwater Films goes bust
We’ve had a number of emails and calls reporting that Saltwater Films has gone into receivership. We thought they sounded too good to be true! We have attempted to make contact with them ourselves, but have had no replies to our emails or phone calls.

Spike is Back! Innovative answer to declining film distribution options

Although the recent closing of three iconic independent cinemas - the Valhalla and Chauvel in Sydney and the Lumiere in Melbourne - is sad news for independent filmmakers, local company Hatchling Productions isn't prepared to give up the fight for the hearts and minds of audiences. Hatchling's latest documentary  “I TOLD YOU I WAS ILL: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPIKE MILLIGAN” showcased within a live show, will commence a five-week tour along Australia’s east coast, from Wednesday 24 August, showing at unorthodox venues including RSL, Services and Bowling Clubs.

Comic legend Spike Milligan, voted "the funniest person of the millennium" in a BBC poll and known to fellow comedians as the "godfather of alternative comedy", always broke conventions and made up his own rules. Following in this tradition, the makers of a new documentary about Spike have created this bold and unprecedented venture.

Led by a life-size doll of Spike, the tour will bring back memories and shed new light on this extraordinary man.  It will include radio broadcasts, a live show featuring Spike’s eldest daughter Laura telling stories and reading some of his letters accompanied by musician Glenn Cardier who toured with Spike in the 80s, and a new documentary film.
 
The documentary film I TOLD YOU I WAS ILL: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPIKE MILLIGAN sold out at its world premiere in Adelaide in February this year and has since played to packed houses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the far North Coast of NSW.

The show brings tears of laughter and sadness as it takes audiences on a roller coaster ride through his life, reminding fans of his brilliant and outrageous humour and shedding new light on his tortured and troubled personal life.  For the first time, his family have opened up their personal archives to reveal Spike as a father, brother and husband: a man of passion and contradictions who trod the thin line between genius and debilitating depression.

Hatchling Productions have been inundated with requests from Spike fans around the country to bring the film to their town, and have decided to take the show on the road as the SPIKE IS BACK: PICK UP A PEN TOUR. 

"The ‘Pick up a Pen’ subtitle relates to how active Spike was with his pen," said Laura Milligan.

"He wrote 83 books and was a dedicated activist and prolific letter writer who took a stand on many, many issues that he considered important."

"The film highlights this aspect of Spike’s legacy and I will encourage audiences to get active with their pens again” said Laura.  Special Spike pens will be available along with other Tour memorabilia such as T-shirts, bags, badges and the DVD of the documentary, which also contains a wealth of extra material. 

"A life size Spike doll, with pen in hand, has been created to lead the Tour and will ride on top of the tour bus as it arrives in each town."

"I call this ‘payback time’ for those nights when we were children and Spike would wake us, tie us to the top of his mini and take us out bunny spotting!"

"The Spike doll will welcome fans as they arrive, start the show and may even sign autographs."

There will be two live shows and one screening of the film only in the Northern Rivers as part of the tour:
Murwillumbah Regent Cinema - Wed 24 August
Yamba Bowling Club - Thurs 25 August
Byron Community Centre (for the Byron Film Club - Monday 5 September.

For dates in other towns, please visit www.spikemilliganlegacy.com/tour.htm.

Two visions Screening 18 August
David Warth’s documentary Two Visions, about what’s really happening to Tasmania’s forests, is screening this Thursday (18th August) at the Byron Bay Community Centre at 7pm. Tickets at the door.

Marine Passions - Film Premiere and DVD Launch 19 August
Friday 19 August at 6pm Byron Bay Community Centre, $15 in advance or $17.20 at the door. Underwater DOP Tim Hochgrebe from Planula Productions and Osvaldo Alfaro from local animation and visual effects company GreenhouseFX have combined talents to create MARINE PASSIONS, a 50 minute film to be released on DVD. The result of over 1000 dives and five years of filming at Julian Rocks, Marine Passions submerges the audience into an altered underwater reality full of bizarre and colourful aquatic creatures. Enjoy live performance by outstanding local artists Bhakta and Disha featured prominently in the soundtrack. Tickets are available at Byron Bay Dive Centre, Sundive, Byron Visitor Centre, Byron Community Centre or on-line at www.marinepassions.com

THE WIDOWER screening and Q&A at Star Court Theatre - 19 August
The Widower - based on the poems of Les Murray - will be screening at Lismore's Star Court Theatre on Friday 19th August at 7pm, and Saturday 20th August at 2pm. Lyndon Terracini, who wrote the script and sings in the film, will be at the Star Court to talk about the experience. The film was winner of the 2005 ACS Golden Tripod Award for Best Cinematography, was highly praised at this year's Moscow International Film Festival, and has just been selected for the Vladivostok International Film Festival as part of their Special Vision forum. Tickets $10 Adult, $8 Concession/Junior, available at the door.

Bruce and Me screening in Lismore - 19 August
The Film Society at Lismore is Screening the critically acclaimed documentary Bruce and Me, Oren Siedler’s personal exploration into her troubled and unusual relationship with her brilliant, charming, con-artist, white-collar criminal father (see www.bruceandme.com for more info). Screening starts at 7pm Friday 19th August at Southern Cross University Campus Central Uni Bar. $3 members, $5 guests.

Link TV news
If anyone has any footage of the flood that they can convert to a digital file (on DVD, VCD, MPEG1, 2 DIVX, AVI or KVCD format), contact Mark Jago (66 243 795 or mashj@aapt.net.au). He's planning to put together an hour or so of people's personal experiences. You're also welcome to film and send in your views on the levy and any thing else flood-related. In the future Link TV hopes to offer Lismore a more interactive service in emergencies and this experience has opened their eyes to the service they'll have in the future. They envisage that they could be emailed digital footage from Link TV members and members of the community, and be able to broadcast the rising waters from many different view points - showing roads closed and the visual situation - as it occured. They'd also relay SES messages, and weather warnings - a very similar service to local radio - only with vision.

The Northern Rivers Echo is now publishing LINC TV's program list each week in their TV guide.

The LINC TV website has now been updated by Ron Cahill- check out http://www.linktv.org.au. New and regularly updated features are (or will be):
- Chair's Blog (under news)
- Programming Guide and feature articles on new programs on LINC (up very soon)
- How to tune to LINC TV
- Board minutes (will be up soon)
- Message board (up now - tell us what you think! Do you like what you see on LINC?)

NIDA On Tour Comes To Byron Bay 1 – 3 October 2005
NIDA on Tour is heading to Byron Bay from the 1st October 2005 with specialist courses in theatre, film and TV. The tour provides community access to NIDA’s expertise by bringing short courses to capital cities and regional centres across Australia. NIDA Open Program’s short courses are fun and challenging, with expert tutors, many of whom are NIDA graduates, on hand to extend and develop creative skills and give an insight into industry careers.

Courses available at Byron Bay are Acting Skills 16 yrs + and Acting Skills 12-15 years. Practice a variety of approaches to creating characters and telling stories. Explore improvisation, voice and movement as means to an inspired end.

Phone NIDA Open Program on (02) 9697 7626, or email open@nida.edu.au or check the website and download an application form at www.nida.edu.au/short_courses/open. To receive our Earlybird Discounts be sure to book before the 19th August.

'Brunswick River' Film Competition- Closing date 20 October
As part of the Ocean Shores Art, History & Film Expo, there's a local competition running for films up to 8 mins in length on the subject of "Life on the River" - the Brunswick River. For entry forms, see www.brunswickvalley.com.au/art-expo or pick up an entry form at the Screenworks office.

Producers of the year
SPAA producers' awards recently awarded to:
- Feature film: Anthony Anderson of Red Carpet Productions for Somersault
- Television drama: Southern Star for Love My Way
- Documentary: Chris Hilton of Hilton Cordell for The Colony
- Services and Facilities: Animal Logic, for their high-end special effects and CGI work
- Television – Children’s: Blink Films for Out There
- Television – Light Entertainment: Granada Productions for Dancing with the Stars.

FFC Investment Guidelines for 2005/6 now online
The FFC's Investment Guidelines for 2005/06 have now come into operation. The new guidelines were developed by the FFC following consultation with the industry earlier in 2005. See http://www.ffc.gov.au/investment/ for more details.

AFC Guidelines for 2005/6
The new AFC Guidelines are now available online. After the new Guidelines launch was held at the Screenworks office last week, we still have a limited number of hard copies at available for collection from the office. Drop in between 9-5pm, Mon-Thursday. While stocks last.

SPARK participants and advisors announced for 2005
SPARK, the national script program from the Australian Film Commission (AFC) in association with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), have announced the feature film projects selected for the 2005 program. The projects selected can be found at www.aftrs.edu.au/spark

SPAA elects new president
The Queensland based producer Trish Lake (Freshwater Productions), has been elected SPAA President for 2005-06 and will take over from the current President, Stephen F. Smith at the SPAA Annual General Meeting on 27 September 2005. Nick McMahon (Crawford Productions), has been re-elected as SPAA Vice President.

New media entertainment
With new media continuing its rapid expansion, in the context of changing government cross-media ownership laws, Oz's traditional entertainment sector faces competition like never before.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/international/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001011349

Cannes Report
Read SPAA’s report on Cannes
http://www.spaa.org.au/content1.cfm?contentid=99&table_id_site_pages=135&dx=blank

The Xbox Auteurs
Filmmakers are recording scenes from X-box games, and adding dialogue to create TV shows. 'Red vs Blue' is getting a million downloads a week. (the New York Times will make you fill in their form – it’s free). See http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/magazine/07MACHINI.html

AIDC 2006 website is now up!
The 2006 conference will be held from Monday 13 - Thursday 16 in Melbourne. AIDC is a must-attend event for anyone working in factual film and television. This year AIDC will host a UK Delegation of commissioning editors, directors and producers from all nations and regions of the UK. Registrations open October: www.aidc.com.au. If you have a great idea for a session at the upcoming conference and would like to be a Session Producer, you can now submit your idea online through the new website: www.aidc.com.au/program/submitsession.html/ The deadline for AIDC session proposals is 4 October 2005.

2 day Global Screenwriter course
Sat & Sun September 24 & 25. Simon David Hunter is a professional screenwriter who works between the Gold Coast and Los Angeles, and is also Senior Teaching Fellow in Advanced Screenwriting at Bond University. He is running a 2 day course which he says “enables participants to learn how to access the domestic and international markets to sell their screenplays. I have taught this course to over 2000 people across the country and had participants who have secured agents and option deals based on the principles outlined in the course.” For course details, go to http://www.globalscreenwriter.com/page2/page9/page9.html

Upcoming events and workshops at QPIX
Casting With Lyn Kidd - 20th August – 9am - 5pm
Presented by Lyn Kidd, Kinetone Award Winner, this workshop provides an overview of the entire casting process. Lyn has been teaching Acting Technique and Voice Production for 25 years. She is also the director of The Actors Workshop. $75 QPIX Members / $105 Non members.
Absolute Beginners - Free - 6 – 8 pm, 6 September (6pm – 8pm)
Know someone who's thinking about a career in film & television? This 2 hour seminar provides a general introduction to the film industry including QPIX, production & training opportunities, funding bodies & career paths. Please call to reserve your place
On Sound - An introduction to sound and recording techniques - 6:30 – 9 pm, 6 September
A beginner's introduction to location sound recording using industry standard techniques and equipment. Learn how to get the cleanest sound for your next shoot. $12.50 QPIX Members / $25.00 Non Members.
For more information about these workshops, go to www.qpix.org.au or email maciek@qpix.org.au.

AFTRS Queensland courses
LAMP Cross Platform Orientation Workshop – 31 August 2-6pm.
$20 Brisbane
AFTRS' new initiative - the Laboratory for Advanced Media Production (LAMP) - is a series of cutting edge seminars, workshops and labs that will enable Australian content creators to produce entertainment for the global stage.
To register: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectID=744AAD11-2A54-23A3-61ACBFC9105CC1A3
Writing Children's Television 1-5 September, $450. Applications close 16 August
The aim of this course is to develop the craft skills and awareness needed to write for a variety of children's television. Presented by Michael Joshua, a Melbourne based writer with 25 years continuous experience in television drama. To apply: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectID=B0C0613C-2A54-23A3-659597F977625863
Radio Music Directors Course 10-11 September, $500. Applications close 31 August
A Music Director's job is one of the most exciting and popular fields in radio. The learning opportunities provided in this course will encourage those who have some music programming experience to expand their skills and learn to operate one of the industry's most used music rotator systems - Selector.
To apply: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectID=C01CDBC7-2A54-23A3-647B9B51E24B6578
Actorphobia - The 6 Day Cure - A masterclass with George Whaley
Course Dates: 8th, 9th, 10th and 14th, 15th, 16th October, 2005
To apply: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectID=4C159E34-2A54-23A3-650BC954AE45241E
Radio Announcing and Presentation
22nd - 23rd October, 2005
Download: http://www.aftrs.edu.au/index.cfm?objectID=36732B47-2A54-23A3-6BF81CEE9BEC7996

Griffith Film School: Alan Rosenthal Documentary Masterclass 29-31 August 6.30-9.30pm. $240. Closing date 18 August.
Alan Rosenthal is the maker of over sixty documentaries, and the author of some of the most influential texts on documentary in the English language. His book titles include New Challenges for Documentary, The Documentary Conscience, Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary film s and Videos and Why Docudrama? Fact-Fiction on Film and TV. Course Venue : Rm 5.04, Griffith Film School, Webb Center, Queensland College of Art. 226 Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane. Contact: Donna Hamilton, (07) 3735 6145 or d.hamilton@griffith.edu.au

SCINEMA 05 19-23 August, Brisbane Qld Museum
SCINEMA 2005, an initiative of the CSIRO, is a science film festival that will be screened in 39 cities around Australia from August 6 - 21. The 2005 program features documentaries, shorts and experimental multimedia. See http://www.csiro.au/scinema/program/screening/films.html#Technology

History gets a drama class at Film Australia
Film Australia is attempting to energise further the production of history documentaries in Australia, partly by appointing famed UK EP Alex West to oversee a slate funded by the government's $7.5 million over three years to produce a 10-part history series. Thursday 18th August, Film Australia is running a one day workshop on filming history. See http://www.filmaustralia.com.au/news/default.asp

Cross Media Partnership – 31 January 2006
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) and the ABC will undertake a new partnership to jointly provide $1.2 million in funding over two years for the Broadband Cross-media Production Initiative (BCPI). The new funding initiative will be directed to producing documentary and factual content for multi-platform delivery and targeted for hosting and broadcast on the ABC’s Broadband and ABC2 digital television services. For further information check the AFC website (www.afc.gov.au); application forms will be available online shortly. Projects from the previous BPI initiative can be viewed at:
www.abc.net.au/dustonmyshoes
www.abc.net.au/dogandcatnews
www.abc.net.au/bligh
http://www.usmob.com.au/

2006 Myer One Year Indigenous Scholarship – closing date 5 September
AFTRS Brisbane have advised that applications are now open for this scholarship in Producing, Directing, Screenwriting, Documentary, Editing, Sound, Design, Screen Composition, Digital Media or Cinematography. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a developed interest in their discipline of choice. Scholars will commence their studies at AFTRS in Sydney in January 2006. The scholarship stipend is $25,000pa. Reasonable relocation expenses will be met. Enquiries via e-mail to sarahourez@bigpond.com. Application can be downloaded at http:// www.aftrs.edu.au or call (02) 9805 6444.

Video Lives – closes 26 August
Video Lives is a national video competition where you get to tell the ABC about your place and/or your community in three to five minutes. If your video is selected it may be published on the ABC website and maybe even shown on ABC2, the ABC's free-to-air digital channel. The winner receives a high-definition video camera (Sony HD HVRZ1P). See http://abc.net.au/videolives/

Woodford Call for Volunteers
The Woodford Folk Festival is held each year between 27th December and 1st January and is an event of international standing – see www.woodfordfolkfestival.com. Woodford is looking fro a Film Programmer and a Short Film Competition Coordinator. Contact: Melissa Fox, Woodford Folk Festival, Ph: 0404 88 2716, Email: melissafox@optusnet.com.au

Flickerfest – Entries Deadline 23 September
Call for entries are now open for the 15th International FLICKERFEST Short Film Festival at Bondi Beach Pavilion, 6-15 January 2005. An International jury will award Best Film International Competition, Best film Australian competition, Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, and a host of other industry prizes. All films must be under 30 minutes and must have been completed within 2 years of the closing date. Guidelines and entry forms are downloadable from our website at www.flickerfest.com.au

Discovery Channel and Nokia content call-out for First Time Mobile Film Makers Award. Deadline 4 September.
What is the "icon" that is most meaningful and significant to the community you belong to? Tell us why you have chosen a particular “icon” , and how you propose to tell its story. These "icons" could be people, places, objects or buildings. They may represent hopes, aspirations, or values. See http://www.mobifilms.net/contest.html

Play Now / Act Now
This awareness initiative for young people and alcohol, is again giving young people between 18 and 25 in NSW the opportunity to have their creative say and win $10,000 in prize money and the chance to be projected on the big screen or be published in a magazine. Check out www.playnowactnow.net.au for a profile on 2004 activities. Entry forms, dates for the free statewide information sessions and 2005 website coming soon. Or call Katrina Beck Project Coordinator on 02 9361 5318 or k.beck@metroscreen.org.au

Metro Screen 30% discount
Metro Screen is offering a 30% discount on all equipment hired for a Play Now/Act Now production. Check out www.metroscreen.org.au for more details.

Port Shorts Film Festival – Entries deadline 10 October
Held annually in beautiful Port Douglas, Port Shorts Film Festival will take place on November 18th and will screen the best thirteen original films made for the Festival and incorporating the theme item. This year’s theme is FISH. Use it anyway you like. For more information and an application form visit www.portshorts.com

Call for Entries: Spirit of Woodford Award – deadline 15 September
Enter your film, video, audio or photographic essay capturing the spirit of any festival or arts event in Australia. Focus on group, artist, performer or person who inspires you and makes our planet a better place to share. Entry form available at www.woodfordfolkfestival.com, deadline: 15th September, 2005(extension possible). More info: gaiafilm@mullum.com.au

Production/Camera Assistant wanted
Lennox Head film maker Stephen Shearer is currently in production making a documentary about the changing face of Lennox Head from surf hamlet to chic sea changer destination through the eyes of local surf identity Chris Brock. Seeking a Production/Camera Assistant for shooting over the next 6-8 weeks. Position is unpaid but will offer a wealth of experience within a tightly budgeted production. Contact Steve on 66875201 or 0427 395350 or e-mail on shep76@hotmail.com

Call for Entries: Cool Bananas Film Festival – deadline 9 September
Cool Bananas Film Festival is seeking the coolest bananas of the bunch for the annual film festival held at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. The short film can be made in any genre, but must include a Banana and the phrase "Go With The Flow" with a time limit of ten minutes. Ads can be either 30 seconds or 60 seconds, and must promote bananas. For further details see www.coolbananas.com.au/filmfest

The Short Film Show
Playing on Community Television in NSW, Victoria, SA, Dan Brophy and Dean Shortland screen and dissect short films for audience entertainment and film maker feedback. The films are “snappy, enthralling and above all selected for their high entertainment value”. See http://www.theshortfilmshow.com.

Australian Film Commission
http://www.afc.gov.au/
19 Aug -Strand D - Draft Funding- Feature
19 Aug - Strand S - Animation Development, Animation, Animation Series
02 Sep - Strand F1 - IndiVision Project Lab & Script Development- Feature
09 Sep- Internships
16 Sep - Strand L - Shooting Time-Critical Material- Documentary, Documentary Series
16 Sep - Strand N - Documentary Production, Documentary, Documentary Series
23 Sep - Strand B - Seed Feature Funding
23 Sep- Strand H - Short Shorts Production, Short (under 15 mins)
23 Sep - Strand X - Experimental Digital Production
14 Oct - Strand J - Documentary Early Development, Documentary, Documentary Series
14 Oct - Strand K - Documentary Development, Documentary, Documentary Series
21 Oct - Strand L - Shooting Time-Critical Material -Documentary, Documentary Series

NSW Film and Television Office
www.fto.nsw.gov.au
17 August – Young Filmmakers Fund
9 December – Aurora Script Workshop
23 September – Production Investment
No deadline – Development assistance – contact devfin@fto.nsw.gov.au.

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Northern Rivers Screenworks is supported by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, Sustainable Regions Program and the NSW Department of Regional Development, Developing Regional Resources Program.