SCREENWORKS RESTRUCTURE
Northern Rivers Screenworks is pleased to announce we have recently become an incorporated not-for-profit association. This change to our governing structure is crucial to Screenworks evolution and opens the organisation up to even more community input, allowing its members to have a real say in how the organisation moves forward.
Members need to be nominated by two exisiting members and four membership categories have been created: Professional ($60 per annum), Emerging Professional ($40 per annum), Associate ($40 per annum) and Student/ Unemployed ($30 per annum). Benefits include receipt of monthly newsletters, access to website, reduced prices on Screenworks events and discounts at partner organisations/outlets.
For further details on how to become a fully financial member of Screenworks and to receive all the benefits it has to offer, email Beth at events@screenworks.com.au or tel: 02 6687 1599 (Mondays and Thursdays) or email Aliison Kelly, Secretary on aliison@internode.on.net

SCREENWORKS LAUNCHES REELTALK WITH BRA BOYS PREMIERE
Where: Byron Bay Cinemas.
When: Saturday March 10 2007: 5pm sharp!
Meet: Co-directors Sunny Abberton and Macario
De Souza at the Q & A to follow the screening.
Cost: Screenworks members: $15 (you must be a paid up 2007 member to qualify). Information on membership from Screenworks ON 6687 1599 or events@screenworks.com.au
Non members: $20
Tickets: Byron Cinemas, Byron Bay
Note: Seats are limited so book now.

This is a fundraising screening to assist Screenworks and its work throughout the year. No concessions or freebies. Thanks for your understanding.

About the Film:
Bra Boys is a film about the cultural evolution of the inner-Sydney beachside suburb of Maroubra and the social struggle of its youth – the tattooed and much maligned surf community known as the Bra Boys. The story is narrated by Australian actor Russell Crowe and is told through the eyes of members of the Bra Boys.

It is the first full-length film project being undertaken by, and officially sanctioned by, the Bra Boys. It is their story. It shows their success in professional big wave surfing, it explores their international reputation for hard partying and rough justice, it touches on their running battle with authorities and it shows their absolute reliance on one another to fit into a society in which they are displaced and, at times, disinterested. It shows how the evolution of Maroubra, coupled with the historical stigma associated with Australia’s rebellious surf community, has contributed to their social displacement.

Central to the story is the true-life struggle of the Abberton brothers – Sunny, Koby, Jai and Dakota … one charged with murdering a Sydney standover man, another pursuing a professional surf career but charged as an accessory in his brother’s legal fight, another trying to hold the family together and a young brother whose inheritance is his siblings’ notoriety.

Bra Boys uses archival footage shot and blends it with current surf vision and interviews to create a story that is compassionate and confronting. It is a story of contrast involving against-the-odds success and predictable failures and, ultimately, a story exploring the legacy and hopes of the next generation of Bra Boys members.

“’Bra Boys’ is a rollercoaster ride!” Waves Magazine

“Powerful and compelling. Maroubra’s Bra Boys present as counter-culture heroes… remixed with ANZAC larrikinism.” If Magazine

This is the launch of Screenworks newest cultural event – REELTALK.
It aims to bring you exciting and challenging premier release films, both Australian and International, followed by Q&A sessions with creative key people from the film.
This is your opportunity, on a quarterly basis, to talk, think, listen and learn film with insights from the filmmakers.
Expect to mingle with your peers, meet new people and network furiously.
See you there!

SCREENWORKS NEW BOARD
At the Screenworks AGM in January a new board was elected:
Lyn McCarthy (Chair), Catherine Marciniak (Deputy Chair), Aliison Kelly (Secretary/ Public Officer), James Dods (Treasurer), Andrew Bambach, Murray Burns, Cynthia Connop, Jenny Cornish, Jan Mallis, Mark Purser and Peter Westheimer.

OFFICE TO RENT
Screenworks has a room to let in its offices measuring 4.5 x 4 metres with a verandah overlooking the main street of Bangalow. It is available for short or long term lease at $650 per month. Contact Screenworks for more information or to organise a viewing. 

DEVELOPMENT  PRODUCER CLINICS
When:  Last Friday of the month
Where: 1/12 Byron Street Bangalow, entry at rear via Deacon Street
Cost: $35 + GST/ 1 hour session
Next Clinic: 30 March 2007
Got a great idea for the screen, but what's next?
Each month Screenworks conducts Development Clinics for selected emerging or professional producers, writers or directors who seek a professional consultation to develop their concept for funding and entry into film and television markets.
Appointments are confidential, conducted on a one on one basis and of one-hour duration. Participants are encouraged to email any possible briefing material in advance in order to maximise the consultation opportunity. To be considered for an appointment please email: events@screenworks.com.au

Comments from a February clinic participant: “My meeting on Friday was incredible. I have never met a more positive person in my life. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.”

ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS, ACCOLADES
MORE ACCOLADES FOR LIFE AT 1
As the next installment of "The Life Series" goes into pre-production on "Life at 3", the project continues to pick up accolades. In December 2006 it received a Golden Dragon Award in the category of Life Science and Medicine at the prestigious Beijing Science Film Festival and this month the "Life at 1" website has been selected as a finalist in 13th Annual AIMIA Awards.
Congratulations to "The Life Series” team, particularly Writer/ Director/ Cinematographer - Catherine Marciniak, a local documentary maker and Screenworks Board member.
A "Life at 2" website update is being prepared for launch in 2007. So stay tuned.

TWO BIG BOYS
‘Two Big Boys’ is the title of the short film script by Casino based writer/ director, Jon Bell, which was selected by the Indigenous Unit of the AFC as one of the projects in the Bit of Black Business Five Minute Film Initiative.
Jon teamed up with Annie Benzie and Lois Randall as co- producers in 2005 to develop his short film script ‘Men’s Business’ (formally known as ‘The Boxer’). They received development funding which enabled them to employ Belinda Chayko as script editor to help Jon to take the script to another draft. They intend to submit the script to the Indigenous Unit for production funding in 2007.
Erica Glynn, project officer at the Indigenous Unit, encouraged Jon to also submit a script for the latest AFC/ SBS initiative. After once again making a successful submission, Jon attended a three-day writing workshop in March followed by a residential visual storytelling workshop in April. He had the opportunity to work with actors David Page and Michael Tuahine and director Wayne Blair as part of the process of workshopping and fine tuning his script.
‘Two Big Boys’ went into production in January 2007 and post production is now complete. Look out for the Bit of Black Business films which will premiere at the Message Stick Festival with a follow up screening on SBS.

CHANGE THE WORLD
Tristan Bancks has been funded to make a short documentary for the SBS / Film Australia / NSW FTO initiative, Change the World in Five Minutes. The film will encourage upper-primary classes around the country to spend the first five minutes of every day doing something to change the world in some small way. Ex-ABC children's producer Wendy Gray will co-produce the film. Annie Benzie will be DOP. The initiative is focussed on cross-platform projects, with web, TV and live presentation elements to be developed in the coming months. Info at www.filmaust.com.au/changetheworld/

We would love to share your success stories with all of our subscribers. Send details to events@screenworks.com.au