October 2008 Newsletter
by Ana Tiwary
Women in Film and Television NSW
In this issue:
• WOW Film Festival - special report
• Media Mentorship for Women
• Special Offers
• Upcoming Deadlines
• Crew Call
• Industry Events
• Contact Us
Five days of fantastic films, forums and fun!
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42 FILMS, 7 SCREENING SESSIONS, Q&A WITH KERRY ARMSTRONG,
FILMMAKERS FORUMS, MENTORSHIP LAUNCH EVENT & CAFE CONNECTIONS!
4 Screenwriting Seminars -
by Karel Segers
Discount for WIFT NSW members
From 26 October until 23 November 2008, The Story Department will run four essential seminars for screenwriters who want to focus on commercially viable films.
FEES AND REGISTRATION:
Karel has very kindly offered Early Bird rate ($132) to all WIFT NSW members until the last day of registration. We recommend that you register soon, the courses are filling out fast.
BOOKINGS & INFO:
Website: www.storydr.com
Location: NSW Writers Centre, Rozelle NSW
Email: karel@ozzywood.com
Phone: 0407 955 555
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BRIDESHEAD REVISITED - free passes!
Icon Films is offering WIFT NSW members 10 in-season double passes to BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, the much anticipated release of 2008 starring Emma Thompson. To win, be one of our first 10 current members to email info@nsw.wift.org with 'Brideshead' in the subject line and include your postal address to
receive your tickets.
The film, based on Evelyn Waugh’s acclaimed novel, is adapted for the screen by multiple BAFTA Award-winner Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones Diary) and Jeremy Brock (The Last King of Scotland), and directed by Julian Jarrold (Becoming Jane). In cinema's from 23 October.
www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com
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CELEBRITY: DOMINICK DUNNE - ticket giveaway!
The first 2 WIFT NSW members to email info@nsw.wift.org with 'WIFT NSW - Celebrity' in the subject line, along with their name, will receive an in-season double pass to a screening of their choice at the Chauvel Cinema. Only winners will be notified.
Hollywood outcast, best-selling author and chronicler of the rich and famous, Dominick Dunne is one of the worlds leading journalists and
society commentators. This is his story....
Featuring extraordinary access to Dunne's world, including never-before-seen home video footage and remarkable frank interviews, Celebrity: Dominick Dunne explores one man's journey from unlikely war hero to Hollywood producer, from outcast to special correspondent for Vanity Fair. Written, directed and produced by Timothy Jolley and Kirsty de Garis, with Sue Maslin and Daryl Dellora as the executive producers, Celebrity: Dominick Dunne is distributed by Film Art Media and screens nationally and at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney from 23 October.
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DISCOUNT: Script Assessment
Barb Angell offers Script Assessments with discounts for WIFT members. Of interest to Producers who have amassed a pile of unread scripts, Barb offers a unique service. Quote your WIFT Membership Number and you will qualify for a 10% discount on all quoted prices.
www.angellpro.com.au/scripts.htm
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CALL FOR ENTRIES
San Francisco International Women's Film Festival & Women's Film Institute Tour
Deadline:15 December 2008
The mission of the Women’s Film Institute (WFI) is to honor, showcase, and facilitate the creation of films directed or co-directed by women. WFI supports its mission by presenting the best in women’s cinema through the annual San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival (SFWFF), WFI Shorts Tour, and year-round educational programs and events.
The fifth annual SFWFF (April 1-5, 2009) is currently accepting film entries. SFWFF accepts films and videos directed or co-directed by women of all lengths and genres: narrative, experimental, documentary, music video, and animation. Deadline for entry: December 15, 2008. No Entry fee required.
In addition to the film festival, WFI is proud to launch and present the 1st WFI Shorts Tour Program. WFI is currently accepting entries for the 1st WFI Shorts Tour. The shorts tour will take place summer 2009 in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.
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The National Film and Sound Archive Fellowship
Deadline: 14 November 2008
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) invites research proposals from academics, performers, artists, audiovisual industry and archive
professionals to draw fresh, innovative perspectives from the national audiovisual collection. Fellows will use the NFSA’s collection to create a new sound or moving image work, a publication, an exhibit, a live audiovisual event or a combination of these and other approaches.
The Fellowships offer specially facilitated access and research into the national collection; close collaboration with NFSA curatorial and technical experts; access to the Library; modern accommodation; and a fully equipped work space provided on-site.For details contact Belinda Hunt at belinda.hunt@nfsa.gov.au
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The ReelshowInt.com Monthly Film Student Competition November 2008
Deadline: 31 November 2008
The Grand Jury Prize? An Academy Award? Palme D’or? Who needs these when you can win Reelshow.Int’s Monthly Film Student Competition for November! Enter the ultimate student film competition in November and win some great prizes:
150 US Dollars Cash Prize, Automatic entry into our International Film Student Festival which will be held in April 2009 and be featured as our winner of the month on www.reelshowint.com
Great for the CV, great for the career and great for your own kudos!
November 2008 voting starts midday GMT 30th November and closes midday GMT 31st November.
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AD, DESIGNER AND EDITOR WANTED
The project is sizzle reel/ trailer entry for the MTV 180 competition, which gets you to enter a 3 minute 'pilot' for show. The prize is the pilot gets funded and screened by MTV.
Our show is 'Raise the Bar'. It’s set in the dance industry and stars JD Carteret from So You Think You Can Dance. The premise is two dancers from two different worlds (contemporary/ jazz and hip hop) are co-choreographing a new show, with four of their cast making up the main ensemble. The show is fresh, fun, character-driven drama that takes a behind the scenes look at the loves and lives of dancers in Australia.
FIRST AD WANTED
We are looking for a 1st AD for a shoot Sunday November 2nd and Monday November 3rd.
We are offering a part upfront payment of $100, and a deferred payment of $500, should the show get picked up by MTV. Must have good experience as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
EDITOR WANTED
We are looking for an editor for a cut from the 4th – 7th November.
We are in post 4th – 7th November, and need to deliver a lock-off to sound by 9am on Nov 8th. The editor is welcome (and encouraged) to come to set, and a meeting in pre with the director and DOP. We don’t have a suite so this job would suit someone who has their own setup.
We are offering a part upfront payment of $100, and a deferred payment of $500, should the show get picked up by MTV.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER WANTED
We are looking for a production designer for a shoot Sunday November 2nd and Monday November 3rd.
As this is a very low budget shoot, I have created a script and chosen locations which will be easy to dress/ source props for. Your budget + payment upfront is $200, and $500 deferred, should the show be picked up by MTV. We have two main locations.
This job will suit someone with production design experience who is keen to jump in the deep end!
Please send expressions of interest for above jobs to hellogeorgia@gmail.com ASAP.
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Queensland Screen Industry Council
SCREEN INDUSTRY FORUM
Building the Creative Business Base
Building the Skills Base
9am – 5pm Saturday 1 November 2008
The Glasshouse, QUT Creative Industries Precinct, Parer Place
Screen industry professionals, practitioners and stakeholders are invited to attend the inaugural Screen Industry Forum of the newly formed Queensland Screen Industry Council (QSIC). The Forum will cover topics of critical importance to the Queensland screen industry including how industry and government can work together to strengthen the screen industry in Queensland. This Forum is your opportunity to be involved in this new initiative and to contribute to strengthening the Queensland screen industry. Find out more about QSIC at Seats are limited and you must register to attend by 27/10/08 now by email to bret.mannison@2020is.com.au or mobile 0403 070 130.
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DERAILED - Film Screening
A community fundraiser screening of train documentary Derailed (Akkadia Ford, Writer/Director/Producer; Nick Zammit Co-Producer), will be held on Sunday November 2nd, 7.15 pm at Mullumbimby Civic Hall
(enq. 02 6684 9313). Funds raised are for the Northern Rivers' rail campaign TOOT (Trains on our Tracks). For further information please contact Akkadia on (02) 6687 1984; seshta@bigpond.com
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WIFT NSW members please email us your events, jobs or news for our next newsletter. Please try to keep to a 50 words limit.
Email: e-bulletin@wiftnsw.org.au
Website: www.nsw.wift.org
Address: PO Box 12 Potts Point NSW 1335 AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61 (2) 9357 1490
Women in Film and Television (WIFT) NSW is committed to improving the status of women, both on and off the screen, by supporting and advancing women working in the Australian film, television and related screen industries. We are a membership based non-profit organization. WIFT NSW is part of a global organisation, Women in Film and Television International. www.wifti.org
Check out the latest WIFT International Newsletter at:
www.wifti.org/wiftinews-fall2008.html
PAST WIFT NSW NEWSLETTERS:
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Audience "WOW" at Premiere Screenings during the15th World of Women Film Festival |
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WOW Festival Director Sil-Nyin Cameron, Aloura Charles and star Kerry Armstrong at Opening Night WIFT NSW’s World of Women Film Festival held in the first week of October was a fantastic premier screen culture event, screening shorts and features in all genres from female filmmaking talents from across the globe. The festival presented creative conceptions of women from a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances, telling their stories, in their own way.
Opening Night drew a large crowd and the Chauvel Cinema was abuzz with patrons mixing and mingling. Live blues harp performer, Tony Eyers, entertained the crowd who sipped on Watershed Premium Wines from the Margaret River and enjoyed organic canapés provided by the Olive and Rose Café. An era from the past was evoked as the audience entered the theatre to piano playing by George Baraliakos.
Tania Chambers, Chief Executive of the NSW Film & Television Office, opened the Festival and Ian Robertson, Deputy Chair of Screen Australia, applauded the WIFT NSW Media Mentorship for Women program, which was also launched as a part of the opening festivities. Australian Shorts kicked off the screening program. Many of the filmmakers attended and witnessed an enthusiastic response from the audience. Following an interval the Australian cinema premiere of the feature film, Reservations, was introduced by special guests; actress Kerry Armstrong, the star, who came from Melbourne and Aloura Charles, the writer/director of the film who flew from LA to attend.
Thursday was International Night at the festival and started with International Shorts screening films from Switzerland, the USA, Ireland, Italy, Canada and France. The values of the festival were bought into sharp focus with the world premiere screening of feature length documentary on female camerawomen from around the world in Alexis Krasilovsky’s Shooting Women. An introduction was presented by cinematographer Jan Kenny ACS and catering was hosted by ARRI Australia.
The WOW Short Film Competition Awards presentation on Friday 3rd October was preceded by screenings of Student Shorts and Australian Shorts featuring River of No Return directed by award-winning director, Darlene Johnson who was present at the screening.
Audiences had the opportunity to meet the filmmakers throughout the festival, Pat Fiske, producer of River of No Return, Helen Goritsas, writer/director of Along the Songline, Katie O’Neill, director of Lullaby, Annette Sicari, director and Peggy Yabevula, cinematographer from Bruno and Nick Khoo director of Love Letters, Oksana Sokol producer/director of Omen, Alison Heather writer/director of Love On Track, Donna Chang producer/director of Comfort Food, Katherine Goldie, director, writer and editor of Duck Soup and Watermelon, Sarah Tracton, director/writer/editor of White Sound and many others.
WOW Film Festival 2008 was the first on the Australian festival scene to use cutting edge on-line delivery of short films by Indieflix to registered on-line viewers. Indie-Fest is a new streaming video site that lets users stream and vote for films selected by the WOW Film Festival for the on-line competition. The on-line audience saw films from the WOW Festival from the 19th to 29th September.
Finding the Funds for Collaboration – Filmmaker Events at WOW...
Saturday brunch was complimented with the final program of Australian Shorts selection. WOW presented an Industry panel for the Filmmakers Forum held at Metro Screen. Themed on funding and team collaboration processes involved in making independent films. Guest speakers were Julia Overton and Joan Sauers from Screen Australia, Dr. Karen Pearlman from AFTRS, Laura Sivis an Australian producer and Aloura Charles, producer and director from the USA. Well attended by a variety of filmmakers and a great chance to interact and learn from other’s experiences.
The WOW Festival week wrapped up on the Sunday afternoon with Media Mentorship for Women Launch Event and the regular calendar event, WIFT NSW Café Connections Session talk held at Micky’s Café. The festival featured A Director’s Insight, a highly entertaining and very enlightening guest speaker, Louise Alston, talking about the making of her first feature, All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane.
WOW Film Festival Tour 2008 still traveling, Tour 09 on the website soon…
Locations around Australia are screening the marvelous 2007 WOW Festival program.
Women Out West is facilitating the WOW Tour to Western NSW. The Warren Arts Council will screen the WOW Fiction & Comedy program at Warren, on 24th October at 8pm at the Club House Hotel.
Brisbane again will host the WOW Film Festival. Two WOW programs, the Fiction & Comedy and Drama & Black Comedy will screen at the Brisbane Powerhouse on 12th & 13th November at 8pm on both nights. See www.nsw.wift.org/wow for more details
With a little help from our industry friends…
WIFT NSW would like to extend special thanks to major sponsor, JAM Directions. Jennifer Treur, creative director and Michelle Ford, producer at the multi-media company JAM Directions deserve accolades for the outstanding trailer, print production and website for the 15th WOW Film Festival and their fantastic support for the event where they enjoyed many of the programs during festival week. The outstanding new website features web TV, which will be continually uploaded with trailers and filmmaker interviews. Please check out www.nsw.wift.org/wow
Generous and valued sponsors have contributed prizes and support for this year’s festival event and contribute to making it all happen. Our sincere thanks go to the NSW Film & Television Office, City of Sydney, JAM Directions, Indieflix, Spectrum Films, Panavision, Tresscox Lawyers, Miller Camera Support, Atlab, Sony, Art Resistance, Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS), Metro Screen, dLux Media Arts, ARRI Australia, TVD Broadcast, The PHOTO studio, iDRINX, Olive & Rose Cafe, Corban & Blair, Watershed Premium Wines, Ellenet, Printers Korner, Micky’s Café, Chauvel Cinema, WIFT Victoria, Screenworks, Australian Director’s Guild.
WIFT NSW acknowledges the support of Screen Australia for the WOW National Tour.
Finally a huge thank you to the WOW Film Festival team whose efforts ensured such a successful event. And we look forward to seeing many of you on the tour!
Sil-Nyin Cameron
WOW Festival Director 2008, WOW Tour Co-ordinator 2008
WOW SHORT FILM COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to the fantastic filmmakers who took out the prizes for the 15th WOW Short Film Competition that was hotly contested by the fine programme selected by our judges.
BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FICTION - DRAMA: FEELING_LONELY?
Melissa Beauford (producer), Rachael Turk (producer / director), Bonnie Elliot (cinematographer)
BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FICTION - COMEDY: EDGAR AND ELIZABETH
Melissa Kelly (producer), Renee Webster (director)
BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT DOCUMENTARY: WHITE SOUND
Sarah Tracton (producer/director/writer/editor)
BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM STUDENT: LULLABY
Kate Breen (producer), Caitlin Hall (producer), Katie O'Neill (director)
BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT ANIMATION: THE PERILS OF FLOSSY
Ali Ashdown (producer/director/writer), JoAnne Bouzianis-Sellick (cinematographer)
BEST AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VIDEO: BITTER WINDS
Lina Eve (producer/director/writer/cinematographer)
AUSTRALIAN WOMAN CINEMATOGRAPHER
SIMONE MAZENGARB, Director of Photography for HAIR TODAY GONE TOMORROW
Highly Commended for Cinematography: Pregnant (Katelnd Griffin) and Almost Eleven (Bonnie Elliot)
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD WINNERS:
THE RACE : Kate Mills (Producer/Director)
I DON'T DREAM IN GERMAN : Ivana Lalovic (Director/Writer), Laura Zimmermann, ZHDK (Producer)
DUCK SOUP : Kathryn Goldie (Director/Writer), VCA Film & TV, Carol Gregory (Producer)
RIVER OF NO RETURN : Darlene Johnson (Director, Writer, Co-Producer) Pat Fiske (Producer)
LOVE LETTERS : Nick Khoo (Director), Peggy Yabevula (Producer)
WINNER OF INDIE-FEST @ WORLD OF WOMEN ON-LINE FILM COMPETITION: BIRTHDAY GIRL
Murray Sestak (co-producer), Angie Black (co-producer/director), MaryJeanne Watt (editor)
Photos of the event will be up on the website soon. www.nsw.wift.org/wow
[JAM Directions our sponsor for the creative direction and design of WOW's new image, website, trailers and print.]
Media Mentorship for WomenEmbarks on Empowering! |
WIFT NSW new Media Mentorship for Women (MMW), was officially launched on the Opening Night of the WOW Film Festival at the Chauvel Cinema on October 1st, 2008.
Tania Chambers, Chief Executive of the NSW Film and Television Office (FTO), opened the WOW Film Festival and announced the launch of the Media Mentorship for Women Program.
Chambers, who strongly felt that the MMW will continue to expand well beyond the initial two rounds, was very proud that the NSW FTO was a sponsor. Thrilled of WIFT NSW’s involvement in the program, she commented: “Everybody I talk to who has either had the opportunity…to be mentored by somebody, or who has been involved in mentoring,… talks about the fact that it is a two way experience; that the people who are there as mentors get invigorated, inspired and enthused and actually get to see the world in a slightly different way.” |
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Special guest Ian Robertson, Managing Partner, Holding Redlich and Deputy Chair, Screen Australia, also proud to be a Platinum sponsor of the program, thinks that the MMW is an important initiative for the Film and Television industry. “I think one of the terrific things from the point of view of women working in this industry is that we have so many female role models … It is to be hoped that this mentorship program will add many more names to the list of outstanding female talent in our industry,” said Robertson. |
The program has attracted mentors from many different areas of the industry, from scriptwriting and cinematography to sound design and editing. MMW offers established industry professionals such as Piet De Vries, Robert Humphries, Jessica Douglas-Henry, Susan MacKinnon, Guy Gross, John Edwards, Laura Sivis to name a few. We also have overseas mentors such as US based Laurie Scheer, UK based Anna Reeves and Anjum Rajibali from India on board for Mentorship Round 1. (A complete list of Round 1 Mentees and Mentors is provided the end of this article.)
Ana Tiwary Mentorship Program Co-ordinator, Vice President WIFT NSW, thanked all the sponsors, volunteers and acknowledged all of the 30 mentors who have come on board for Mentorship Round 1. "About eight months ago, the mentorship program was just an idea and I am happy to see it come to life today. The most vital part of our program is our mentors, and we are extremely grateful to them for contributing their time and sharing their wisdom with the next generation of women filmmakers.” |
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Mentoring flourishes at MMW Launch Forum...
The first round of the MMW was marked with a stylish kick off at the Rex Center in Potts Point. Attended by Mentors, applicants and other industry professionals, the event included a talk on Work-Life Balance by special guest Alison Nancye, a Mentorship Forum and a Speed Networking session.
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Founder of The Life Kitchen, Director of MiLK Magazine, a renowned mentor, writer, keynote speaker, and mother of two; Nancye’s Work-Life Balance’ speech resonated with those present and inspired many to spend more time on nurturing their mind, body and souls.
With a panel of five inspiring mentors, comprising of Sarah Joyce, Kathy Drayton, Karel Segers, Phillippa Harvey and Madeleine Hetherton, engrossing debate was sparked. Hot on the tongues, were strategies to bridge the gap between emerging and established filmmakers. The discussion enabled attendees to address the issues that concerned them the most, proving to be a productive and engaging environment for all.
Overall, the excitement and camaraderie of the start of the MMW was so strongly felt by all, that a significant number stayed on to continue discussions and interact with new found industry colleagues.
Whats next on the MMW menu...
The MMW Committee will be organising 3 free workshops for MMW applicants over the next six months in areas such as Media Law, Cinematography and Scriptwriting. Mentorship Round 2 applications will be accepted between 10th December 2008 and 1st of February 2009. Please check the website for updates: www.nsw.wift.org/mentor
Special Thank You! to our Sponsors and Supporters...
The media industry has been very supportive of the program and we are very grateful to all our partners - Metro Screen, Getting Creative, A big thank you to Greg Neal from Miller for encouraging us from the very start of the program. Megan McMurchy and Hibiscus films, we cannot thank you enough. We are extremely grateful and fortunate to have incredible support from our sponsors. The NSW FTO has guided and supported us along the way. A special thank you to Tania Chambers for her vision, inspiration and encouragement. Our Platinum Legal Sponsor Holding Redlich are not only providing their valuable services but also organizing a free Media Law workshop. We are very thankful to Ian Robertson, Sonia Borella and Cathy Hoyle for supporting the program in so many different ways. Phil Sandberg from Content+Technology Magazine is printing a series of articles about the mentorship program. Keren Moran and Noa Peer from Spring in Alaska, have created an outstanding website for us. City of Sydney has offered us free venue for some of our events. Miller Camera Support were the first sponsor to come on board and have helped the program right from the development stage. We look forward to the continued support of all our fantastic Sponsors for many years to come.
Emerging to Established - Bridging the Gap!
MMW ROUND 1 Matched List
MENTEE |
AREA |
MENTOR |
Sandra Whitaker |
Cinematography |
PIET DE VRIES |
Tania Lambert |
Cinematography |
ROBERT HUMPHRIES |
Toula Stathopoulos |
Cinematography |
FRANC BIFFONE |
Alex Collie |
Colourist |
HEATHER HAY |
Alexandra Russell |
Directing |
KATHY DRAYTON |
Katharine Rogers |
Directing |
ANNA REEVES |
Nadia Barlow |
Directing |
SARAH JOYCE |
Sallyanne Ryan |
Directing |
SUSAN MACKINNON |
Sarah Tracton |
Directing |
JESSICA DOUGLAS-HENRY |
Sunita Jariwala |
Documentary |
SAFINA OBEROI |
Claire Banyard |
Documentary |
TOM ZUBRYCKI |
Gemma Boyle |
Editing |
PHILLIPPA HARVEY |
Josephine Skinner |
Editing |
MADELEINE HETHERTON |
Anna Kelly |
Producing |
CYNTHIA CANNOP |
Gita Irwin |
Producing |
ANNY SLATER |
Kate Rees Davis |
Producing |
LAURA SIVIS |
Cristina Calero |
Screen Composition |
BURKHARD DALLWITZ |
Rachel Gaudry |
Screen Composition |
GUY GROSS |
Alana Kornfeld |
Scriptwriting |
LAURIE SCHEER |
Catherine McCormick |
Scriptwriting |
ANJUM RAJABALI |
Elizabeth Varcoe |
Scriptwriting |
MATTHEW DABNER |
Helen Murdoch |
Scriptwriting |
GREG WATERS |
Johanna Oppliger |
Scriptwriting |
ANNE CESHER |
Martha Goddard |
Scriptwriting |
SUE SMITH |
Melissa Azizi |
Scriptwriting |
JULIA OVERTON |
Nicole Tanzabel |
Scriptwriting |
KAREL SEGERS |
Veronica Gleeson |
Scriptwriting |
JOHN EDWARDS |
Vicki Englund |
Scriptwriting |
SHIRLEY PIERCE |
Sharna Bregman |
Sound Editing |
LAURA SIVIS |
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Media Mentorship for Women is proudly sponsored by:
Visit the Media Mentorship for Women website at www.nsw.wift.org/mentor