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Opportunities

Screen Tasmania together with Wide Angle Tasmania are offering a unique training opportunity - Tasmania’s first Feature Film Induction Course 

As a result of Screen Tasmania’s mandate to  stimulate and increase production activity in Tasmania, there is a growing need to establish a skilled Tasmanian technical and craft crew base to work on a range of drama productions for cinema and television.
Due to this demand, Screen Tasmania has partnered with Wide Angle Tasmania to deliver an exciting opportunity for both aspiring and experienced Tasmanian film-makers to take part in a unique professional-level training programme.

The Feature Film Induction Course will be held in Hobart in July 2009 and will be run by top industry professionals. The course will run in two stages and will be an invaluable stepping stone for anyone seeking to be employed professionally within the screen industry. 

Proposed dates are Saturday 18 July 2009 for free introductory day, with second stage commencing in the week of Monday 20 July 2009.

At the end of the course, there may be an opportunity for graduates to be considered for a position as either a paid attachment or employed in a crew role on two sci-fi feature films shooting between July – November 2009.
Those wishing to be considered for a paid attachment or crew employment roles must have attended the course, or be able to demonstrate significant professional on-set experience.

The course will cater to all levels of experience; entry-level and also filmmakers who have some experience but are keen to up-skill or transfer skills to a particular specialisation.

Five major areas of specialist training will be offered:
1.    Production – (Production Manager/Assistant/Co-ordinator, Accounting)
2.    On set – (Assistant Directing, Location Management, continuity)
3.    Camera – (Camera, Grips, Electrics)
4.    Sound – (Location Sound Recording and Boom Swinging)
5.    Art Department – (Production Design, Make Up, Wardrobe, SFX)

The course will be delivered in two stages:

Free Introductory Day
The Introductory Day will provide targeted information sessions, small roundtable group discussions and the opportunity to meet film industry professionals who will give direct insight into screen industry career pathways, as well as providing guidance for participants to consider their choice of specialisation if selected for the second stage of the course.

Second Stage Intensive development*
The second stage will consist of an intensive pre-production and hands-on shoot phase. Participants will be selected for this second stage after completing the Introductory Day, and will work closely with mentors in their chosen craft specialisation.  On completion of the course a number of participants may be offered either an internship or employment on a feature film to be produced in Tasmania.

*Selected participants from the Introductory Day will be invited to enter the Second Stage of the course. A fee of $400 per participant will be charged for the second stage.

To register preliminary interest including your preferred area of specialisation please email info@wideangle.org.au

AFTRS SHORT COURSES

News from AFTRS Tasmania

Following on from the announcement of a dedicated ABC children’s channel, if you want to get a head start on your ideas then AFTRS can recommend coming along to their writing a Children’s TV Series short course in June.

Writing a Children's TV Series
Hobart: 7-9 July 2009, Cost $400

Explore the principles of screenwriting for children. This 3 day course will give you a great overview on the art of inspiring adventure and imagination in children’s television.

Key topics such as setting, character and themes for a children’s series and mini series will be examined as well as issues associated with conforming to Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) (P) certificate or a (C) certificate standards.

By the end of this course participants will have had the opportunity to:

• Discover how to write for ‘particular ages’
• Become aware of how to develop story
• Learn how to improvise as a means of building character
• Explore the ‘3 act structure’ as applied to children’s TV
• Become familiar with writing to ABA standards
• Analyse current programs as reference points

Course Presenter: Simon Butters

Simon Butters is a graduate of professional screenwriting at RMIT University and has worked in children's television as a writer, script editor and story consultant. Credits include: Wicked Science series one and two, Scooter: Secret Agent, H20 Just Add Water series one, two and three, Pirate Islands - Lost in Fiji and The Elephant Princess. Simon is currently developing his own television series: C.S.HIGH: funded by the Australian Children's Television Foundation and the South Australian Film Corporation, and Zach the Zombie - both series with Pacific and Beyond Pty Ltd.

 
For more information and to apply, go to: www.aftrs.edu.au/tas

Screenwriting for Film & Television - Online
National: 2 June – 6 August 2009, Online, Cost: $750

Our popular Online Screenwriting course is back again and newly updated. This fully online course runs for ten weeks and will introduce you to the fundamentals of creating an industry-standard feature film script.
Closing date for applications: 19 May 2009
For more information and to apply, go to: www.aftrs.edu.au/tas

16 July 2009

Wide Angle Tasmania invites you to take part in a seminar with internationally acclaimed Director Kris Moyes.

Kris Moyes has directed music videos for Beck, The Presets, Wolfmother and many more. In this seminar he will be discussing his creative process and presenting some examples from his significant body of work.
This seminar includes;
1. screenings of music videos that Kris Moyes has made (including a sneak peak of a video that has never been seen!).
2. discussion on communication of ideas, craft and technical issues involved in production.
3. addressing how budget constraints can be overcome with creativity and lateral thinking!

Followed by a Q & A session, this is a unique opportunity for both film makers and musicians.

When: Thursday July 16
Where: The State Cinema
When: 6pm sharp!
Cost: FREE – but bookings are essential.

To register contact: Wide Angle Tasmania, 6223 8344 or info@wideangle.org.au

The presentation of this seminar was assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts. Wide Angle Tasmania acknowledges the financial assistance of Screen Tasmania and Screen Australia.

Call for entries

Entries open for 2009 AFI Awards

The Australian Film Institute (AFI) is Australia’s foremost screen culture organisation. The AFI has recognised and celebrated excellence in Australian film and television for over 50 years through the annual AFI Awards ceremony.

For entry details, information on the revisions to the AFI rules and processes, or to join the AFI, go to www.afi.org.au

Spin a yarn and go to Cannes!

Deadline: 3 July 2009 

If you have made a short film with a strong story, or know an aspiring filmmaker with ambition, then Shorts Film Festival wants you! Or the film at least.

With a focus on cinematic story telling through films of all genres, Shorts Film Festival will send the best filmmaker to take the next step in their professional development with a trip to Cannes Film Festival in…Cannes!

Other awards include post production assistance and cash prizes. A showcase of selected films will go to the UK to be screened at the internationally recognised Rushes Soho Shorts Festival.

Shorts has attracted films of excellent quality from across Australia including award winning films both nationally and internationally.

However the June 1, 2009 deadline is approaching fast so finalise that edit, choose the font for your credits and send us your film! It could put you on a jet to France to learn from the best in the industry.

In case you haven’t crafted your masterpiece yet just remember, you can shoot a feature film in 5 weeks and we only need 20 minutes or less. So head to: www.shortsfilmfestival.com for more or check out Facebook at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20646157427 or catch updates at http://twitter.com/shortsfilmfest.

Aspiring Filmmakers – this is your opportunity of a lifetime!

Deadline: 31 August 2009

The Australian Film Institute has partnered Australia Post to host a new and exciting competition for the next generation of Australian film-makers.

The 200 Seconds short film competition for students and film enthusiasts is your best chance to make a short film and launch your filmmaking career in front of Australian’s film and television heavyweights at the 2009 AFI Industry Awards.

200 Seconds…this is the amount of time you have to tell your own story in a short film around the concept of a ‘parcel’.

We don’t know how big the parcel is, its size, colour or shape, that’s all up to you. We want to be dazzled, moved, excited and most of all entertained.

For more information got to: www.200years.auspost.com.au/#/bicentenary/200seconds/

Coming up

Free Screening at Cinema Samedi - Launceston

When: Wednesday 27th May 2009 (the last Wednesday of each month)
Time: 6.30pm
Where: Cinema Samedi, 99 Elphin Road , Newstead, Launceston