48hrs/Rentals on YouTube/Your Big Break Winners

Hi all ,
Some info on some happenings below.
enjoy.


48HRS FURIOUS FILM MAKING COMP

This year the 48hrs Film Comp shoot weekend begins on 16th April (registration opens March 1st).
There is already some local team building going on!
Wanaka had 2 teams enter last year,one missed out official consideration due to a technical error (but was an awesome movie!) , the other made it to the regional finals!.
So, let's try and top that this year folks , get organized early (as much as one can get organized for 48hrs)
and make sure you register in time.
Link for 48 Hours HERE  check for updates regularly.
EMAIL us here at Wanaka Film Trust if you have any questions about the comp as we have a few 48hr veterans onboard.



FILM RENTALS ON YOUTUBE.*(It has come to my attention that this be initially only available in the US)

Interesting article from the New York Times about YouTube getting into the online film rental game.
This is interesting for many reasons,not least are which are the fact that you will have an alternative to iTunes Store movie rentals (I have nothing against iTunes but more players the better), but secondly,
and more interesting , in my opinion , is that this could be good news for indie filmmakers as an easy way to distribute and generate revenue from, their movies.
Anyhow , I'll leave the details up to the NYTimes - here is the link check it out.(There will be some Sundance Film Fest movies available initially for a limited period - to test the water)






YOUR BIG BREAK WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT* (AND MINIMUM WAGE INTERN POSITIONS!)

Tourism New Zealand's publicity generating initiative YOUR BIG BREAK will announce the 5 finalists (of the 1080 entries) for there film making competition tomorrow (Fri 22nd Jan) afternoon (New Zealand time) .
I presume the results will be posted on the website somewhere HERE is the link to the homepage (announcement may not be on that page ,however so have a sniff around.) 

*WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED HERE - Congratulations to all.


There are paid intern opportunities (for working on the 5 shoots) available also - details HERE

Okay , that's me done for the night.
Take care.

Robert.

Darrens Big Break Entry Would Like Your Vote,Please.

Hi all,

Darren Simmonds has an entry submitted for the Big Break competition I mentioned in a previous post.

There is an audience vote element to this comp and as voting closes tomorrow,Darren would really appreciate you having a look as soon as you can and

hopefully you will give him your vote!

The link will open on Darrens pitch for the film ,what you need to do is click on the green vote for this button .
Below is the link(but read to the end of this entry first)

LOST & FOUND | Your Big Break

You will be required to register so they can send you an authentication email - but this is a simple process (but don't forget to untick the "send me tourism info" box if you

don't want to be emailed more stuff from Tourism New Zealand)

As I mentioned , the deadline for votes ,I believe, is tomorrow , so I encourage you to quickly do it now.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think may be interested.

Cheers

Robert

I like the cut of this guys jib!

New Decade Ahead.Lets Make It A Good One For Local Movies!

Hi all.
Let me start by wishing every one a happy new year.
The blog has been a little quiet over the holiday period.This has been due to a combination of both relaxing
and paradoxically ,working hard.Still a bit to do on current production for a client , but it is a nice job filming dogs.

I noticed that the 48hours website's countdown clock says that there are 56 days until registration opens!
Wow,seems like only a couple of months since we were feverishly racing to meet the deadline for that last year.
Well it's still a ways off but perhaps we should begin thinking of rounding up some teams for this years contest.It would be very cool if Wanaka could really make some noise in the regionals this year.There certainly appears to be plenty of skill and talent in the 'hood and wouldn't to take a bus full of Wanaka teams to the finals?

Other thing to get a move on if you are thinking of entering is the Your Big Break Comp .Deadline for your 3 min screenplay entry is a little under two weeks away.Have a look at the entries already posted on the site and ask yourself,"Can I do better?" - if the answer is "Probably", then you should have a go - nothing to loose right?

The 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) begins in a couple of days and it's always exciting to see what kind of gadgets are on there way.There is sure to be some geeky stuff for film makers announced over the week.

Jim Jannard of RED will be hosting a RED Day on Feb. 13th for all Redusers at a location in Los Angeles (TBD).


"This will be an all-day event where we will show EPIC and Scarlet prototypes, RED ONEs with Mysterium-X sensors, new accessories... and post solutions, including some new wrinkles. We will show 4K footage on a Sony 4K projector and will also show RED footage film prints. There will be several guests showing accessories for RED and post solutions."

Anyone, like myself, who has been watching out for a release of the new Red cameras (I'm looking at a Scarlet fixed lens) We will hopefully learn soon when we can actually get our hands on one.

Also , anyone who wants a film making assignment for the next wee while , why not make a short with a Valentines Day theme ,(it could be a rom-com or a love story or  it could be a Saint Valentines Day Massacre ! )- if we get a few films, we can have another screening night!

Also we have the awards season coming up too.The Academy Awards are March 10th I believe.

Well that's me for now.
Feel free , as always, to drop a line to Wanaka Film Trust  (just click on that link to email) or follow us (well,me really) on twitter or pop a comment there on the comments box on the left.

cheers
Robert.

Wishing All WFT friends a very merry season.

Wanaka Film Trust is delighted to announce the Dec 17th world premiere screening of MAY E Films "RABBITS".

Directed by  Wanaka local ,Greg Von Heraud Parker  and starring Lance Boyd and Nola Sims.

The Dec 17th release date is to coincide with the release of James Cameron's "AVATAR" , a film on which Greg also worked.

"RABBITS" is a short film which has probably had a longer gestation period than most shorts as it was begun a number of years ago.

It would have taken a lot longer to get to the big screen were it not for the overwhelming support of the local community of both filmmakers and regular folk who offered up their weekends to help out or their properties as filming locations.

It is safe to say that "RABBITS" is destined to become another  Wanaka cult movie , much like Von Heraud Parkers previous classics, Woollyman and Woolyman 2.

"RABBITS"premieres at the Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka on Thursday December 17th at 8.30pm (this will be after the screening of Avatar).

Entry is free but seating is limited.

THE TRAILER CAN BE VIEWED HERE

For more information please check out the May E Films website

or contact May E Films .

MAY E Films Ltd. 

14 Old Racecourse Rd

Wanaka

Office +64 3 443 1317

Greg +64 21 139 3049

Kaz +64 21 129 4991

Workshop +64 3 443 MAYE (6293)

Greg Von Heraud Parker - greg@mayefilms.com

mayefilms.com

You Big Break - write a three-minute screenplay on how you would ‘Capture the spirit of 100% Pure New Zealand - the youngest country on earth’.

Your chance to make a 3 minute film for NZ$100,000 Here .



C'mon locals , we have an advantage here.

60 SECOND SCREENING NIGHT ON THURSDAY

Hi all,
Round up some friends and come on down to Paradiso on Thursday at 6.15pm for the - 'Gone in 60 Seconds' - screenings and audience voting! 
There will be a flippin' hand crafted trophy! 


We will screen some other bits and pieces also.


There will be a chance to chat also.


It will probably be free entry but bring a couple of dollars just in case.(and to buy a yummy cookie!)


Screening will begin at 6.15 prompt! so get there by 6 if possible.
We have an hour exactly so DON'T BE LATE!


Look forward to seeing you all.


Cheers,
Robert

Shooting Rabbits

As some of you may know , our own Greg Von Heraud Parker (mayefilms.com) worked on James Camerons new movie, Avatar, which opens in New Zealand on the 18th of December.
What you may not know is that he has also been working on his own short film called Rabbits for the last 27 years*.
Greg and his cast and crew are going to attempt the
impossible and try and get Rabbits finished by the Avatar premiere ,so it can screen at The Paradiso alongside Avatar.
We think It can be done but Greg is going to need HELP.
Greg is looking for any volunteer's out
there.He promises to work you hard and pay you nothing.But, don't forget , this is the man who brought you the stuff of legend that is WoollyMan and WoollyMan II !!
Mere association with this cult director can almost certainly guarantee you fame and immediate attractiveness and a Rabbits branded beer mug full of unicorn tears (probably).
Greg has a shooting weekend planned this 14th/15th November but any help at any time would be wicked.
If you can offer any help,in any capacity - Greg and the team would be very grateful to hear from you.
Flick him an email to greg followed by @ and then mayefilms.com .

Cheers
Robert

*(may not actually be 27yrs)

Good work you guys!

Some fantastic entries for the Gone In 60 Seconds comp.
Details of screenings etc to follow soon.

If you didn't make the deadline - I would encourage you to make something anyway -
You won't be eligible to compete for the coveted Gone In 60 Seconds trophy but we will surely screen yer movie.

By the way , anyone interested in the RED cameras might like to check out some of the new announcements about their new cameras here

Cheers

Robert

Kanye Reviews [REC]²

Please feel free to link to this or embed it from youtube, It's all part of my attempt to win the Prize!

Cheers .

Robert.

Last calls for last minute entries !

Okay Folks ,

there is about a day to go before you need to hand in your "Gone In 60 Second" entries.
If you haven't even started yet ... well , it's still doable! - get that movie made!.

I just might enter ,as an extra entry, the 60 second webcam video I just shot of my dog playing with a puppy ,a little soundtrack of me , whistling badly , embedded behind it - and there you go - that's how simple it is to make a movie to enter!

C'mon ,you can do it.

All entries are to be returned to Paradiso Cinema by close of business tomorrow, at the latest.
Clearly label everything.

Cheers

Robert.

Balloon Boy V [REC]²

Hey! ,Last Minute Larry.

Well, there's nothing like working to a tight deadline.
I know it spears me on and you must all be the same as we only have four entries, so far,in the
Gone In 60 Seconds film comp and the deadline is only one week away !

So come on grab your camera, your cell phone,or anything and make a
movie. Or jump on the computer and weave up a interesting collage.

There are no rules, so this is a time for you to let your hair down and
experiment. Just keep it seemly and no longer than 60 seconds. Go to
mayefilms.com to enter.
All entry's have to be handed in (on disk,tape or whatever you have - we'll work with whatever) at the Cinema
Paradiso before it closes on the 22ndn- NEXT THURSDAY - Clearly label everything and include contact details.

So go on do it,
do it, get a perm, dare ya to , or are you chicken? bok , book!!

Greg

And Here's Another One.

Don't wach this if you are a kid/are offended or disturbed easily / don't want to.

I threw together a 30 sec clip for Vendetta Films 10th anniversary of 24hr Movie Marathon .
This is 24hrs of movies screened back to back - think grindhouse/b-movie fare but also some "proper" films.

Anyway - there are some prizes up for grabs.

This is not suitable for everyone - use your discretion if viewing.

Finally uploaded the tweaked version of "Pick Up"

HORROR BEGATS HORROR? - [REC]2

Hi Folks,
Robert here,


Below is a message from Mr. Ant Timpson (48hrs film comp etc.)
If you guys can read it and then check out my proposal after the [REC]2 trailer.

"Indie films wage an ongoing war with major releases for awareness and promotion in a cluttered market space. It’s a war independent films are losing. Some cool films deserve to be seen in cinemas with an audience of fans. Films like REC2, the terrifying sequel to the horror hit REC.

REC2 will be released in a few New Zealand theatres on Black Friday (13 Nov), and I’m helping the distributor – Vendetta Films – to get the word out. The catch? They only have a few thousand to market it.

So I pitched Vendetta to let me give away 75% (Five Thousand Dollars Cash) to any individual(s) who promote (Buzz) the movie REC2 in the boldest and most innovative fashion. They said yes.

To be in to win the $5k all you need to do is use the untapped power of your mind. How’s that for a recession buster? For more information, read here."

— Ant Timpson, Filmhead

My Proposal .
If all you people can send links to this WFT page to all your friends / facebook /twitter /myspace etc. and get some buzz going for the Friday 13th release of [REC]2 ,
and if by some stroke of luck - this strategy wins me the $5000 on offer - I hearby commit to write and shoot a macrobudget horror feature film by November 13 2010 , using the $5000 prize as the budget (and any extra cash I get my hands on ).

It will be called "HUT" and it will be shot locally in the Wanaka and surrounding areas.
There will be plenty of cast and crew roles to go around for all y'all .

I have Horror Movie director blood in me - My Granddad was a respected Horror director and I like to think something got passed down ( it may have just been an ability to grow a beard though!).

It's a simple plan folks - lets see if we can make it work.

cheers

Robert Holt

Enrollment Form

Hi folks
Greg has created an online enrollment form for the "Gone In 60 Seconds"
HERE.
Or if you have trouble using that link - just copy and paste this into your browser and hit return .http://www.mayefilms.com/page2/page15/page16/page16.php
Remember , all it takes is 60 seconds of screen time , and you are a film maker!
Watch the results of your work on the big screen.
Cool eh!.

Deadline extended to OCT 22nd!

Good News and Disappointment-Special Post from Greg

I rushed my boy off to sleep and zoomed into town to the screening
last night at the cinema.
It was an awesome doco,
well worth the trip.

When the lights came up I was astounded to find there was only Rob,
another couple and myself sitting there.

And when I came to hand in
mine and Phil Martins entries to the Gone In 60 Seconds film
competition and found that we were basically the only ones that did
anything I was a bit disappointed to say the least. "To busy to do it",
I hear you say. Well that's Bull*#@t .I run and work in three
businesses and have a small family and still managed to bang one out
and help with another.

The good news is I have managed to convince Rob to extend the "hand in
date" to the 22nd of October. So that gives EVERYONE time to do that
little something you have always wanted to do.That one point, that
one angle, that one experiment.

Go on, do it I dare you to. It would be
a good night if we could all sit in the cinema and see a bit of work
from all of us.

So go on make a movie!!!
There will be a trophy up for grabs and some prizes too.

Greg Von Heraud Parker

CLICK ON POSTER TO SEE LARGER IMAGE

17th September WFT presents a screening of RIP:A REMIX MANIFESTO

More Details Shortly .

Interesting comparison video ...

.



... For anyone thinking about buying one of the new breed of DSLR/Digital Cinema cameras -

Red One, Canon 5D Mk II, and Panasonic Lumix GH1 Footage Comparison.
(for HD version , watch at Vimeo.com)

New Zealand Based Internet TV

Free (excluding your regular broadband charges) New Zealand based web tv site ZILN , goes live soon , (already some content working).
.

I have had a look around , it's early days yet but there seems to be some of the freeview channels like Aljazeera etc available for both live streaming and VOD. The site promises a fair bit and hopefully will live up to those promises .

I was looking at Freeview recently as my "parents in law" have just had it installed, and while I'm tempted , I like having the choice of online viewing .Certainly some of the news channels interest me.It remains to be seen what Ziln will bring to the table in the coming months.

Check it out , some of the channels are already working.

Wanna Help Produce a Movie - A few $$ is all it takes.

One of the most beautiful movies I've seen in a while .

Co-operation

WFT is chuffed with the level of co-operation amongst the community that showed itself over this past weekend .
The kind loan of cameras, equipment and time (and offers of these) by WFT friends , helped local band Mercury Brigade get their entry DVD shot and sent off to Smokefree RockQuest 2009 for consideration of a place in the National Finals .

A pleasure it was for all involved too , I'm sure .

You can check out edited versions of the finished product on their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/mercurybrigade - as soon as they have a chance to load them up .

If you can't wait 'til then, just pop "Mercury Brigade" into Youtube search and you'll find 'em straight away .

Here's a taster .

Goodbye John Hughes :(

Saddened by the news of the sudden death of film maker , John Hughes .
I recommend you all go rent out one of his movies for the weekend in tribute .

Thanks for my teenage years John.

GONE IN 60 SECONDS film making jamboree

Great turnout at last nights screenings folks . A full house!
As time was tight , unfortunately we didn't get a chance to speak with any of the directors or time to launch the GONE IN 60 SECONDS film making jamboree .


Let me right some of those wrongs here .
First off , all the directors of last nights films are WFT blog readers and so , I would encourage anyone who may have questions or comments for those good folk , to either use the comments box here or a reply all email (to the mailing list) containing your comments.
I can easily create a blogpost with the comments in also .

So go ahead , I'm sure the film makers would be delighted with feedback and happy to answer questions .

Now , regarding the GONE IN 60 SECONDS film making jamboree ...

All you need to know is mentioned in the following short clip .

WFT will have a movie night at Paradiso in a month (exact date tbc ), that will be the hand in night .
Return of your 60 second movie on that night is mandatory - no late returns!
Label every single thing CLEARLY that you turn in with your director name / film name / and contact info .
You may enter as many 60 second films as you like as long as they are each different films (no clever 2 minute films divided into two parts!)

Grand screening will be one month from that return night , enough time for you to drum up publicity for your premiere!

Any further questions , details etc. will be covered in WFT blogposts and emails - so please encourage anyone you may know who would be interested , to send me their email address so they can be added to the mailing list.

So , I will shut up now and let the pictures speak .

cheers all,

Robert.

It's Tonight .

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW LARGE.

DETAILS OF STEPHEN DOWNES "THE SOMNILOQUIST"

Slick film noir that should warn you about loose lips sinking ships!





Okay folks , that's all I have for you for now .
I hope to see you all tomorrow (Thursday) at 6pm . Get there early to secure your seat!
Bring some friends.

Cheers

Robert

DETAILS OF DARREN SIMMONDS "FISHY TALES"

Around the campfire with the Whanau, Granddad who loves to tell a tall tale, tells of a recent adventure with Riwi his favourite grandchild.

The waters of Sandy bay have long been a source of livelihood for the Whanau. Granddad and Riwi choose to ignore the law and continue to fish in this marine conservation area as their Tupuna(ancestors) have done for hundreds of years.

They don't go unnoticed ...

2009 : NZ : 12mins : Comedy

"ONEYEAR" Free Snowboard Premiere

Presented by The Lighthouse

Free Snowboard Premier - ONEYEAR

THIS Sat 8th Aug @ 8pm @ Mint Bar!

Nations Foundation's first major release, ONEYEAR, gives an accurate account of the exceptional lifestyles of some of the worlds most talented snowboarders ever!!
By Nations Foundation

Featuring Kelly Clark, Eric Willet, Matt Hammer, Andy Finch, Tommy Czeschin, Plus Plus Plus

ONEYEAR Trailer #1 from Nations Foundation on Vimeo.

DETAILS OF "PICK UP"

Details of Pick Up .


Director: Robert Holt

Producer: Greg Von Heraud Parker

Writers: Greg Von Heraud Parker, Robert Holt, George Thoroughgood, Maria Arnoletto, Neil Cobb, Melissa Murcherson, Phil Martin, Martin Gally .

Actors: Robert Holt as Enis and Maria Arnoletto as Alex

Editors: George Thoroughgood, Robert Holt, Neil Cobb .

Cinematography: George Thoroughgood, Greg Von Heraud Parker


This info has been covered in previous posts , (scroll down to check 'em out).

Basically , though - this was made for entry in this years 48 hrs Furious Film making Competition .

I had co-directed with Darren , an entry last year that was disqualified from competition due to a technical error ( forgot to check the audio box on exporting out movie!!).

So this year, despite a busy schedule having just come off the shoot of Darrens short , Fishy Tales - (on which Greg and I operated cameras and which I went on to edit) - Greg and I , with the help of WFT , rounded up a crew and took it from there .

Despite the crazy turnaround time of writing,casting,shooting and editing a movie in 2 days - we had lots of fun and Pick Up even went on to make the regional finals!

There are 2 sequel scripts ready to shoot ! Watch out for Pick Up 2 : HEINOUS
and Pick Up 3: DIABOLIK , made to make you laugh...(by laugh , I mean SCREAM IN FEAR! ).


Robert is also working on a short western called Misery Whip and a hay fever nightmare called Glue .(both shorts).
He is also working on a stalker movie called HUT .

DETAILS OF MARIA ARNOLETTO'S - "MI MUJER"

Mi Mujer (My Woman)
Directed by Maria Arnoletto

Based on the short story
“Mi Mujer” from the book “Son todas suposiciones”
by Diego Mariano Ramallo


... In Gusatavo’s life, death was always present.
He met his wife at the cemetery ...


Description of Production

Independent 35mm film, shot in Buenos Aires, during Autumn 2008.

"I wrote the script , with Diego’s co-operation , over a year. On February I spoke to the Director of my university and left him a copy to read.
I graduated in March as DP ( director of photography ) and after that day I got my interview with him and started the pre-production. The university provided light, grip, and camera equipment. Looking for all that you can find in the film, from Crew to costumes, from toys to characters, graves and flowers.

The university also provided the online editing and sound post-production. When we got our shooting date the team started to get complete. Friends from the university were our voluntary team. Lots of people helped to make this film possible, because we all love to create and more , when we had something to say.

Diego, the author of the monologue and the main actor was leaving at the end of April and I wanted to travel to New Zealand as soon as I could.

I decided to shoot before leaving so we had one month of pre production, 8 days shooting in a cemetery, a street and a wake.

It was hard; locations were fragile, people ad-honorem, lots of lighting, grip, 5 cakes of film and a 35mm camera.

As on lots of independent short films, most of the things we got were happily given and the money we used came from my family, Diego and me.

We finished and we sent it to the lab, after 4 weeks I saw it. The image was there, it was as I thought, tidy and happy.
Post-production started 1 week after and took about 4 months. Lots of work, more people involved, emotions, situations, all of a world.

Finally I finished and I bought my flight to NZ with a film to share.

The support was amazing. Now I'm in charge of making this story travel around."

Maria Arnoletto.

DETAILS OF REBECCA TANSLEY'S - "EDEN"

Short film showcases Central Otago landscape

Central Otago’s distinctive landscape provides the backdrop for a short film about the consequences of violence .

Eden was shot in a vineyard in Bannockburn, a small grape-growing community near Cromwell, and is the story of two itinerants, each damaged by a troubled past, who re-learn how to trust again.

The film was written, directed and produced by Dunedin-based writer Rebecca Tansley.

Crew members were recruited from both Central Otago and Dunedin.

“The story doesn’t relate directly to Central Otago – it could happen anywhere – yet I set the story in that location very deliberately,” says Ms Tansley. “The landscape around Bannockburn is scarred from its goldmining history, a little like the characters are emotionally scarred by their pasts. It’s also a very raw yet beautiful place. There are the qualities I wanted to capture.”

The film, shot in High Definition, features the cinematography of Emmy-Award winning cameraman Mike Single.

Music was written by Graeme Downes, founder and frontman of the Verlaines and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Rock Music at the University of Otago.

“Both the landscape and the music are very important elements in the film,” says Ms Tansley, “so I was very fortunate to have Mike and Graeme involved. They’ve really helped to make Eden what it is.”

Eden is a Short Film Otago film which is funded by Community Trust Otago.

For further information please contact:
Rebecca Tansley
021 423570
rtansley@xtra.co.nz

DETAILS OF SINA WALKERS - "A RUNNER"

(Brian Kilkelly plays Colin Molloy, the main character in "A Runner".)


(Some of the toga party getting ready.)

(Matt Tane and Nigel Waters play the other 2 cabbies "Bullsy" and "Rob". Nigel also wrote "A Runner"!)

A Runner

An aging cabby defies all expectations in the struggle to reclaim his dignity.


A Runner
Written by Nigel Waters
Directed by Sina Walker
Starring Brian Kilkelly
“As yet another customer does a runner, and alarmed at the prospect of fading away in a retirement village; an aging cabby defies all expectations in the struggle to reclaim his dignity.”

“A Runner” is one of the short films made under the auspices of Short Film Otago. It is totally written and produced in Dunedin, and features all Dunedin actors.
Because “A Runner” is all about a taxi driver, the crew had to create three cabs from the fictional “Taxiland” company. However, they were so realistic, members of the cast and crew were stopped several times over the course of shooting by people wanting to hire a cab.
90% of the filming was done at night, which meant spending a lot of time on Dunedin streets after dark. The crew witnessed one police chase, quite a number of drunken passers-by wanting to feature in the film, a drunk loudly abusing a taxi-driver (a case of life imitating art), and pretty much every boy racer in Dunedin.
Friends and family were called in to help out in all sorts of ways, from lending a car trailer to dressing in togas to holding onto large lights during gale-force winds to being stunt drivers.
“A Runner” has been made on a shoe-string, and this was only possible because of the incredibly keen and dedicated cast and crew, who gave their time and energy voluntarily.
We hope you enjoy it.

Writer: Nigel Waters

Nigel was born and raised in Invercargill, moving to Dunedin in the mid-eighties. He has lived in Port Chalmers for the past several years. After having the opportunity to experiment quite freely at Allen Hall Theatre at the University of Otago, he has made a living combining various jobs, including being a postie, a stonemason and now a primary teacher, with working in local theatre for the past twenty years. Apart from a couple of short plays written in the early-nineties, in recent years Nigel started taking a more serious interest in writing. His first full-length length play Hymn was performed at Silo Theatre, Auckland, in 2001 and at the Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin, in 2003. His second The Whole Sun has had professional readings at the Fortune Theatre in 2006 and the Court Theatre, Christchurch in 2007. Short Film Otago’s initiative enticed a first attempt at screenwriting – A Runner.

Actor: Brian Kilkelly

Brian has appeared in 'As You Like It' and 'Children of the Poor' at the Globe and at Wellington's Fringe Festival. He has also played Capulet in 'Romeo and Juliet". Brian was in the highly successful 'Jerusalem Jerusalem' which played to capacity houses at Dunedin's Globe and Fortune Theatres and Wellington’s Circa Theatre before travelling with that play to Edinburgh, Belfast and Cheltenham in the United Kingdom.
Brian played in Equus at the Fortune Theatre and in more recent times has appeared in 'Man for All Seasons', 'Daughters of Heaven', 'The Seagull', 'Glide Time' and 'Proof' at Dunedin's Globe Theatre. He played Mr Frank in 'The Diary of Anne Frank' at Dunedin's Playhouse Theatre and most recently played the part of Charles Dean in a new play about Minnie Dean.

Brian made his film debut in the acclaimed 'Out of the Blue'.

Director: Sina walker
Dunedin based Sina Walker is a writer, director and sometimes editor. She currently works as a post director and associate producer for documentary producers NHNZ.
'A Runner' by Dunedin writer Nigel Waters is her second digital short made with SFO. Her last digital short 'Paradise' has been selected as one of 6 shorts in the 'Homegrown Drama on Video' programme for the NZ International Film Festival.
Paradise will also screen on Thursday.
Her current independent projects include writing a script about James MacKenzie and a producing a series of short documentaries about quirky Dunedinites.

DETAILS OF IAN LAWTON & HIS FILM - "SHUT THE FUCK UP"

Director Ian Lawton


Still from Shut The Fuck Up.



Director bio:

Name: Ian Lawton

Coming from a background in animation for television and short film, Ian currently works as a freelance producer, director and editor for television. His knowledge of animation filmmaking techniques has been an invaluable asset to his work in postproduction.

His eclectic workload covers anything from drawn animation, commercials directing, radio advertising, documentary to short film, as well as corporate video and also music videos. As a screenwriter, his work has been short-listed on several occasions; has doctored scripts for advertising, copywriting & movie trailers. His work as a director has also been screened in many International Film Festivals.

• A member of the Irish Screenwriters & Playwrights Guild.

• Alumnus of Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Screenwriting course.

• Has had tenure at producing promotional content for television broadcast, one of which earned a prestigious Shark Award for his campaign for the US TV series: Friends for Channel 6 in 2007.

• Holds an honors degree in Film from IADT and also a graduate of DLCAD



In a previous life Ian was an animator, worked on many tv shows, shorts and commercials. He won a couple of awards for his trouble, yet still spending his free time making music videos for mates bands, eventually becoming more fluent in the world of live-action and has since went on to direct commercials, promo’s, corporate videos and even more music videos (some of which earned awards for his trouble), anything at all really to earn his chops as a director.
Ian, sick of jumping through hoops for the funding of his films, invested in some gear, collaborated with actor friend and "soap celebrity" Tom O’Leary and shot "Shut the Fuck Up" early one morning in Bray with no crew and no money.
Ian got the idea for the short while on location in Bray shooting yet another f**king music video, seeing the lone phone booth by the car park, he was inspired.
Enthused by the result, Tom and Ian decided to dust off an old script, (previously short listed but ultimately refused funding) put together a small crew and spent three days with cheap German processed food and shot The Other Marty, which is currently in post-production. The food still hasn’t gone off.

Trailer For Shut The Fuck Up and IMDB Entry

Check back this time tomorrow for next profile.

Cheers

Robert

Programme of Movies for 6th August Screening at Paradiso

Hi Folks , below are the films to be screened at the next WFT movie night .
Over the next week or so, I will post up some details on each film - 1 film/1 post per day.
Please pop by each evening for a new update.

Also , I hope you folks are thinking about your movie ideas for GONE IN 60 SECONDS !

I hope to see you all next week .

( Click On The Below Picture For A Larger Image)


Short Film Otago funded films

Fishy Tales
NZ 2009. Director: Darren Simmonds: 11 mins
A comic cat and mouse tale about Granddad and Riwi as they attempt to outwit Kent, an overzealous Fisheries officer.

The Somniloquist
NZ 2009. Director: Stephen Downes : 14 mins
Somniloquism:the affliction of talking in one's sleep

Eden
NZ 2009. Director: Rebecca Tansley : 14 mins
The story of two itinerants, each damaged by a troubled past, who re-learn how to trust again.

A Runner
NZ 2009. Director: Sina Walker : 14 mins
An aging cabby defies all expectations in the struggle to reclaim his dignity.

Also screening

Paradise
NZ 2008. Director: Sina Walker : 10 mins
A rite-of-passage tale about a young boy on the opening day of the duck shooting season.

This film made last year with SFO funding is also playing as part of the 'Homegrown' short film selection in this year's NZ International Film Festival.

And to give the night a bit of international flavour we have two foreign films to add to the programme .


Mi Mujer (English title: My Woman)
Argentina 2009. Director: Maria Arnoletto : 14 mins :(Spanish Language with English subtitles).
"How the level of love rises among people at wakes."

And from Ireland,

Shut The Fuck Up
Ireland 2009. Director: Ian Lawton : 3 and a half mins
A kidnapping goes a bit wrong...

Now , if you're good,we will also screen the first film, in what is sure to be a cult new series of films *, featuring Heinous Enis

Pick Up
Somewhere 2009. Director: Robert Holt : 7 mins
..Stranger Danger! , Stranger Danger!..
( * may not actually become a cult new series of films - but we can hope!)

Films , Film Makers and Making Films!

Still from A RUNNER


Hi folks,

Hope you are all well .

I've just finished the first draft of the script for the sequel to Pick Up. It's called Heinous. It's taken on a bit of a more sinister direction than the first instalment,but I just let it take me there.I'll give it a bit of a polish, and hopefully we can get the Pick Up crew back together sometime in the near future and shoot it .

So , like I mentioned in the previous post,on the 6th of August WFT will be having a screening night.Look on it as Wanaka's own mini version of the International Film Festival.Well actually the headliners will be the four films made with funding from Short Film Otago.So they are pretty local actually.

These are, Darren Simmonds Fishy Tales,Sina Walkers A Runner,Rebecca Tansleys Eden and Stephen Downes The Somniloquist, (more details on these films soon). There will,however,be some international flavour ,with the inclusion of a short from Irish filmmaker Ian Lawton called Shut The Fuck Up (more details soon) and ,hopefully,WFT friend Maria Arnoletto will allow us to screen her Argentinean short,Mi Mujer, (again,more details to come).
We hope to have one or two other little things to show also.

We will also take the opportunity,on that night ,to announce the details of the "Gone In 60 Seconds" film making jamboree .

Basically, though, this is going to be an opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to to make a movie and see it on the big screen at the cinema,to do so.

Imagine,you will legitimately be able to announce to your friend ,"Yes , I am going to my film premiere tonight".

And all you have to do is make a 60 second movie on any subject you like , on any equipment you can get your hands on and you will have roughly a month to do so.

Then,after I have a chance to organise and collate the material,there will be a gala premiere night at the Paradiso cinema,where you can come and watch your movie (along with everyone elses) on the big screen and you get to vote on the best movies , not some judging panel.

Okay, so that's it for now.
Stay tuned for more details and start thinking about your movie idea .

Cheers all,

Robert

Brett Gaylor on RIP : A Remix Manifesto National Radio Interview

Interesting radio Interview with Brett Gaylor , film maker behind RIP : A Remix Manifesto .
WFT hopes to screen this movie very soon.

AUDIO



Trailer for RIP

Next Screening Night

Hi folks ,
Okay , some updates for you .

WFT board met up last week to chat about stuff .

First up, keep 6 pm , August 6th free . WFT will screen a short film programme at Paradiso that Thursday evening .

This should be a nice event with a Q&A session afterwards (some of the film makers will be present) .

The screenings should run about an hour and a half and we will then convene in the Paradiso cafe for some chatting etc.

In addition to the screening , this night will also be the official announcement of the "GONE IN 60 SECONDS" film making
jamboree .

All details of "GONE IN 60 SECONDS" will be announced and any questions you may have about this will be answered then.

There will be a small cover charge of $5 on the night to cover costs .

Please bring along anyone you think may be interested .

Keep an eye on the Messenger closer to the date for a reminder .

Please feel free to comment over there on the left .

Don't forget to sign your comments to be in to win a prize .

In the meantime , I recommend you watch some classic movies this week .I mean films that are your own personal classics .

This week I will be watching from my personal collection the following...(trailers may not be safe for work)

River's Edge

The Breakfast Club

Ghosts of the Civil Dead

and Henry : Portrait of A Serial Killer

(These take me back to late 80's / early 90's)

A good Q&A on the Red One Camera.

May E Machine

Check out WFT friend May E Machine for all your film related engineering needs

Some photos from the "Pick Up" shoot.

Please excuse the low quality and subliminal flash frames , I need a new mac!.

New Look For Now!

Hi all , I had to make some adjustments to the blog so that I could post larger videos and so the comments (now over there on the left) would fit in the template .

Change can be tough to adjust to , so if you are feeling a little odd due to the different look , here is a calming picture to relax you .

New Zealand Mountain Film Festival

Hi all ,
A quick reminder that NZ Mountain Film Festival begins tomorrow , the 3rd , and runs until Tuesday 7th July.
Venue is the Lake Wanaka Centre, 89 Ardmore Street , Wanaka.

What to expect? well , to quote the official website

Activities scheduled include

Viewing of the 51 film finalist
Awards night with films, winning film previews and live Music
NZ & International Guest speakers
Workshops
Auction to get Quentin Smith back on skis
Free Adventure gear trade show
Art exhibition
Ice Sculpturing Demonstration
Heaps of giveaways
And of course, lots of general socialising

The programme for the festival can be downloaded from HERE , which will also link you to the main website .

Ticket prices are very reasonable and you should find some time to fit in a viewing .

Oh , and incase you haven't looked outside...it's snowing right now! yay !

chat later.

Robert

You Shoot , He Scores!

WFT friend Barratt is currently experimenting with writing movie scores.
If anyone has something they would like scored or just to chat some ideas , then
give Barratt a shout . (His email address is in the address field of your WFT mailing list email.- you'll know his when you see it ).

I'm going to work on a skills directory for a future mail out / posting .
If anyone would like to be listed with a particular skill/offering etc. let me know .

Basically , a database of cast/crew etc and their contacts .

Inclusion or exclusion at your request .
Get on it .

Michael Jackson stuff you won't have seen this week.

The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell

Hi all,
I thought I'd take a moment to alert you to a great film related audio programme .

I don't know about you , but I often get annoyed when I read a review or listen to an interview with a filmmaker because i find that , usually , the interviewer hasn't really bothered to do proper , in depth , research .
It frustrates me when the same old boring questions are asked by someone who doesn't really know a lot about the subject/artist they are dealing with .
I'm sure it must be boring for the interviewee also .
This is why I was so delighted to stumble across Elvis Mitchell and his film programme , "The Treatment".
I found this as a podcast on iTunes , but it is also a radio show on KCRW, Southern California's leading National Public Radio affiliate and available in a number of online formats from that link above .

Elvis is an interviewer who knows his subject well .
He is comes across as a gentle and intelligent interviewer . His guests ( writers/directors/producers/ etc.) seem to really enjoy their time with him on the show and it's not hard to see why .
He seems to know every obscure film or filmmaker referenced by his guests and is able to discern even the most vague influence on any given film .

Anyway , enough speaking . I'll let Elvis speak for himself .So do yourself a favour and check out the podcast (just search for it in iTunes or follow the web link above) , be sure to check out some previous guests as they all prove interesting .

NZFC picks up "Charlotte"

Great things can come from a weekend shoot!

Read about 48hrs film being picked up by New Zealand Film Commission HERE

Workshop

Hi folks ,

The previously mentioned Billy Stoneking Marshall Workshop is on , but , in Dunedin .
contact details below.

".......If you'd like to participate in an inspiring one-day film drama workshop with legendary screen guru, Billy Marshall Stoneking, please contact

Dell McLeod at delicat.mail@gmail.com or ring
+64 (0)3 479 4274

MUST BOOK TODAY!!! Tell your colleagues & friends!!!..."

Please note , we are currently in the process of organising other speakers/workshops to happen here in Wanaka in the future .
Stay tuned .

R

Grand Final Winner of 48hrs

Huge congratulations to The Linemen for their well deserved win with their beautiful animated short , "Charlotte".
This film won the Dunedin City Final prior to the Grand Final win and I said it before and I'll repeat it now , We were very privileged to find our own WFT team in the company of a film of this standard at the city finals .
Much respect to all involved .
That's 48hrs over with for another year .
Best get cracking on another filmmaking excuse .

cheers

Robert

Looking for authentic costumes

Hi all ,
I'm working on a script at the moment for a short film and I will need some assistance with some costumes .
I am looking for 2 authentic looking costumes for a couple of Native American characters , women , in their 20's .

I will also need to dress a older cowboy character , again, as authentic as possible , old weathered geezer , who's been riding the range for a few months. I'm thinking , well dressed but dusty and dirty .

Also all the gear to go with their horses ......and a couple of horses.

Well , i guess 1 brown or black horse and 1 piebald pony .

Please chip in if you have any suggestions.

Cheers

R

Musical Interlude

Our Friend Benjamin James Eastwood asked us to shoot some video for him recently , here is a bite .
(Some of you may know Bens music from The Beer Whisperers movie "Lovers Rock".

Remember folks ,
Ask a local musician for music for your films or youtube videos . Most would be happy to oblige I'm sure .

Enjoy

Pick Up

Drama & Writing Workshop

Hi everyone (welcome, new mailing list folk),

First a quick follow up on Wanaka's own 48hrs City Finalist "Pick Up" . Although Pick Up unfortunately didn't make it any further than the Dunedin City Finals , I have just received info that it was nominated a runner up for BEST USE OF LINE (the compulsory dialogue line "It doesn't fit!") and our own Maria Arnoletto was nominated runner up for BEST ACTRESS .

Congrats to all involved .

WFT friend Ian Bowmer has informed me that Billy Marshall Stoneking will be bringing his Drama & Writing Workshop to New Zealand in early July .

Here is some info from New Zealand Writers Guild:

"...a possibility has arisen to stage some local workshops with Australian-based drama and writing coach, Billy Marshall Stoneking. (here is his Wikipedia entry)

Some people will know Billy from his writers workshop a year or so back for Shortfilm Otago.

They were nothing if not inspirational, and for people with limited theatre or other dramatic training, an excellent opportunity to explore the difference between words on a page and the potency of words delivered well.
Billy has formerly been a tutor at the Oz Film & Television School.

He's coming over to the Oamaru Film Fest in July. There is the possibility of adding other regional workshops ..."

OK , I paraphrased that last line . I believe if there are a sufficient number of people interested , there will be a workshop in Dunedin , but if ,perhaps , there are enough interested parties here in Wanaka , then a local visit could be arranged .

Here is a link to the one of Mr. Marshall Stoneking's blogs , which should give you some info and an idea of what might be involved LINK or watch this youtube video (below) .

If you think you would be interested in attending such a workshop , please email me soon (thairocksuperstarATgmailDOTcom) with "INTERESTED IN WORKSHOP "in the subject box and I will pass the numbers on to Ian .



I imagine there would be a fee involved and I gather it might be in the region of $25 , but don't take that as gospel , please.

Thanks again, Ian, for that info .

VIDEO

"That was terrible" (only kidding)

Hi everyone ,

Hope you are all staying warm this long weekend.I know my toes are a little chilly .

Well , like I mentioned , a bunch of us headed down to Dunedin as finalists in the Dunedin leg of the 48hrs Film competition .
There were 12 films in total that made it this far and now was the time we were gonna see them on the big screen with a very sharply dressed audience .

Alas , Pick Up , our film didn't manage to win anything , but I have to say , we feel privileged to have been in the finals with some amazing movies .What was cool was that these films were not just cool 'cause they were made in 48hrs , but that they were cool full stop . Some of them would have definitely held their own amongst shorts that had no such time restrictions .

The winning film was "Charlotte" by Line Men - Big Twist Genre and the runner up was "Girl from Sweden, Maori from Dunedin" by Know Idea Productions - Politically Incorrect Genre

CHARLOTTE in my opinion was a deserved winner. An animated film that was simple , clean and very nicely put together .

I though that "Girl from Sweden, Maori from Dunedin" had a lot of great elements , not least of which was the great swedish character , she was very funny and well acted .

Another stand out film was "Nuclear Family" by team Rorschach . This film won quiet a few prizes but somehow didn't make it to the final 2 . No disrespect to the team behind Girl from Sweden, Maori from Dunedin , but , I think Nuclear Family deserved that runner up spot .
There is always the Peter Jackson wildcard draw , which can bring an otherwise unsuccessful team to the Grand Finals .
Watch this space to see if that happens.

C4 will begin screening some selected 48hrs shorts in the next week or two, so tune in if you have that channel and watch.There will also be a YouTube Channel dedicated to 48hrs shorts , which I will post the link to once it is up to speed.

Pick Up will screen for WFT fans along with some other bits and pieces, soon .

Okay , so the next thing to do is to get this "Gone in 60 seconds" film making jamboree up and running .
I'm keen on getting people making movies , not necessarily "in competition" but what I am gonna put out there is this ..

...If there is anyone reading this that can offer any kind of prizes for a film making competition , however small , be it a physical prize , a cash prize or a goods and/or services prize , voucher etc . then please get in contact with me at thairocksuperstar(Then simply add @ and gmail followed by a DOT and a COM) then I would greatly appreciate it .

If you know anyone who can offer any prizes , then , also get in contact, please .

There will be audience voting and raffles and stuff too , so think on .

I will let you know dates etc soon.

This competition is open to anyone , so spread the word.

cheers everyone

take care

Robert.

Great Night at Wanaka Premiere

Hi everyone ,
I'm just home from the Wanaka premieres of both , Lovers Rock & Fishy Tales . Well I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who had turned out on a chilly midweek evening . They were an enthusiastic crowd and it was splendid to see so many film fans in our small town .
I'll post recap over the weekend, but I would really like to encourage any readers who were in the audience to send me their reviews of any or both of the films screened for posting here on the site .

A bunch of us are off to Dunedin (again) tomorrow for the City Finals of the 48hrs film competition .
WFT's entry "Pick Up" made the cut , so we will be getting our glad rags on and representing the town.
So many movie shindigs , so little time!!

More screenings coming up at the Paradiso in the next couple of weeks . Stay tuned for details .

Thanks again to all readers and viewer for your valued participation .

Soon you will all hopefully be getting busy on making your own 60 second flick .
Start thinking about it now and I'll get more info out to you soon.

Night , night all .

Please post reviews / questions etc. either in the comments section or via email to thairocksuperstar(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Thanks and Bye.

Robert