W.A.T. CAT FILMS – ACTION!!!

When: Wednesday July 30th 7.30pm
Where: The Alley Cat Bar, Elizabeth St, North Hobart
Cost: FREE

Wide Angle Tasmania (W.A.T.), Tasmania ’s screen resource centre, is pleased to announce regular monthly screenings of short films at The Alley Cat. The aim of this programme is to encourage discussion, debate and appreciation for the work of emerging film makers. Anyone with an interest in film will be able to enjoy viewing works from around the state and around the country in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

This month’s program we will be screening some Action clips!!!
Anyone who has a clip of themselves bungee jumping, mountain bike riding, big wave surfing, jumping through a flaming hoop on a motorbike or has filmed someone else doing any of these things and more, then please submit them to us at Wide Angle and we will put them all together and screen them for all to see!!! It should be an ACTION packed night!!!

If you have some action that you would like to be screened simply drop off a copy to Wide Angle: Salamanca Arts Centre, 77 Salamanca Place , Hobart
For more information email: info@wideangle.org.au or call 6223 8344

SLINGSHOT – TAKING TASSIE SHORT FILMS TO THE WORLD

Third round closes 15th August 2008

Wide Angle Tasmania (WAT) and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) are proud to launch SLINGSHOT – a new short film distribution partnership designed to assist Tasmanian filmmakers intaking their short films to the film festivals of the world.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity for Tasmanian filmmakers to access strategic knowledge of the world’s film festivals. We are delighted to establish this relationship with the AFTRS, and are thrilled that Screen Tasmania has decided to support this initiative” said Beverley Jefferson, General Manager of Wide Angle Tasmania .

Through the generous support of Screen Tasmania , WAT and AFTRS will provide tailored advice and financial support for the marketing and distribution of a select group of Tasmanian short films in 2008. Ruth Saunders, AFTRS Sales and Distribution Manager, will be the primaryconsultant for SLINGSHOT in a unique partnership between Australia ’s national film school and Tasmania ’s only not for profit screen resource organisation.

Filmmakers will be asked to submit their existing marketing materials along with their films in three rounds in 2008. From each round up to four films will be selected to receive specialized support, and each film maker will then also receive a small cash grant to assist them in distributing their films to the most appropriate festivals worldwide.

SLINGSHOT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

In order to apply for assistance to SLINGSHOT your film must fulfill thefollowing requirements;

1. Film duration must be less than 15 minutes.
2. The film must have been finished within 2007 or 2008.
3. Each film must be the original work of the Tasmanian resident filmmaker.
4. Each film must have the requisite individual, performer and location releases, and have obtained the necessary rights to any copyrighted materials used within the film.
5. Each film must be accompanied by a one sentence synopsis, a one paragraph synopsis, a one page (maximum) Directors Statement, including any relevant background notes, a high resolution head shot of the Director,and a selection of high resolution production stills.
6. Each film must specify the shooting and finishing formats for the film.
7. Each film must be accompanied by a post-production script.
8. The filmmaker must specify which (if any) festivals/screenings the film has already entered/received.
9. The filmmaker should provide a copy of any marketing strategies or materials that have already been developed.

Up to four films will be selected from each round (with a maximum of 10 per year) by Edwina Morris - Manager AFTRS Tasmania, Beverley Jefferson - General Manager Wide Angle Tasmania and a yet to be appointed Film andTV Producer. Unsuccessful applicants will also receive some feedback from the panel.

The films that are selected for SLINGSHOT will be viewed by Ruth Saunders, AFTRS Sales and Distribution Manager. Each filmmaker will then receive strategic advice and feedback on a number of areas including which festivals, markets and events are most suitable for the film and how the films existing marketing materials can be improved upon in order to have the greatest effect.

Grants to assist distribution costs of approximately $300 per film will also be made available, although Wide Angle Tasmania reserves the right to awardless money to some films and more to others, depending on their potential reach.

Third round closes 15th August 2008

All applications must be received by Wide Angle Tasmania by 4pm on each deadline day.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
BEV JEFFERSON OF WIDE ANGLE TASMANIA ON 0404 490 906 OR
EDWINA MORRIS OF AFTRS ON 0407 222 175 or email: info@wideangle.org.au

CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE SEMINAR WITH DAVID GURNEY

When: Friday 22nd August
Time: 4.30pm – 7pm
Where: The Retreat, Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward Street, Glebe, Hobart
Cost: FREE

The Changing Media Landscape Seminar with David Gurney of Blue Rocket Production is a 2.5 hour seminar that gives an overview of the dynamic changes within the industry and the impact upon the businesses of producers, broadcasters and distributors. It covers a variety of topics including:

• The collapse of the free-to-air TV model;
• IPTV;
• Online and interactive entertainment;
• MMORPG’S;
• Mobile content;
• Developing so-called ‘cross platform’ content;
• Joost, Google Video, Babelgum and more;
• New players on the field; and
• Future threats

About David Gurney

David Gurney is a well known creator of animated cartoons. He created, produced and directed Australia ’s first fully 3D animated television series, Hoota & Snoz. The series has sold worldwide into over 100 countries. David is a prolific developer of cartoon characters and concepts and with his partner Alicia Rackett , runs Blue Rocket Productions, an award winning cartoon studio based in Hobart . Other animated TV produced, written and directed by David includes Time Cracks (2 series) M Ö rmel Spots (3 series), The Dog and Cat News (2 series), Bang the Cat (2 series) and short films The Further Adventures of Stafford the Prawn and Spikey Joe’s Truck. David was also the creative director of The Hoota & Snoz Official Website and The Cat and Dog News Website, which won Best of the Best Award and Best Children’s Awards at the 2006 AIMIA Awards. David is also involved in the creation of mobile entertainment and Blue Rocket’s mobile content is sold by over 30 carriers worldwide.

David is also Executive Producer and Director of Pixel Pinkie, a 26 episode animated television series soon to be aired on Australia ’s Nine Network.

David has given presentations, seminars and workshops for;

ABC Broadcasting Australia, Australian Computer Society, Australian Film Commission, Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Digital Media World, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Film Victoria, Pacific Film and Television Commission, Queensland Animators Group, Screen Tasmania, ScreenWest, WAnimate – West Australian Animators Group.

If you are interested in attending please email: info@wideangle.org.au
or phone: 03 6223 8344

RAW NERVE SCREENING AND SEMINAR

When: Wednesday 3rd September 6pm
Where: Peacock Theatre
Cost: $5 Tickets at the door

Come along and see the fabulous four films that were made as part of this years Raw Nerve Tasmania initiative! Meet the makers, and ask them about their process and their learning curves!

The four films to be screened are;

IRON WILL written and directed by Vivien Mason

HELP WANTED written and directed by Daniel Weavell

HENRY FINN written by Tim Logan and directed by Shaun Wilson

NEXT OF KIN written and directed by Rose Schramm

Now in its seventh year nationally, and it’s first year in Tasmania, Raw Nerve is a joint initiative developed by Screen Development Australia ( SDA ) and the Australian Film Commission (AFC) and is aimed at assisting budding new filmmakers to make a short film.

SCREEN DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA PITCH

When: Info session 29 th September 12.30pm
Where: Peacock Theatre
Cost: Free

The Pitch

When: The Pitch - Wednesday October 1 st 6pm
Where: Peacock Theatre
Cost: Free

Wide Angle Tasmania is proud to present the Tasmanian section of the Screen Development Australia National Pitch.

The SDA Pitch will be split into sections. The first part will involve a free seminar where anyone who is interested in learning how to make their Pitch as good as it can be will receive top tips to improve your pitch.

Then if you want to apply to the comp will be required to submit

• A half page synopsis of the project you are pitching
• A one page (max) CV including any prior film making experience
• A brief statement on the stage of development eg. concept, key crew/cast attached, pilot shot etc.
• A brief paragraph on what you would like to achieve by attending SPAA Fringe
• $20 to cover costs
• a guarantee that if you are the winning Pitch, you can attend both SPAA Fringe and SPAA

The final part is The Pitch itself! Applicants to the SDA Pitch will then be invited to present their pitch to a panel of industry experts. Participants will have a maximum of 3 minutes to present their projects, with time allocated to questions from the panel of judges. Applicants will have access to a DVD player for The Pitch, but it must all fit within the allocated 3 minutes. Other support material is at your discretion. Anyone who simply wants to observe this process is welcome to attend this session too.

The winning pitch entitles you to flights, accommodation and registration at SPAA Fringe 24 – 25 October in Sydney , where you will re-present your pitch to another industry panel. The winner of the National Pitch will receive $2000 cash plus free registration to the SPAA Conference, 12 - 14 November 2008 in Brisbane !
Stay tuned to future newsletters when we will announce the industry panel!

TROPFEST 2009

Just a little note that the signature items for Tropfest 2009 are ‘Spring’ for Tropfest and ‘Squeeze’ for Tropfest Jnr. So you can get your thinking caps on early!!!
Also, there will be a Tropfest Seminar, tentatively scheduled for September 26th, so stay tuned for more details…

For further information visit: www.tropfest.com

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Wide Angle Tasmania are calling for Expressions of Interest for a Web Designer.

The Wide Angle website is in need of a complete overhaul and so if this sounds like something you could do then please contact us at Wide Angle. Payment to be negotiated on application.

Email: info@wideangle.org.au
Phone: (03) 6223 8344

ROCK'N'ROLL GUIDE TO GUERRILLA FILMMAKING BOOK FOR SALE

Wide Angle have available the ‘Bondi Tsunami; Rock n’ Roll Guide to Guerrilla Filmmaking’ book by Rachel Lucas for sale. The cost is $20.

For a copy please contact Wide Angle on 6223 8344 or email info@wideangle.org.au

OPEN CHANNEL DIGITAL FILMMAKING HANDBOOK FOR SALE

Wide Angle have available the 'Open Channel - Digital Filmmaking, an introductory Handbook' for sale. Cost is $50

For a copy please contact Wide Angle on 6223 8344 or email info@wideangle.org.au