Encore Magazine articles from April 2004

Encore Magazine archives from April 2004

Editor's note.(News)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... In this month's post production feature Encore discovers state agencies are working especially hard on their respective tax schemes and incentives as they seek to attract more post work to Australia. While our facilities and technicians...

SPAA dates set for August 2004.(News)(Screen Production Association of Australia)(Public Notice)
April 1, 2004... The 2004 Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) will hold its annual conference at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast, Queensland from August 7 to 10. The event has been timed to lead into the annual Australian International Movie...

Fuel for 'Love's Brother'.(News)(Fuel International's visual effects work for movie)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The feature film Love's Brother, released on April 1, contains the visual effects work of Sydney's Fuel International, including set extensions utilising 3D and 2D techniques and elements to recreate the journey of immigrants from Europe in the...

UK's Arista to discuss development.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... UK script and project development agency Arista will head to Australia in April to conduct a two-week workshop and lecture series in Victoria to assist teams of local filmmakers and story editors in readying their feature projects for...

'Pobby & Dingan' for Oz.(Production)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... UK director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) is set to shoot an adaptation of children's book Pobby and Dingan in Australia in July. Novelist Ben Rice has adapted his book for the screen with Cattaneo and Phil Traill. Pobby and Dingan is a...

Scott eyes 'Boy'.(Production)(Jane Scott collaborates on adaptation of novel `A Suitable Boy')(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Producer Jane Scott is currently collaborating with writer John Dryden and co-producer Martin MacCallum on an adaptation of Vikram Seth's best-selling novel A Suitable Boy. The novel, a lengthy tome at some 1,500 pages, concerns a mother's...

Clarkson heads 'Outback'.(Production )(Ross Clarkson finances movie)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Expat Australian filmmaker Ross Clarkson is in the final stages of financing Outback, a $6.5 million (US$5 million) action comedy set in Hong Kong and remote Queensland. Clarkson--a camera operator whose credits include the recent films of...

'Happy Hour' for Qld.(Production)(Queensland)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Melbourne-based producer/director team Joel Kohn and Charles Williams is gearing up to shoot their first feature the $3 million Happy Hour, set to go into production at the end of 2004 in Queensland. The two are employed at Sydney-based...

Harding reworks radio.(Production)(Megan Harding develops series for ABC)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Producer Megan Harding is currently developing Death By Horoscope, an 8 x 30-minute comedy series for the ABC that is based on a 1950s radio serial. Harding is working with writer/producers Andrew Traucki, Stephen Fearnley and Stephen Harrop on...

Supersoap MOW in Syd.(Production)(Movie of the week)(Dynasty--Behind the Scenes)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A US movie of the week that delves behind the scenes of the 1980s supersoap Dynasty has commenced production in Sydney. Dynasty--Behind the Scenes is a Von Zerneck/Sertner Production--the same company behind The Mystery of Natalie Wood (aka...

FTO announces Aurora/YFF winners.(News)(Film and Television Office, Young Filmmakers Fund films)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The NSW Film and Television Office announced the latest round of Aurora teams for this year at a function in Sydney on March 11.Tthe successful applicants were: Prime Mover (writer/director David Caesar and producer Vincent Sheehan; The...

ABC/Wall to Wall set up 'Outback House'.(News)(American Broadcasting Companies Inc., Wall to Wall Television Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The ABC and the UK's Wall to Wall are set to shoot an ambitious living history series that combines the trials and tribulations of Frontier House with the grandeur and class tension of Edwardian Country House. Outback House will see a...

Rogers a law unto himself.(News)(Gary Rogers)(International Entertainment Services, Blueprint Law)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Michell Sillar Attorneys partner Gary Rogers has exited the Sydney firm to establish two new ventures, International Entertainment Services (IES) and entertainment law firm Blueprint Law. Rogers will continue his association with Michell...

Alarm at emerging FTA details.(News)(Australia-US Free Trade Agreement)
April 1, 2004... Industry groups have demanded clarification from Australian negotiators of the recently-completed Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on alarming elements revealed in the full text of the document, among them the inclusion of US studios in...

Archive ups Saunders.(People Moves)(Pam Saunders appointed acting director of ScreenSound Australia)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Pam Saunders has been appointed the acting director of ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive. She replaced Mary Durkin and will hold the position until a new archive director is appointed by May. Saunders has been a...

Mair hangs up her hat.(TM Publicity's Tracey Mair)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Long time industry publicist Tracey Mair, the principal of TM Publicity, will retire from the business in April. Mair plans to take a break and then explore other business opportunities in Byron Bay, TM Publicist Bridget Stenhouse Stenhouse...

McCann joins Film NZ.(People Moves)(Judith McCann to join Film New Zealand)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Judith McCann will assume the role of Film New Zealand chief executive in June, Louise Baker will continue as acting chief executive in the interim. McCann has previously worked as the executive director of the New Zealand Film Commission and...

Renshaw joins Republic.(People Moves)(Ryan Renshaw)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Director Ryan Renshaw, has joined Republic Films (Australia) for representation in Sydney and Melbourne. Renshaw's credits include music videos for bands such as Grinspoon. The Whitlams and Machine Gun Fellatio, plus artists such as Kasey...

Propper joins Morrissey.(People Moves)(Eve Propper)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Mark Morrissey and Associates has expanded its management team by employing Eve Propper as an agent representing actors and artists in both the performing, designing and the creative division. For the past six years Propper has been the NSW...

Martin kicks off PR Co.(People Moves)(Nicki Martin)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Nicki Martin has established a media management company, Kick Communications, specialising in the film and entertainment industries. Martin was previously the communications manager at Greater Union Cinemas, and before that was the publicity...

Parkinson to manage WIN.(People Moves)(Tracy Parkinson)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... WIN Television Wollongong has appointed Tracy Parkinson its new sales manager. Parkinson previously worked as 198FM's sales manager and after nine months maternity leave will take up this position immediately. Andrew Lancaster was the previous...

Industry loses Mirams.(Obituaries)(Roger Mirams)(Obituary)
April 1, 2004... Film and television stalwart Roger Mirams died on February 26. Born in New Zealand, Mirams established Action Pictures New Zealand, joined the New Zealand National Film Unit as director/camera operator and went on to become Movietone News' New...

Roots laid to rest.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
April 1, 2004... Former ABC reporter and producer Blair Roots, 51, passed away in Queensland in March. Roots' career included stints with Points North, The National. The 7.30 Report and Countrywide. He was also a foundation member of the Landline program before...

Yoram Gross teams with Coote/Hayes Productions.(News)(Yoram Gross-EM.TV)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Coote/Hayes Productions and animation house Yoram Gross have formed a US joint venture, YG USA to oversee development of new projects and properties and the distribution of the Yoram Gross catalogue in North and Latin America. Current...

Edelman drops into Trackdown.(News)(Trackdown Scoring Stage)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... US composer Randy Edelman (left) visited Sydney in late February to look at the possibility of using the Trackdown Scoring Stage to score his upcoming feature Sony Pictures' Stealth. Edelman's visit marks the beginning of what Trackdown...

Ivin 'Bags' Tepper.(Breaking News)(Glendyn Ivin )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Victorian writer/director Glendyn Ivin has won the 2003 Greg Tepper Award, a cash prize of $5,000 in recognition of an emerging filmmaker's achievements. Ivin graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1998 and in 2003 was awarded the...

'Harvie' for Aspen.(Breaking News)(Harvie Krumpet)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Academy Award winning short animation Harvie Krumpet, directed by Adam Elliot, is one of nine Australian short films selected to screen in competition at the Aspen Shortsfest 2004, which will run from March 31 to April 4 2004 in Aspen...

'Jessica' takes Chicago.(Breaking News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Screentime-produced mini-series Jessica has taken out two major awards at the 40th Chicago Film Festival in the US. Jessica took out the Silver Plaque for best mini-series and director Peter Andrikidis received the top award, the Silver...

Hughes wins doco gong.(Breaking News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Robin Hughes is the 2004 recipient of The Stanley Hawes Award for Services to Australian Documentary, awarded by Film Australia at the Australian International Documentary Conference in Western Australia. The $5,000 award honours legendary...

AFC calls for Fellows.(Breaking News)
April 1, 2004... The Australian Film Commission (AFC) has issued a call for applications to its Fellowship Program, which offers grants of up to $20,000 to filmmakers, script editors and digital artists to develop their careers. Fellowships take many forms and...

TressCox rebrands.(Business)(Tress Cocks and Maddox changed its name to TressCox and embarked)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Law firm Tress Cocks and Maddox, which specializes in media and entertainment law has changed its name to TressCox and embarked on a re-branding program following a restructure and the growth of its legal services. The firm will also enhance...

Seven fortunes dip.(Business)( Seven Network)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Seven Network's mass redundancy program--which saw the broadcaster cull 300 of its staff--has contributed to a 17 percent drop in half-yearly net profit to $54.28 million. The restructure cost the Network $17 million--$15 million in its...

Becker cashes in.(Business)(Magna Pacific,)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Increased DVD sales from a 50 percent ownership in Magna Pacific has been largely responsible for entertainment company Becker Group Limited recording a 273 percent increase in operating profit after tax from half yearly financial results for...

Beyond earnings up.(Business)(Beyond International group)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A 34 percent rise in non-fiction television production has been the main contributor to Beyond International's improved half-yearly earnings. The company announced earnings (before interest and tax) of $1,273,000 on revenues of $27,567,000 in...

Docos in spotlight at AIDC: the annual Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) was held in Fremantle, WA from February 26 to 28. Fiona Williams reports.(AIDC Review)
April 1, 2004... The dire state of the local documentary sector, in which barely one-third of production companies have made more than one film in the past decade, dominated discussion at the AIDC. The event opened on February 26 with a stirring opening...

Reality TV leaves delegates cold: the waning interest in 2004's crop of so-called 'reality TV' has the networks edging ever closer to 'traditional' documentary territory--and some docomakers aren't the least bit happy about it, Fiona Williams reports.(AIDC Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The timing couldn't have been better. The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) was just about to kick off in Western Australia on February 26 with docomakers preparing to discuss the joys and associated heartbreaks of their...

Aidc quotable quotes.(AIDC Review)
April 1, 2004... "Although impolite I took the opportunity to accuse her of crimes against humanity." Australian International Documentary Conference keynote speaker Julian Burnside QC on a confrontation with Federal Minister for Immigration and...

AIDC to offer: best of both worlds.(AIDC Review)(Australian International Documentary Conference)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In an effort to service both ends of the documentary sector, the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) is considering alternating its annual conference program to accommodate smaller networking events and larger,...

Documentary fast facts*.(AIDC Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Documentary production in Australia is estimated at around 256 hours (281 commercial broadcast hours) with production costs of $53 million a year. Documentary production makes up four percent of total audiovisual production in Australia...

Digital dreaming: filmmaker and afi award-winning cinematographer Vincent Monton (newsfront) did some control tests to settle the film vs hd debate. Here's an account of the process.(Industry Analysis)
April 1, 2004... Black Clip, wave form, gamma, raster, chrominance, dot crawl, jamsyne, aliasing, paradyme, terrabyte... Okay, that's got the quota of digital techno babble out of the way. A couple of months ago, frustrated by so many claims and spin...

Density and resolution comparison tests.(Lndustry Analysis)(Movie cameras)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The resolution test charts were full size (4ft) backlit acrylic and Macbeth colour strips exposure bracketed 5 stops over and under. Mid shot skin tone subjects were photographed under controlled studio conditions from the identical tripod...

'Harvie': comes up trumps for Australia.(La Insider)(The 76th Academy Awards)
April 1, 2004... At this year's Oscars--the 76th Academy Awards, it may have been easy to overlook the Australians with the clean sweep by the New Zealanders for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the numerous remarks about New Zealand. I think it's...

'Passion' leaves a nasty stain on biblical memory.(Rough Cut)(Movie Review)
April 1, 2004... Mel's Christ film was much as I feared it would be, a mixture of visual splendour and thickwittedness, with occasional spasms of good acting and, yes, anti-Semitism, and a music track to drive you up the wall, biting at gargoyles in your...

Holding runaway post proves taxing: state agencies are working hard on their respective tax schemes and incentives in a bid to attract more post work to Australia.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... The US feature Stealth has just finished shooting in Australia however if the NSW Film & Television Office (FTO) has its way, the dollars will keep rolling back into NSW--even after the actors have long returned home. However, both government...

Dogz given bite in post: the flexibility of a digital intermediate enabled the final cut of 'road movie on wheels' Deck Dogz to meet the expectations of the filmmakers. David Hull reports.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... As production and post requirements for the Australian feature Deck Dogz were being assessed late last year, post house Atlab Australia became involved as the possibility of producing a digital intermediate (DI--see page s8) for the film was...

DI: the next wave; Uptake of digital intermediate has been slow, but converts are sure it will catch on in a big way. David Hull reports.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... While the relatively few number of digital intermediates produced in Australia can be attributed in part to depressed local production and financial constraints, resistance to change and misunderstanding may also be holding DI back. Last month,...

DI: is it really better? As the market continues to explore the merits of creating a DI, it was time to get a concise explanation of what the process has to offer. Here's a rundown of the key issues.*.(Post Production Supplement)(Digital Intermediate)
April 1, 2004... Dominic Case THE DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE While traditional film will probably be used to shoot films--and to project them--for some time into the future, digital technology is rapidly moving into post production. It's generally agreed...

HD lends cutting edge to 'Stealth': the post production process for US thriller stealth was made considerably easier by having high definition digital dailies sent from Sydney to los angeles. cutting edge completed the task at its Sydney facility. David Hull reports.(Post Production Supplement)(high definition)
April 1, 2004... With plans made for some 800 visual effects shots, production of Columbia Pictures' runaway feature Stealth was always going to be an exercise with a heavy emphasis on technology, especially at the post production stage. The feature was...

Mixed resolution--clear result: being able to edit mixed resolution shots together proved an immense creative benefit to posting a campaign for holden. David Hull reports.(Post Production Supplement)(Digital Pictures Melbourne)(Holden; automobile industry)
April 1, 2004... A high definition transfer at Digital Pictures Melbourne made the most of mixed resolution foootage captured for the latest Holden TVCs, produced by Babyfoot Productions for Fame Advertising. Given a brief to make landscapes 'melt' as the...

'Mask' rushes hit the set: work off the back of a runaway feature was the perfect excuse for frame, Set & Match to bolster its high definition capabilities. David Hull reports.(Post Production Supplement)(sequel of 'The Mask')
April 1, 2004... Sydney post house Frame, Set & Match (FSM) recently installed a second Millenium HD telecine primarily to service the high definition rushes for New Line Cinema's The Son of the Mask, which has been filming at Fox Studios. The new telecine...

RSP cashes in on 'paycheck'.(Post Production Supplement)(Rising Sun Pictures)
April 1, 2004... It pays to have friends in high places. That's the thinking at Rising Sun Pictures (RSP) in light of the company's ongoing collaborations with high-ranking Hollywood visual effects supervisors. VFX work on Warner Bros' Red Planet and Queen...

Thomson format processor.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Thomson Grass Valley has released a new format processor for its Spirit 4K high performance film scanner that provides Telecine/DataCine functionality for video transfers. The addition to the product allows the Spirit K to provide standard and...

Nucoda Film Master V2.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... At NAB 2004, Nucoda is launching a new version of its Film Master film finishing solution. V2 enables users to perform multiple functions including editing, conforming, grading and effects, as well as titling and multiple format delivery via...

Quantel software version 2.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Quantel will be unveiling its version 2 software for its generationQ range at NAB 2004. The package features improved tools and capabilities in the areas of workflow, editing, effects and paint, audio and titling. In terms of workflow,...

Discreet Lustre 2 colour grading system.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Discreet's new real-time colour grading system, Lustre 2, provides users with greater scalability and video functionality. The product includes the GMask vector shape system, offering colourists more accurate control of light and colour when...

Sony XDCAM professional disc system.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Sony has introduced the XDCAM professional disc system, a workflow option expected to reduce production time significantly. The non-linear system enables camera operators and editors to shoot and deliver images without having to wait for...

Smoke, Flame, Inferno.(Post Production Supplement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Discreet's Smoke 6.0, Inferno 5.5 and Flame 8.5 software include Master Keyer features to provide greater control of visual effects work. 3D colour isolation technology improves the keying of poorly set up shoots, including badly-lit green and...

Pinnacle Liquid Editing for Workgroups.(Post Production Supplement)(editing system )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Pinnacle Systems has introduced a low-cost networked editing system utilising the Palladium Store 100 (PS 100) centralised storage solution, Liquid Editing for Workgroups provides a simplified IT set-up and allows multiple editors to...

Leitch VelocityQ 2X4.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... Leitch has brought out a lower-cost model of the award-winning VelocityQ multistream non-linear editing system. The VelocityQ 2X4 combines the Velocity software interface with Quattrus multistream real-time hardware, to offer playback of...

Apple Final Cut Express 2.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... Final Cut Express 2 is Apple's latest release digital video editing software and is based on Final Cut Pro 4. Fine-tuned for Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther, Final Cut Express 2 features RT Extreme, for real-time compositing and effects; an...

Media 100 844/X version 3.(Post Production Supplement)
April 1, 2004... Media 100 has released upgraded software for its 844/X editing/compositing system featuring enhanced visual effects capabilities including an advanced real-time high-precision keyer, real-time 3D digital video effects, real-time shadow and glow...

Drama.(Production Report)
April 1, 2004... FEATURES IN PLANNING ROOM 101 x Prod off: Sydney Prod co: Iconoclast Productions. Exec prod: Suzanne Todd. Prod: Adam Todd. Dir: Adam Todd. Story ed: Adam Todd. Script exec: Suzanne Todd. Prod des: Angela Hernandez....

Cinema.(Audience)(Movie industries sales and revenues in Australia and America)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... australian box office* [week ending: march 3, 2004] This Last % week week Film (Distributor) Weeks Total $ Change 1 (7) Passion of the Christ, The...

Video rentals.(Audience)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... video rentals [week ending: march 15, 2004] This Last Week Week Film (Distributor) 1 (1) Tomb Raider 2 (Paramount Pictures) 2 (2) Bad Boys 2 (Columbia TriStar Films Pty Ltd) 3 (3) League Of Extraordinary...

DVD rentals.(Audience)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... DVD rentals [week ending: march 15, 2004] This Last Film (Distributor) Week Week 1 (2) Tomb Raider 2 (Paramount) 2 (1) Bad Boys 2 (Columbia Tristar) 3 (4) American Pie 3 (Universal) 4 (3) Finding Nemo...

Calendar April 04.(Audience)(Calendar)
April 1, 2004... SCREENWRITERS CONFERENCE 2-4 Apr, Melbourne. Coinciding with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the conference includes a number of industry panels, a performance venue and a symposium with international speakers. Info:...

Docomakers talk shop in WA: the Australian international documentary conference took place in Fremantle, WA from February 26-28. The event was attended by some 370 delegates who made use of the esplanade hotel facilities to catch up for a drink, pitch projects and discuss the state of the industry.(People)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 1. Big Island Pictures' Melissa Fox (left) and Fury Productions' Veronica Fury took in the screening of Fahimeh's Story on February 27. 2. Australian Film Television and Radio School's (AFTRS) head of screen studies Jane Roscoe (left)...

Pay TV: digital smoke and mirrors; Well connected industry columnist Harvey Shore keeps his ear close to the ground for the latest gossip doing the rounds at the major broadcasters.(Harveys Hearsay)(Foxtel)
April 1, 2004... Foxtel's CEO Kim Williams heralded his $600 million digital rollout last month as "a revolution" and assigned a reported $15 million to market that revolution to the people. His aim is to raise Foxtel's stagnant 25 percent subscriber level...