Encore Magazine articles from April 2008

Encore Magazine archives from April 2008

When it's time to change ...: change is everywhere at the moment. but look beyond the merger of government agencies to the effort of trying to get all Australians to change the way they watch television.(Editorial)(Editorial)
April 1, 2008... AS WE GO TO PRESS, SENATOR STEPHEN Conroy's Department of Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy (the BDCDE--or 'Bacardi; as ASTRA chair Nick Greiner prefers to call it), has announced its strategy for handling the digital...

Liebmann to direct new business at Hoyts.(IN BRIEF)(Hoyts Corporation Proprietary Ltd. has appointed Matthew Liebmann )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Matthew Liebmann has joined the Hoyts Corporation as its commercial and new business director. Liebmann joins Hoyts from his role as General Manager of Skycity Cinemas in New Zealand. Prior to that he was a director in the entertainment & media...

Trackdown's Watson takes big global role.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... The former MD of Flying Bark Productions Geoff Watson has been appointed as director of International Business of Singapore media company Big Communications. Operating from his base at Sydney's Trackdown Digital, which he co--owns and manages,...

Ryan and Yuile join ranks of SAFC board.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Producer Julie Ryan and financial advisor Jane Yuile have joined the South Australian Film Corporation Board. Until recently, Ryan spent a decade working at Vertigo Productions with Rolf de Heer, as producer of his feature films, including The...

Maddock to helm Screen Australia, albeit briefly: Lyn Maddock will call on her past experience of industry mergers as the interim CEO of 'Superagency', Screen Australia.([PEOPLE])(Screen Australia has appointed Lyn Maddock )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... THE SCREEN INDUSTRY HAS WELCOMED THE appointment of Lyn Maddock as interim chief of the new industry Superagency; Screen Australia. Maddock will step aside from her role as deputy chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority...

MFS exits studio biz.([STUDIOS])(Melbourne Film Studios)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... AFTER 20 YEARS AS A CORNERSTONE of the Victorian film and television industry, Melbourne Film Studios (MFS) has closed its doors. Despite the fact the facility had been heavily booked over the past six months, principal David Parker conceded...

Ten backs 'Rush'.([TELEVISION])(Network Ten Proprietary Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... SOUTHERN STAR'S JOHN EDWARDS AND MIMI Butler are set to produce Rush, a new action series for Network Ten. According to the pitch, Rush is set in Melbourne and deals with an elite police squad trained to be "smarter, tactically superior and...

'Summer heights high'. goes global.([BUSINESS])
April 1, 2008... PRINCESS PICTURES' DEADPAN MOCKUMENTARY SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH (PICTURED) HAS BEEN SOLD TO HBO in North America and to the BBC in the UK. In two separate ABC Commercial deals, the Chris Lilley comedy series was snapped up for a run in HBO's 2008...

ABC s Scott refutes union claims about resources restructure; The ABC's decision to consolidate its resources divisions into a single entity has raised the ire of the community and public sector union. tracey prisk speaks to both sides of the debate to get the full story.([TELEVISION])
April 1, 2008... ABC MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK SCOTT HAS CONCEDED that the consolidation its Production Resources and Resource Hire divisions into a single ABC Resources department will result in redundancies, but he refuted accusations from the Community and...

Watt 'sex' comedy underway in Vic.([PRODUCTION])(Sarah Watt has director of My Year Without Sex)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... SACHA HORLER AND MATT DAY ARE starring in writer/director Sarah Watt's new feature, My Year Without Sex, which has just commenced production in Melbourne. Producer Bridget Ikin told Encore that the contemporary comedy follows the life of a...

Conroy tunes into digital TV takeup, anti-siphoning debate. the government hopes a cash injection will ease the digital switchover.([TELEVISION])
April 1, 2008... THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED $37.9 MILLION TO drive the take-up of digital television before the analog signal is switched off in 2013. The money will be spent on various projects aimed at raising consumer awareness about the looming...

Cameron appointed GM of Sydney Film Festival.([FESTIVALS])(Fiona Cameron appointed general manager of Sydney Film Festival.)
April 1, 2008... FIONA CAMERON HAS BEEN APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL (SFF). A Veteran of arts administration, Cameron has worked in senior advisory roles in State and Federal politics, and maintained executive positions in the...

Doco's fate in focus at AIDC: everything was up for discussion at the Australian International Documentary Conference, which took place in Western Australia's Fremantle in February.(AIDC)(Conference news)
April 1, 2008... THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE AUSTRALIAN documentary sector was the subject of much debate at the Australian International Documentary Conference, which took place in Western Australia in late February. Broadcasters came under attack for...

The Exhaustion of endless praise; A steady stream of quality films has left bob Ellis disillusioned with contemporary cinema. this month he pleads in vain for a film that fails to meet his expectations.(Rough Cut)
April 1, 2008... THOSE FEW OF US WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED OR contemplated adultery or are thus far too young to have felt the tug and prod of its infernal, ardent pulsation will not, I suppose, comprehend the core proposition on Ang Lee's Lust/Caution, that even...

Offset grabs tinseltown's attention: don't be sceptical, warns ausfilm's Tracey Vieira. she says that Australia's incentives packages have Hollywood seeking genuine partnerships with Australia creative talent.(LA Insider)
April 1, 2008... DESPITE THE AUSSIE DOLLAR HITTING A 23-YEAR high and knock-on effects of the recent US writers' strike being felt locally, Australia is still well-placed to attract US production dollars because of the enhanced incentive scheme. Meanwhile,...

UK pubcaster pledges more from 4: the public broadcaster channel 4 has backed its 'Future Strategy' for the public service with a serious cash injection, says European Correspondent.(Euro Insider)
April 1, 2008... THE UK'S FOURTH TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION CHANNEL, Channel 4, has promised to establish a [pounds sterling]50m (A$110m) fund to support public service digital media content over the next two years. The pledge forms part of its 'Next on 4' future...

Fair trade--on fair terms: Australia's broadcasting regulators is ill-equpped to determine terms of trade between broadcaters and the production sector, Spaa's Geoff brown argues.(Above The Line)
April 1, 2008... FOR SOME TIME, THE SCREEN PRODUCERS Association of Australia (SPAA) has been lobbying the Federal Government to consider expanding the role of broadcasting regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in determining terms...

Industry reacts to Connolly's blueprint: filmmaker Robert Connolly has issued a call for change to established Industry practices, and has created a firestorm in the process.(Below the line)
April 1, 2008... LAST YEAR, THE CENTRE FOR SCREEN BUSINESS (CSB) AT THE Australian Film TV and Radio School (AFTRS) asked writer/producer/director Robert Connolly to speak to an industry lunch about some of the challenges facing the film industry. "The...

Gentle giants on screen: training animals to perform on cue and feel comfortable in the strange surrounds of a film set is all in a days' work for the animal wrangler. Sarah Tonkin looks at some recent roles for four-legged actors.(Below the line)
April 1, 2008... HUMANS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE SUPERSTARS OF AUSTRALIAN film and television; often animals can play the lead role or at the very least, be crucial to the film's aesthetics. The behaviour of each animal captured on film is the result of many...

Rags to riches: costume design on a budget: a career in costume design requires resourcefulness, a limitless imagination and a great contact book, says Tracey Prisk.
April 1, 2008... THE RE-EMERGENCE OF THE HISTORICAL DRAMA HAS COSTUME designers such as Cappi lreland seeking inspiration from the unique fabrics and exceptional designs of the clothing of yesteryear. Original clothing from the 1960s and 70s is still...

AWG calls for Denton Fellowship Entries.(IN BRIEF)(The Australian Writers' Guild )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Australian Writers' Guild has issued a call for applications for the 2008 Kit Denton Fellowship. Media personality Andrew Denton created the prize to honour the memory of his late father, the scriptwriter, poet and author Kit Denton. The...

ABC, film oz to rewrite history.(IN BRIEF)(partenership between Film Australia and ABC TV )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Film Australia and ABC TV will partner on another 10 hours of history programming under the 'Making History' banner. ABC TV director Kim Dalton announced the new arrangement at the Australian International Documentary Conference, which was held...

Entries open for Digispaa film comp.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Entries are currently being sought for the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA)'s Digispaa digital filmmaking competition. Eligible films must be independently funded, feature length, digitally produced and completed to advanced...

Online culture spawns a tale of teen revenge: David Hull speaks to the trio developing a hi-tech thriller that will shoot in perth later this year, with funding from screenwest's low-budget feature initiative.(Script)
April 1, 2008... A PERTH-BASED TRIO IS DEVELOPING THE feature Wasted, which explores issues of anonymity and culpability, and the role of technology in creating a disconnect in human relationships. According to debut writer/director Ben C Lucas, the teen...

Shiff applies magic formula to 'Princess' tale children's drama producer Jonathan m Shiff's latest series follows a suburban girl plucked from obscurity and crowned a princess. Fiona Williams charts its origins.(Shoot)
April 1, 2008... JONATHAN M SHIFF PRODUCTIONS' ELEPHANT Princess is the latest in the company's string of children's dramas that play with the 'ordinary kids experience extraordinary things' premise that is proving so popular worldwide. Shiff makes no...

Iemma calls 'cut' on production red tape.(IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The NSW State Government has launched a multi-lateral scheme to cut red tape to make the state--and Sydney in particular--more 'film-friendly. The announcement follows years of lobbying from the NSW industry, which complained that shooting in...

'Last dancer' shoot underway in China.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Director Bruce Beresford's Australian-Chinese co-production Nao'sLast Dancer has commenced filming in China. Jan Sardi wrote the script from Li Cunxin's best-selling autobiography of the same name. The producers are Jane Scott and Geng Ling....

Correction.(IN BRIEF)(Correction notice)
April 1, 2008... A sub-editing error in the February issue of Encore magazine incorrectly identified "Brett Crockett" as the cinematographer of the ABC series Bed of Roses. The cinematographer was actually Brent Crockett ACS. Encore apologises for the error.

Global upgrades Melbourne studios.(IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Global Television has given its Melbourne studios facility an HD upgrade. The studios are where Neighbours is produced. As part of the upgrade, Global installed two Evertz VIP HD video display processors, one for in-house video monitoring by...

Martin becomes Gearhouse ob head.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Outside broadcast and equipment hire company Gearhouse Broadcast has appointed Ray Martin as its new head of Outside Broadcast. Martin has been freelancing for the last three years, during which time he worked closely with Gearhouse on a number...

Downs heads 3D TVC team at the Lab.(IN BRIEF)(Lab Sydney has appointed Clinton Downs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Lab Sydney has appointed Clinton Downs as its head of 3D Commercials. Downs, who previously worked for Animal Logic and served as supervising technical director on the feature 300, has a solid background in the TVC world. Downs will head up...

Correction.(IN BRIEF)(Correction notice)
April 1, 2008... In Encore's February issue The Lab's newly appointed senior colourist Marcus Timpson was inexplicably renamed Marcus Compton in the headline: 'Colourist Compton Checks into The Lab' (page 29, February 2008). Encore extends its apologies to...

Ambience resurrects tassie tiger for cannibal thriller The 3d department at the lab Sydney collaborated with Omnilab affiliate ambience to bring tasmania's most famous extinct creature back to life.(Sync)
April 1, 2008... THE VFX BRIEF WAS VAST FOR AMBIENCE Entertainment's first feature, the horror/thriller Dying Breed. A myriad of digital effects were required to provide realism to the gruesome tale of cannibals on the rampage in the forests of Tasmania;...

Nine looks to Sampson for online strength.(IN BRIEF)(Nine Network Australia Ltd. has appointed Les Sampson)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Nine Network has appointed Les Sampson to the role of director of acquisitions, daytime programming and digital television. Sampson is a former general manager of acquisitions at Foxtel, and will return to Nine to strengthen the Network's...

'Unfinished sky' set for June release.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Director Peter Duncan's feature Unfinished Sky has secured a June 19 release through Palace Films. The film stars William Mclnnes and was produced by New Holland Pictures' Cathy Overett and Anton Smit

Oz projects picked for content 360 at MIPTV.(IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Two Australian projects will be pitched to the international market at the Content 360 pitching competition and festival, which will take place at this month's MIP TV content market in Cannes, France. 380 projects were selected from 42...

Paramount Picks up Omnilab's 'bank job'.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Paramount Pictures has picked up the Roger Donaldson-directed The Bank Job, Which was bank-rolled by the Omnilab Media Group. The heist film was shot in London and stars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows. It will release into Australian cinemas...

Tribeca Picks 'Newcastle', 'breed'.(IN BRIEF)
April 1, 2008... Australian features Dying Breed and Newcastle have both been selected to screen at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Director Jody Dwyer's Dying Breed is produced by Ambience Entertainment, and will play in the popular Midnight...

History gets animated in new multi-platform scheme: a new opportunity exists for animators to create fresh and funny content based around the idea of history, for multi-platform playout.(Screen)
April 1, 2008... IN AN INITIATIVE THAT'S DESIGNED TO BOTH Inspire animators and test the boundaries of mobile delivery, the Australian Film Commission (AFC) and Telstra Bigpond have joined forces to launch thier "fresh and funny" Great Moments in History...

Features in planning.(DRAMA)(Movie review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Last Ride, The Prod co: Talk Films Pty Ltd Dir: Glendyn lvin Prod: Antonia Barnard, Nick Cole DOP: Greig Fraser Script: Mac Gudgeon Editor: Jack Hutchings Prod des: Jo Ford Dist: Madman Format: 90min Gauge: 35mm Shoot From: 21/7/2008 Shoot...

Features in pre-Production.(DRAMA)(Movie review)
April 1, 2008... Accidents Happen Prod off: Sydney Prod co: A.H. Films Pty Ltd Exec Prod: Heather Ogilvie Dir: Andrew Lancaster Prod: AnthonyAnderson Script Brian Carbee Prod mgr: Libby Sharpe Prod des: Elizabeth Mary Moore Cast: Geena Davis Fin: FFC, FTO,...

Features in Production.(DRAMA)(Movie review)
April 1, 2008... Knowing Prod co: Summit Entertainment Dir: Alex Proyas Prod: Topher Dow Line Prod: Stephen Jones Cast: Nicolas Cage Fin: Film Victoria Shoot From: 26/3/2008 Shoot To: 20/6/2008 Description: The thriller follows the story of a teacher who...

Mini-series in pre-Production.(DRAMA)
April 1, 2008... False Witness Pay Channel: UK TV Prod off: Sydney Prod co: Screentime Pty Ltd Exec Prod: Brendan Dahill, Des Monaghan Prod: Greg Haddrick Script: Ronan Glenane, Neil Greenwood, Greg Haddrick Fin: UKTV, FFC, Power Television Format: 2x2...

Series in pre-Production.(DRAMA)(Movie review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Carla Cametti PD Network: SBS Prod co: Buon Giorno Productions Exec Prod: Ewan Burnett, Carole Sklan Dir: lan Watson Prod: Elisa Argenzio,Cristina Pozzan DOP: Leilani Hannah Script: Lin Doran, Jo Martino, Kris Mrksa, Sam Winston Prod mgr:...

Series in Production.(DRAMA)(Movie review)
April 1, 2008... All Saints Network; Seven Prod off: Sydney Prod co: Seven Network Limited Exec Prod: John Holmes Dir: Marcus Cole, Peter Fisk, lan Gilmour, Jean-Pierre Mignon, Martin Sacks, Jet Wilkinson Prod: Bill Hughes DOP: Matt Horrex, John Platt Line...

Serials in Production.(DRAMA)(Television program review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Home and Away Network: Seven Prod off: Sydney Prod co: Seven Productions Exec Prod: John Holmes Dir: Sam Atwell, Rebecca Barry, David Gould, Peter Phelps, Scott Pickett Script: Matt Anderson, Clare Atkins, Trent Atkinson, Fiona Bozic, Luke...

Children's/youth in Pre-Production.(DRAMA)(Movie review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... K9 Network: Ten Prod co: K9, Metal Mutt Productions Exec Prod: Grant Bradley, Jim Howell Prod: Simon Barnes, Richard Stewart, Penny Wall writer: Bob Baker Line Prod: Richard Clenniden Dist: Ten Format: 26 x 30mins Gauge: HD Shoot From :...

Children's/youth in Production.(DRAMA)
April 1, 2008... Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist Network: Ten Prod co: SLR Productions, March Entertainment Exec Prod: Regis Brown, Dan Hawes, Suzanne Ryan Dir: Jonlzen Prod: Dan Hawes, Suzanne Ryan Script: David Evans, Brendan Luno, Doug Sinclair Line...

News/talk/business/current affairs in Production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... 60 Minutes Network: Nine Network Prod of!: Sydney Format: 60 mins per week Shoot From: 1/1/2008 Shoot To: 31/12/2008 Description: A public affairs program. 7:30 Report, The Network: ABC Prod off: Sydney Exec Prod: Ben Hawke Prod:...

Feedback/consumer in Production.(FACTUAL)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Media watch Network: ABC Shoot From: 1/1/2008 Shoot To: 31/12/2008 Description: Keeps a watch over all those who work in, own and control the media. TV Shopping Network Pay Channel: Austar, Foxtel, Optus Prod off: Sydney Format: 24...

Lifestyle/reality in Production.(FACTUAL)(Television program review)
April 1, 2008... Better Homes and Gardens Network: Seven Prod off: Sydney Prod co: Seven Productions Exec Prod: Craig Walsh Prod mgr: Fiona Hutchison Editor: Ashley Cameron, Jasper Coady, Carol Lewis Format: 1 hour Shoot From: 22/1/2008 Shoot To:...

Game show in Pre-Production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Prod co: Roving Enterprises Pty Ltd Exec Prod: Rob Brearley, Craig Campbell Description: Contestants use the help of 5th gra graders to win up to $500,000.

Game show in Production.(FACTUAL)(Television program review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Einstein Factor, The Network: ABC Prod off: Melbourne Prod co: Sparkz Pty Ltd, ABC Exec Prod: lan Duncan, Bruce Kane. Shaun Levin Dir:John Smith Script Vin Hedger Prod mgr: Lauraine Colley Fin: ABC Format: 30 mins Shoot From: 17/1/2008...

Comedy/variety in Production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Network: Nine Network Prod off: Sydney Exec Prod: Bryan Cockerill Dir: Gavin Hincks Prod: Shane Gaunt Script: Bryan Cockerill, George Dodd, Peter Green, Steve Walsh Prod mgr: Lisa Guthridge Format: 1...

Children's youth in production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... Behind the News Network: ABC Prod off: Adelaide Prod co: ABC Exec Prod: Robert Clark Prod mgr: Josie Koerner Format: 30 min Gauge: 16:9 Shoot From: 19/2/2008 Shoot To: 3/12/2008 Description: Informing and entertaining Australian school...

Arts/music in production.(FACTUAL)(Television program review)
April 1, 2008... At The Movies Network: ABC Prod off: Sydney Prod Co: ABC Television Exec Prod: Sophia Zachariou Format: 26 Min x 30 Shoot From: 3/2/2008 Shoot To: 3/12/2008 Description: Weekly review of big screen releases interviews and profiles cinema...

Documentary in Pre-Production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... Bail -The Last Paradise Prod co: Gulliver Media Australia Pty Ltd, Silver Productions (London) Ltd Exec Prod: Pierre Haneuse. Larry Zentlin Format: 60minutes Gauge: HDCam Shoot From: 1/7/2008 Shoot To:1/9/2008 Description: Since the early...

Documentary in Production.(FACTUAL)
April 1, 2008... Betty Churcher Interviews John Olsen Network: ABC Prod co: Film Australia. Early Works Pty Ltd Exec Prod: Anna Grieve Prod: Betty Churcher writer: Betty Churcher Fin: Film Australia Format: 26min Gauge: DV Pro Shoot From: 1/4/2008...

Sport in Production.(FACTUAL)(Television program review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Aerobics Oz Style Pay Channel: Fox Prod off: Sydney Prod co: ZerO1 ZerO Exec Prod: Harry Michaels Dir: Harry Michaels Prod: Andries Theron Format: 260x30 mins Gauge: 16:9 Digital Betacam Shoot From: 1/1/2008 Shoot To: 31/12/2008...

Digispaa launches in Melbourne.(People)
April 1, 2008... [WHAT] Launch of Digispaa digital film competition [WHERE] FAD Gallery, Melbourne [WHEN] March 18 MOVIE

Web Guide.(Website list)
April 1, 2008... ANIMATION AND VISUAL EFFECTS FIRE HORSE STUDIO www.firehorse.net.au YOMP STUDIOS www.yompstudios.com BUY BACK FILM STOCK STEADI SYSTEMS BUY BACK FILM STOCK www.steadisystems.com CABLE & CONNECTORS ...

Networks revel in the spoils of crime: cops and Crims make for compelling viewing and the networks just cant get enough of them. Harvey Shore analyses the broadcasters' appetite for crime-related drama.(Hearsay)
April 1, 2008... WHO SAID CRIME DOESN'T PAY? Nine had a stunning success at the start of this year with crime drama Underbelly, produced by Bob Campbell and Des Monaghan at Screentime. Their show topped the ratings, even after being banned in Melbourne....