Encore Magazine articles from January 2007

Encore Magazine archives from January 2007

An eye on Adelaide and the capital: it's a make or break year for the industry with the Government's comprehensive film review to determine the fate of tax schemes and funding bodies.(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... 2007 LOOMS AS AN EXCITING YEAR FOR ENCORE, NOT least because of the new features and initiatives we have planned. I can't give too much away but next month's issue will include a supplement dedicated to the South Australian production sector to...

Chambers chosen to confront NSW blues: incoming chief of the NSW film and television office Tania Chambers faces a tough challenge to reverse the State's fortunes. David Hull reports.(APPOINTMENT)(New South Wales Film and Television Office)
January 1, 2007... SCREENWEST CHIEF EXECUTIVE Tania Chambers will move across the country to take over as the New South Wales Film & Television Office (FTO)'s new chief executive on February 12, replacing the outgoing Jane Smith. Chambers, who will remain at...

HBO WWII epic eyes Oz.(PRODUCTION)(Home Box Office Inc., World War II, location hunting for 'The Pacific' in Australia)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... THE PRODUCERS OF THE $180 MILLION (US$140 million) Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks-backed World War Two epic, The Pacific, are believed to be "seriously considering" a mammoth 55-week shoot in Australia in 2007. The Pacific (a.k.a. The Pacific...

ScreenWest receives $4.16 million injection.(FUNDING)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS SHEILA MCHALE presented ScreenWest with a Lotterywest cheque for $4.16 million to support local screen production on January 11. The cheque presentation was held in the Old Courtroom at the...

AFC backs three indie features.(PRODUCTION)
January 1, 2007... The Australian Film Commission (AFC) has committed $1.8 million to three new features through its IndiVision Production Fund; with production funding going to Cactus and Cedar Boys and post production funding committed to The Bullet Boy. ...

NSW production statistics.(Close Up: HEADLINES)
January 1, 2007... NSW PRODUCTION STATISTICS DRAMA PRODUCTION EXPENDITURE IN NSW 2000/2001 $304m 2001/2002 $353m 2002/2003 $141m 2003/2004 $396m 2004/2005 $254m 2005/2006 $120m

Funding in NSW.(Close Up: HEADLINES)
January 1, 2007... FUNDING IN NSW '01/'02 '02/'03 '03/'04 '04/'05 '05/'06 $ Requested $934,416 $1,404,723 $1,248,016 $1,254,834 $1,122,090 $ Approved $418,470 $605,400 $658,320 $702,000 $797,100 Source:...

'Apples' given green light: fully-financed local feature Good Apples will commence production in October with a Bollywood star in the lead role. David Hull reports.(PRODUCTION)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... THE DRAMA/COMEDY FEATURE GOOD Apples is set to go into pre production at the end of March, with an eight-week shoot scheduled to take place in and around Sydney during October and November 2007. Producer/consultant director Warwick Freeman told...

Mixed reaction to TV sport rules.(TELEVISION)
January 1, 2007... THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S NEW 'USE IT OR LOSE IT' GUIDELINES FOR sporting events on the anti-siphoning list have failed to fully satisfy either free-to-air or pay television broadcasters. The set of seven guidelines, in effect since January 1,...

Brown to produce MacRae feature.(PRODUCTION)(Kenn MacRae and Simon MacRae get finance to make 'The View From Greenhaven Drive' from Movie Extra)(Martin Brown)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... KENN AND SIMON MACRAE EMERGED VICTORIOUS IN THIS YEAR'S PROJECT Greenlight filmmaking competition, receiving a $1 million production budget to make their first feature film. Martin Brown (Moulin Rouge) will produce the project. The MacRae...

ABC gets cash boost.(FUNDING)(Federal government finances American Broadcasting Companies Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED SUPPORT TO THE ABC'S LOCALLY relevant television and radio coverage by committing $19.1 million in funds for 2008-09. The move brings the ABC's Regional and Local Programming funding into line with the...

SFF names two new board directors.(IN BRIEF)(Sydney Film Festival appoints Tony Sernack and Walter Secord)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The Sydney Film Festival (SFF) has elected Tony Sernack and Walter Secord to its board, with Jacqui Feeney re-elected unopposed as President at the festival's recent AGM. Sernack is managing director of the MACAW Consulting Group, which he...

Newman replaces McDonald at the ABC.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Maurice Newman has been appointed as chair of the ABC for a five-year term. Newman previously served on the ABC board as a non-executive director between 2000 and 2004 and he is currently chair of the Australian Securities Exchange. He is also...

Wright lands Open Channel role.(IN BRIEF)(Graeme Wright)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Victorian screen resource centre Open Channel has appointed Graeme Wright to the position of business director where he will work alongside program director Andrew Garton. Wright began his film and television career at Crawford Productions...

'Canoes' rows to AFI victory: Rolf De Heer's black comedy scoops the pool at the AFI Awards.(AWARDS)(Australian Film Institute)
January 1, 2007... THE AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE'S 2006 AFI AWARDS HAD A distinctly indigenous flavour, with Rolf De Heer's Ten Canoes blitzing the opposition in the film categories, and producer Penny Chapman's RAN doing the same in the television categories at...

Tale of trust transported down under: David Hull headed into Queensland's farm country to visit the set of the local remake of a Dutch romantic thriller.(On Location: UNFINISHED SKY)
January 1, 2007... UNLIKE THEIR HOLLYWOOD COUNTERPARTS, AUSTRALIAN PRODUCERS RARELY take the plunge of remaking a film from overseas. However, bolstered by links with The Netherlands, Brisbane-based New Holland Pictures chose to launch its move from television...

Vale Robert Altman: rulebreaker; Bob Ellis laments the departure of the iconoclastic filmmaker Robert Altman and celebrates the chaotic, American taboo-smashing performance of Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat.(Rough Cut: REVIEW)
January 1, 2007... THIS MONTH BOB ELLIS REVIEWS: THE WORK OF ROBERT ALTMAN, HUNT ANGELS (DIRECTOR ALEC MORGAN), BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN (LARRY CHARLES), CASINO ROYALE (MARTIN CAMPBELL), FAST FOOD...

Local productions losing out to network greed: despite a successful year of government lobbying, screen producers Association of Australia executive director Geoff Brown, is disheartened by commercial TV's cynical behaviour.(Above The Line: REGULATION)
January 1, 2007... IT'S BEEN AN EVENTFUL YEAR, A YEAR IN WHICH MUCH solid groundwork has been done to prepare the way for what should be a year of positive movement and change in 2007. Reviews and submissions have dominated the agenda this year, with reviews...

All eyes are on Australia's work: let's build on it; The Post/Digital/VFX sector needs more tax incentives to go on attracting elements of work that were not travelling in years past, says Ausfilm's LA-based commissioner, Tracey Montgomery.(LA Insider: POST-PRODUCTION)
January 1, 2007... THE CAN-DO ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIAN CAST AND crew has long been recognised as an asset for Hollywood filmmakers filming Down Under. This same asset has now taken Australia's post, digital and visual effect houses to the level where they are...

Nevermind tourists: here come the 'set-jetters'; Attracting fans to the various locations used on their favourite feature film has become big business for film commissions in Europe. Julian Newby reports.(Euro Insider: FILM TOURISM)
January 1, 2007... A DISCUSSION AT THE LAST ASSOCIATION OF FILM Commissioners International (AFCI) Cineposium focused on the benefits brought to an area after a high-profile movie or TV series has been shot there. Held in October last year in Pasadena,...

VIC writers get backing for features.(IN BRIEF)(Film Victoria supports Natasha Gadd, Rohan Jones, Miranda Nation and Anna Zagala)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Four writers will receive support from Film Victoria to write their next draft of their feature film scripts and work with a professional script editor. Natasha Gadd (Undertow), Rohan Jones (Brotherhood), Miranda Nation (Love is Warmer Than...

Writer picked for SS kids' TV scheme.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Cath Moore has been selected for the Australian Writers' Foundation and Southern Star Entertainment Children's Television Production Initiative. Commencing this month, Moore will take up a three month placement with Southern Star Entertainment,...

Bostock Scheme calls for entries.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... MetroScreen has issued a call for filmmakers to submit applications to the Lester Bostock Scheme, which funds the production of a five-minute film, and teams the winning filmmaker with an industry mentor. Entries close February 2. Last year's...

'Puppy' team unleashes new project at Cinemart: Melissa Beauford and Kieran Galvin will seek attachments at the world's biggest co-production marketplace, Rotterdam's Cinemart, this month. Fiona Williams reports.(Script: MARKET)
January 1, 2007... WRITER/DIRECTOR KIERAN GALVIN AND PRODUCER Melissa Beauford will participate in this month's international film finance market Cinemart in The Netherlands, where they will seek backers for their new feature project, Myself: Sometimes. ...

Students to cut teeth on 'Harrisville'.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Horror/thriller feature Harrisville commences shooting at various locations in and around Brisbane this month. A partnership between independent production company Tempo Pictures and the Queensland School of Film and Television (QSFT),...

'Chopper' series shooting in QLD.(IN BRIEF)(Big Island Pictures plans 'Rescue Chopper' in Queensland)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Big Island Pictures is now in production on its new factual series Rescue Chopper having completed financing in December 2006. The series will be made by the team behind the acclaimed documentary After Maeve: writer/director Jan Cattoni and...

Broadcam secures Viper for rental.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Broadcast equipment hire companies Broadcam Australia has confirmed it will be offering the Thomson Grass Valley Viper FilmStream digital camera system for rental in Australia. The Viper offers a choice of shooting in 2K-4:4:4 FilmStream or...

Foxtel channel shake up all in a day's work for operators: what is involved in relocating a channel and installing a new storage network? Fiona Williams goes behind the scenes of the Foxtel operations department to find out.(Shoot: STUDIO)
January 1, 2007... WHEN FOXTEL LOST ITS BID TO SECURE PAY-TV broadcast rights to AFL matches, the knock on effect for the subscription television provider presented a series of logistical challenges for the operations department--not least the closure of the Fox...

Genesis frees up post path for Foxtel promos: the decision to use panavision's Genesis HD camera enabled Area 51 and Engine to create a film-like look for Foxtel's Sumer promotional campaign. David Hull reports.(Sync: PROMOS)
January 1, 2007... SYDNEY-BASED DESIGN AND POST PRODUCTION company Engine recently completed Foxtel's summer identity and awareness campaign in collaboration with the pay TV operator's in-house creative agency Area 51 and director Dean Friske. The...

Softimage upgrades its 3D software.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Avid subsidiary Softimage has released a new version of its 3D animation and character creation software that features accelerated animation and character tools and expanded third-party rendering options. Features of Softimage XSI 6 include...

Dolby introduces JPEG 2000 mastering tool.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Dolby Laboratories' new JPEG 2000 digital cinema mastering product will be made available to post facilities, labs and exhibitors during the first quarter of 2007. The Dolby SCC2000 Secure Content Creator is marketed as a scalable mastering...

Blackmagic launches HDMI Editing Card.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Blackmagic Design has released a high-definition HDMI Editing Card that allows users to capture high-quality uncompressed video direct from the HDMI connection on HDV cameras. The Intensity capture and playback card switches between 1080HD,...

Dutch TV is first to go fully digital.(IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The Netherlands ended transmission of free to air analog television in December, becoming the first nation to switch completely to digital signals. However, few Dutch consumers would have noticed, as in the country of 16 million TV watchers,...

New dimension for 'Storm Warning'.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... Dimension Films has secured the US distribution rights to Jamie Blanks' Storm Warning. The picture follows a couple as they get captured by deranged killers upon seeking refuge from a massive storm at a nearby farmhouse. The script was written...

'Gone' goes for autumn release.(IN BRIEF)
January 1, 2007... United International Pictures has pushed back the sceduled release date of Australian/UK co-production Gone from January 25 to March 8. The Working Title/Universal Pictures film, which was produced under the working title Middle of Nowhere,...

'Modern Love' secures Euro deal.(IN BRIEF)(Bayerischer Rundfunk distributes movie)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Australian feature Modern Love, directed and produced by Alex Frayne, has been picked up by Munich-based sales agent Bayerischer Rundfunk following its October screening at the 2006 Hof International Film Festival in Germany. Modern Love was...

Regional film buffs to get a glimpse of digital cinema: regional cinemas will be outfitted with digital projection technology as part of a scheme to bolster access to first-run content. Sarah Jane Owen reports.(Screen: DIGITAL CINEMA)
January 1, 2007... A NEW 1.4K DIGITAL CINEMA ROLLOUT SCHEME WILL give Australia's regional exhibitors access to first-run content. The Regional Digital Screen Network will equip eight regional cinemas across Australia with digital technology in the hope it...

Listings.(Production Report)
January 1, 2007... EVERY MONTH ENCORE's production report includes all known features and television drama and non-drama television programs which have a network presale. Projects in the planning stage appear once only and the listing ends when a...

How Aussie Indies must beat the format frenzy: industry insider Harvey Shore warns that local producers face a battle to get past the international program formats set to dominate commercial TV during the first half of 2007.(Hearsay: TV PRODUCTION)
January 1, 2007... WE'VE JUST WITNESSED SOME MAJOR CHANGES to the media laws. Those changes have resulted in both Nine and Seven being folded into joint-ventures worth $4.5 billion and $3.2 billion respectively. CanWest followed by touting Ten for sale at $3.5...