Encore Magazine articles from June 2004

Encore Magazine archives from June 2004

preview.(Editorial)
June 1, 2004... This month's issue of Encore features a spotlight on the TVC sector and like most of the industry it is going through a tough time. It therefore came as some relief when the Government's Free Trade Agreement with the US yielded no concessions...

Industry criticises budget tax offerings.(News)(big budget TV series's tax concerns)
June 1, 2004... THE belated extension of the refundable film tax offset scheme to include big budget television series has sparked criticism from some sectors of the industry that it doesn't go far enough to rectify the costly loss of overseas projects, and...

FFC backs new docos.(News)(Film Finance Corporation, National Indigenous Documentary Fund)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE Film Finance Corporation of Australia (FFC) has approved finance for the National Indigenous Documentary Fund (NIDF) as well as a slate of documentary fare. This year's NIDF, which will support the production of four documentaries from...

'Somersault' tumbles into Cannes.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Cate Shortland's debut feature Somersault screened at the recent Cannes International Film Festival in the non-competitive Un Certain Regard category. Somersault (produced under the working title More than Scarlet) is writer/director Shortland...

NSW Govt 'Stealth' fix-it plan still shaky.(News)
June 1, 2004... THE NSW Government legislation introduced in a bid to quell the furore sparked by the shoot of US action thriller Stealth at a wilderness location has hit a hurdle, with environmental groups dismissive of what they deemed the Carr Government's...

Freehand casts 'queer eye'.(Production)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Freehand Media, the production company headed up by former Seven Network programmer Chris O'Mara, Network Media's John Gregory and ex-Big Brother executive producer Peter Abbott, is currently casting the local version of the US series Queer Eye...

Nine eyes weighty series.(Production)(Celador)(Nine Network)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Nine Network has inked a deal with UK production company Celador for a new series called You Are What You Eat, an eight-part series made by Celador for UK Channel 4. The series focuses on obese people, explores their eating habits and looks...

Tanner with nick.(Production)(Total Perception )(Nickelodeon Australia )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Phillip Tanner/Jason Critelli production company Total Perception has collaborated with Nickelodeon Australia to produce a 20-part series featuring a pre-school age chef, Cooking for Kids with Luis. Total Perception is a new venture for...

'Hamish & Andy' dropped.(Production)(Seven Network)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Seven Network axed sketch comedy Hamish & Andy in May after the program consistently lost its timeslot to rival Nine Network's US drama offerings. The hosts, comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, remain contracted to the network, which said...

Film Vic eyes Docklands.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Film Victoria's bid to relocate to the state's Docklands film hub is a step closer thanks to funding allocated in the Victorian state budget, handed down on May 4. The state's funding and production body is currently located in the Melbourne...

Film offices unite.(News)(New Zealand. Film Commission)(New South Wales Film and Television Office )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The New South Wales Film and Television Office (FTO), Film Victoria and the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) have formed a strategic partnership to secure three places at the annual No Borders Co production market, held during the Independent...

Aussie classics for UK.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A consortium of UK television and theatre producers is preparing to launch Aussie Gold, a free-to-air digital satellite channel in the UK that is entirely devoted to Australian soaps, mini-series, children's drama serials and telemovies. Darren...

Leake sealed as SAFC chief.(People Moves)(South Australian Film Corp.)(Helen Leake appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Adelaide-based filmmaker Helen Leake has been appointed chief executive of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), having served in the role in an acting capacity since January 30, Leake has been an SAFC board member since 2001 and took...

Davies new Ambience GM.(People Moves)(Ambience Entertainment)(Peter Davies appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Ambience Group has promoted former head producer Peter Davies to the newly created position of general manager. Davies joined Ambience in 2003 from boutique HD post house Kotij, now part of the AAV Digital Pictures group. Davies will...

Uechtritz defects to Nine.(People Moves)(Nine Network)(Max Uechtritz appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In a surprise move, ABC head of news and current affairs Max Uechtritz defected to the Nine Network to take up the position of director of news in May. At Nine Uechtritz replaced Paul Fenn, who reportedly fell out of favour with news and...

Lee exits AAV.(People Moves)(AAV Cos.)(Jackie Lee resigns)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Digital Pictures Sydney sales and marketing manager Jackie Lee has left the AAV Group, having relocated to the US, Lee's role has been filled internally with the responsibilities split across the various divisions. Rob Nicol will handle...

FFC unveils kickstart plan.(News)(Film Finance Corporation Australia)
June 1, 2004... A year into the top job at the industry's chief funding body, Brian Rosen has unveiled the organisation's plans to shake the local industry out of its current malaise. Brian Rosen assumed the post of chief executive of Film Finance...

MIPTV proves fruitful for Australian product: while the number of Australians attending MIPTV this year was slightly down in comparison with previous years, it's still a key market for dealmakers from all over the world to buy and sell television programming. Tracey Prisk reports.(MIPTV)(International Television Programme Market)
June 1, 2004... For the Australian Film Commission's (AFC) marketing manager Sabina Finnern the AFC's Australian Stand was as busy as ever and the market helped in "cementing the AFC as the focal point for Australians and anyone who wishes to find out about...

Screen producers associated of Australia--monthly updated.(MIPTV)(Obituary)
June 1, 2004... The industry acknowledges with sadness the passing of three senior industry practitioners in recent weeks. They each made unique contributions to the development of Australian film and television. Their legacy is that up until now, we have...

Cinema offers no respite from invading: 'barbarians'.(Rough Cut)(Short Story)
June 1, 2004... Remy, a history professor, has cancer. His ex-wife Louise rings their son Sebastien, a millionaire trader in London, and asks him to come home to Montreal. He does so reluctantly--he and his father, a 'puritan capitalist' and a 'warm sensual...

Successful product placement: demands innovation.(Product Placement)(innovations in advertising)
June 1, 2004... It was the question on everyone's lips... does product placement mean more money and if so, for whom? The overwhelming conclusion reached by attendees at the SPAA product placement seminar in Sydney in April was that the funds are there and...

Film commissions face: stiff competition.(LA Insider)(Locations Trade Show)
June 1, 2004... The international presence at the annual Locations Trade Show organised by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) continues to grow with new film commissions popping up all over the globe. This year's expo was held at...

Making sense of UK tax law changes: recently announced changes by the UK government to UK tax laws and co-production rules have implications for Australian producers seeking investors or co-production arrangements in the United Kingdom. Lawyers Ian Robertson and Robb Klein report.*.(Taxation)
June 1, 2004... Recently announced changes by the UK government to UK tax laws and co-production rules have implications for Australian producers seeking investors or co-production arrangements in the United Kingdom. Lawyers Ian Robertson and Robb Klein...

"HD for all' at NAB 2004: 'ride the HD wave' and 'HD affordability' were two of the slogans used to mark nab 2004 as the year high definition acquisition and post was offered to the masses. Jeff Bird* reports.(NAB 2004)(National Association of Broadcasters)
June 1, 2004... Over 97,000 attendees, up on last year's 89,000, packed into the colossal Las Vegas Convention Centre to pound the pavement in search of new technologies, digital innovations and a slew of exciting new products at the annual conference and...

Stretched budgets have subtle effect: with jobs at a premium and little sign of budgets increasing, production companies are finding they have to work harder and be smarter to come up with effective spots. David Hull reports.
June 1, 2004... Tight budgets, intense local competition and the pressures of operating in an increasingly global market are defining characteristics of the TVC production sector, the result being that even the busiest of production companies can't be sure of...

Producers sceptical about ABA figures.(TVC Production)(Australian Broadcasting Authority)
June 1, 2004... The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) plans to heighten its push for an overhaul of the process which classifies TVCs as either Australian or foreign. Commercial television networks are comfortably adhering to the daily...

Local industry must lure decision makers: the co-founder of creative and communications company ATTIK just spent three months in Australia working on a campaign for the US market. While here he spoke to encore about TVC production down under. David Hull reports.(TVC Production)
June 1, 2004... The Australia television commercial production industry needs to significantly improve its self-promotion, according to ATTIK co-founder and group creative director Simon Needham. Needham recently spent three months in Sydney working with...

Plush and Fuel deliver Foxtel launch campaign: Young & Rubicam Sydney lured hollywood star Hugh Jackman home to feature in its launch campaign for the Foxtel Digital service, a production for which Plush Films and Fuel International were called upon. David Hull reports.(TVC Production)
June 1, 2004... Production company Plush Films and VFX house Fuel International combined to complete the Foxtel Digital launch campaign starring Hugh Jackman and commissioned by Young & Rubicam (Y & R) Sydney. The job took six months from concept to finish...

Cherub strikes gold with 'test' for Sony.(TVC Production)(Cherub Pictures)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SYDNEY'S Cherub Pictures produced the 45-second Sony Schizo commercial, which screened at Tropfest 2004, which supports low-budget filmmakers. Cherub's Pip Smart was the producer, with Michelle Bennett as executive producer and Nash...

Sharks given bite for theme park spots.(TVC Production)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A SERIES of spots produced through George Patterson Partners for the launch of Shark Bay at Seaworld called on Roly Poly Picture Company (director/DOP Ron Johanson and producer Karen Hayward) to co-ordinate live action and special effects...

GSF pulls off tricky Bulla spot.(TVC Production)(GREAT Southern Films )(Bulla Dairy Foods)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... GREAT Southern Films' director John Lyons completed the latest Bulla Ice Cream campaign for Bulla Dairy Foods. The agency was Melbourne-based The Bridge Consulting Group and the job, shot in early December, involved not only working with...

Iloura effects for Express Post.(Iloura Post Production completes television commercial production)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... MELBOURNE-BASED Iloura Post Production completed visual effects on the latest 15-second TVC for Express Post, which promotes the fact spare parts can be sent via the service. Carrying on a theme established in previous ads in the campaign,...

Luscious dishes up launch spot for Smiths.(TVC Production)(Clemenger/BBDO Ltd.)(Luscious International)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SYDNEY-BASED Luscious International recently completed the 30-second Flat World launch spot for the new Smiths Thin-Cut Crisps, featuring a man transported into a two-dimensional world--replete with flat cars, buses, parking inspectors, pigeons...

Anifex creates critter to help save habitats.(TVC Production)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ADELAIDE-BASED production house Anifex recently worked on a TVC for the Earth Sanctuaries Foundation of Australia featuring a stop-motion native animal. The job involved combining live action with the animated creature: a procedure Anifex...

Radical blends styles for fantasy spot.(TVC Production)(BBDO Worldwide Inc.)(Radicalmedia)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... RADICALMEDIA director Derin Seale recently completed a spot for soft drink brand Mirinda through the agency BBDO Worldwide. The commercial, produced by Barbara Devlin, features a young boy transformed into a fantasy pirate battle, and,...

Zinc creates global look for 1800 TVCs.(TVC Production)(Zinc Ltd.,)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... CUTTING Edge Post put the finishing touches to three 1800 and 0800 Reverse spots directed by Lee Rogers for Zinc Films and featuring singer/actor Holly Valance. Zinc dealt directly with UK client 0800 Reverse and producer Ian Fowler said...

Unreal cultivates M & Ms brand.(TVC Production)(Unreal Pictures)(Mars & Murrie candies)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... MELBOURNE-BASED VFX and animation house Unreal Pictures has completed a number of M & Ms spots for Masterfoods (through Clemenger BBDO Melbourne) calling on senior animator Bruce Currie and his team to create characters with a distinct...

Production: report.(Production Report)(television programs )
June 1, 2004... 6 partly shot abroad v change to listing [empty set] no Australian funding [approximately equal to] new listing ENCORE's production report includes all known features and television drama and non-drama television programs...

Cinema: international box office.(Audience)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... australian box office [week ending: may 4, 2004] This Last % week week Film (Distributor) Weeks Total $ Change 1 (-) Gothika (Columbia TriStar) ...

Video rentals.(Audience)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... video rentals [week ending: may 4, 2004] This Last Week Week Film (Distributor) 1 (1) Something's Gotta Give (Warner Home Video) 2 (2) Love Actually (Universal Pictures International) 3 (3) Master and...

Calendar.(Audience)(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... COAA 8-9 June, Canberra. The national conference of the Cinema Owners Association of Australia. Info: www.coaa.asn.au 51st Sydney Film Festival 11-26 June, Sydney. Info: www.sydneyfilmfestival.org Banff Television Festival ...

DVD rentals.(Audience)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... DVD rentals [week ending: may 9, 2004] This Last Film (Distributor) Week Week 1 (1) Love Actually (Universal) 2 (4) Pirates of the Caribbean (Buena Vista) 3 (3) Something's Gotta Give (Wamer) 4 (2)...