Encore Magazine articles from March 2004

Encore Magazine archives from March 2004

Editor's note.(This Month in the News)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... It seems that even at press time the film and television industry were still scratching their heads over just what the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) means for Australia. While the sugar industry knows it's been dealt a low blow, the...

SAFC shuffles top deck.(This Month in the News)(Judith Crombie, David Minear, Helen Leake, Pam Martin)
March 1, 2004... The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) is in caretaker mode following the surprise resignation of chief executive Judith Crombie, citing "long-term differences" with chair David Minear, whose term has since expired. At a tumultuous...

Industry rage at 'absurd' FTA: the film and TV industry's fears about the free trade agreement have been realised, Fiona Williams reports.(This Month in the News, movie industry, television broadcasting industry)(Free Trade Agreement)
March 1, 2004... Australia's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US has prompted a critical response from the local film and television industry. "frustrated by the lack of detail" in government information that purports to preserve local content despite...

SPAA 2004 to link with AIMC in Qld.(This Month in the News, Queensland)(Screen Producers Association of Australia)(Australian International Movie Convention)
March 1, 2004... A pledge of sponsorship from the Queensland Government and a desire to create a weeklong event devoted to production, distribution and exhibition has prompted the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) to hold its annual conference...

Mason leads Aussie crew into 'cave'.(This Month in the News)(Andrew Mason)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Australian producer Andrew Mason (The Matrix) is currently in pre-production in Romania on the US Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment's horror-thriller Cave, a film boasting a number of local filmmakers including director Bruce Hunt. ...

Letter.(This Month in the News)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... Dear Editor, I read with great sadness of the death of Willi Kenrick in Encore this month (February). Further to Sally Gordon's obit. I would like to add some more impressions of a dear man. Willi forgot nothing. Knew everyone....

AFC amends co-pro Guidelines.(This Month in the News, Australian Film Commission)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Australian Film Commission (AFC) has overhauled its International Co-productions Guidelines, removing the restrictions on the originating country of a project's source work. In the past a project had to be based on an underlying work...

FFC backs 'the colony'.(This Month in the News, Hilton Cordell Productions)(Film Finance Corporation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Hilton Cordell Productions has received Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) funding to produce The Colony, a hybrid reality/history series that takes contemporary Australians, English and Irish to the world of their settler ancestors. ...

UK tax crisis casts doubt on Australian co-pros: UK legislation designed to stamp out tax avoidance could have major repercussions for Australian filmmakers working on Australian/UK co-productions.(This Month in the News, Australian movie industry)
March 1, 2004... On February 10 the UK's Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, eliminated equity film finance funds (frequently used to part-finance Australian/UK co-productions) as part of a wider effort to stamp out tax avoidance. The move sparked an...

New studios get 'Extra' boost.(This Month in the News, movie production, The Extra)
March 1, 2004... The Nine Films and Television/Macquarie Bank feature The Extra will be the first project to make use of the facilities of Central City Studios, the $110 million complex opening in Melbourne's Docklands next month. Kevin Carlin will direct...

'Wax' set for Queensland shoot.(This Month in the News, Wax 3-D)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Warner Roadshow Studios has secured a much-needed feature project in the shape of a remake of the 1953 horror movie House of Wax 3-D, which will be filmed entirely in Queensland. House of Wax has begun pre-production on the Gold Coast and...

Games command film industry's attention.(This Month in the News, video games)
March 1, 2004... The film and video game industries can learn a lot from each other, according to International Creative Management's Keith Boesky, who appeared as a keynote speaker at the X Media Lab Professional Day Conference held in Sydney on February 6....

Nemo' finds top spot at BO.(This Month in the News, box office, Finding Nemo)
March 1, 2004... 2003 won't be remembered as the best year for local films at the box office, however several films with antipodean connections helped steer the national box office to record returns, with takings up $20 million--or 2.5 percent--on the previous...

ScreenWest appoints new chair.(This Month in the News)(Debra Shorter, Andrew Ogilvie, Joan Peters, Ric Curtin)
March 1, 2004... Western Australia industry body ScreenWest has appointed board member Debra Shorter as its new chair in several changes to the agency's leadership. Shorter was appointed in February along with new board members: producer Andrew Ogilvie;...

Report identifies OS opportunities.(This Month in the News, movie industry)
March 1, 2004... The US and UK markets are still a potential market for buying stand-alone telemovies and miniseries, according to research conducted by Tony Virgo and commissioned by the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC). According to Virgo's...

McMillan rocks Global's world.(This Month in the News, Global Television Network)(Chris McMillan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Four years after leaving Global Television as its general manager, Chris McMillan has returned to head up the Sydney facility heralding the departure of several of the company's senior management and spearheading a move towards...

Serenity hooks talent.(News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The management of Sydney's Serenity Cove Studios has partnered with ex-Morrissey Management/Encompass talent agents Alan Wilson and David Sheridan as part of a strategy to link industry-related businesses. Marquee Management Serenity Cove...

Digital on DCITA agenda.(News, telecommunication services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Federal Minister for Communications Information Technology and the Arts, Daryl Williams has launched an Action Agenda for the Digital Content Industry, designed to "identify and remove impediments to growth" for the burgeoning sector.

Shock tunes with Rubber.(News, Rubber Records)(Shock Records)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Shock Records and Rubber Records have formed joint venture music supervision company Screen Services to service the film, television and advertising industries.

'Life Story' shoots in SA.(Production, South Australia)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Life Story, a feature written by first-time director Sarah Watt and produced by Bridget Ikin, has commenced pre-production at the South Australian Film Corporation's (SAFC) headquarters. The shoot will take place in Adelaide from March 15 until...

'3 Dollars' shoots in Vic.(Production, Victoria)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Robert Connolly's Three Dollars has commenced production in Melbourne with Australian actor Frances O'Connor, David Wenham and Sarah Wynter in the cast. Three Dollars is the first wholly Australian production from Becker Films International....

Peters joins SSE.(People Moves)(Stephen Peters joins Southern Star Endemol)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Stephen Peters is the new creative development director of Southern Star Endemol, responsible for the development of new and existing program formats for production in Australia and New Zealand. Peters was an executive producer at the Nine...

Hackwood consults QLD.(People Moves, Entertainment House Communications)(Kim Hackwood)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Showfilm's national business manager Kim Hackwood has left the company to establish her own marketing and communication consultancy. Entertainment House Communications, to service the tourism, film and entertainment industries.

Glasson upped at Kodak.(People Moves)(Sean Glasson)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Sean Glasson has been named the new general manager of Kodak Entertainment Imaging, Australia and New Zealand, after two years as national sales manager of the division, based in Sydney.

ProCam names new GM.(People Moves)(Geoff Cox)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Geoff Cox has been appointed general manager of Brisbane-based broadcast equipment and post production services supplier ProCam.

The US and OZ industries take time out to celebrate our talent.(La Insider, movie industry)
March 1, 2004... In late January this year, Australian x-pats and the Hollywood community came out in force to celebrate Australian success in the entertainment community at an exclusive black tie affair the night before the Golden Globe Awards. As part of...

Sophia's film loses something in the translation.(Rough Cut)(Movie Review)
March 1, 2004... The Golden Globe smasheroonie Lost In Translation got on my nerves a bit actually, in spite of its lovely central performances (Scarlett Johansson as fresh and luminous as the young Ingrid Bergman, Bill Murray as pocked and purged and funny-sad...

'Fergus' makes Burberry see do JBLE: the Burberry Productions series Fergus McPhail is the unofficial sequel to the award-wining The Wayne Manifesto and follows a 14-year old boy's exploits as he tackles the everyday dramas of adolescent life. Fiona Williams reports.(On Location, television programs)
March 1, 2004... When casting a series in which the title character has an alter ego with an inflated personality, it's a big ask to find a teenager with the dramatic range to pull off the two characters. It's an even bigger ask to cast a body double when the...

Emerging markets boost stocks: a more proactive industry and evolving media platforms have livened up the market for stock footage, David Hull reports.(Stock Footage)
March 1, 2004... Traditional stock footage libraries are increasingly finding their clients are coming from unexpected quarters. Not only are the established markets for stock material--film and television producers and ad agencies--pursuing footage for their...

Historic collection put online.(Stock Footage; film archives)
March 1, 2004... The Film Australia Library can now be accessed online thanks to Government funding and following an exhaustive cataloguing process, but it has been a long time coming according to Film Australia's chief executive Sharon Connolly. "It is...

Libraries on the upgrade path: footage posted on the web and preview clips sent electronically have made acquiring stock footage easier, but opinions differ over how stock libraries can best utilise this technology, David Hull reports.(Stock Footage; film archives)
March 1, 2004... Stock footage providers remain eager to update the technology they employ; with most recognising a need to incorporate digital means for ordering and delivery into their service. This added flexibility is attractive for the potential time...

Beyond the mainstream and into the high rise.(Stock Footage; Beyond Vision)
March 1, 2004... As an increasing number of footage libraries enter the marketplace, established services recognise the need to offer something more than a film library to maintain client levels. Beyond Vision recently provided customised footage for a...

Archives go on parade.(Stock Footage; film archives)
March 1, 2004... Documentary films continue to attract television networks and this means production companies are constantly on the look out for archival footage to lend weight to such projects. General manager of ABC Content Sales James Cuming confirms...

Things are looking up ... now for more incentives: there are positive signs for the production industry but studio operators say business would be even better if long-form television series were no longer excluded from the current tax rebate scheme, David Hull reports.(Studios; film and video production companies)
March 1, 2004... As Australia's studio capability reaches new levels, the industry is crying out not only for feature projects to utilise sound stages but, more crucially, for the tax incentives for foreign production to be extended to cover television series....

Guide to Australian studios.(Feature--Studios; film studios)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... Studio Location/ Dimensions contact Ancillary rooms ABC Productions NSW:...

Production: report.(Australian movie industry)
March 1, 2004... [section] partly shot obroad v change to listing [phi] 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.(Audience; Australian movie industry)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... australian box office [week ending: january 28, 2004] This Last % week week Film (Distributor) Weeks Total $ Change 1 (-) Along Came Polly...

Video rentals.(Audience; video recordings)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... video rentals [week ending: february 15, 2004] This Last Week Week Film (Distributor) 1 (-) Bad Boys 2 (Columbia TriStar Films Pty Ltd) 2 (-) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The (20th Century Fox) 3 (5)...

DVD rentals.(Audience; Digital Versatile Disc)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... DVD rentals [week ending: february 15, 2004] This Last Film (Distributor) Week Week 1 (-) Bad Boys 2 (Columbia) 2 (3) American Pie: The Wedding (Universal) 3 (1) Finding Nemo (Buena Vista) 4 ...

Calendar March 04.(Audience)
March 1, 2004... MIFF (DEADLINE) 19 Mar. In 2004, entries will compete for $35,000 in prize money. Films 30 minutes or less are eligible for entry in the International Short Film Competition with the exception of the documentary category which accepts...

ABC launches 'Our Boys'.(People; Australian Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... THE ABC HELD A LAUNCH FOR MAIDSTONE FILMS' OUR BOYS, A DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWING THE LIVES OF SEVERAL STUDENTS OF SYDNEY'S CANTERBURY BOYS HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS NOW AIRING IN THE BROADCASTER'S REALITY BITES DOCUMENTARY SERIES.

Industries converge in Sydney.(People; mass media industry)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... INTERACTION WAS HIGH ON THE AGENDA DURING THE SECOND X MEDIA LAB PROFESSIONAL DAY CONFERENCE HELD AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 6. PHOTOS BY DEBRA SYMONS.

In reality you're the next big thing: well connected industry columnist Harvey Shore keeps his ear close to the ground for the latest gossip doing the rounds at the major broadcasters.(Harvey's Hearsay)(cable television broadcasting industry)
March 1, 2004... Gore Vidal once said, "Never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television." Getting your face on TV--a seductive dream to millions--can be a path to instant fame and fortune. Thousands apply when a window of opportunity presents...