Encore Magazine articles from May 2006

Encore Magazine archives from May 2006

Editor's note.(funding for local televisions)(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... AT press time the May Budget is yet to be handed down and all eyes are on Canberra to see whether the industry's newfound unity translates into joy in the form of increased funding for the ABC or, for an idle international production services...

Five local features Cannes-bound.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... AUSTRALIA will have its highest level of feature film representation in the program of the Cannes Film Festival since 1986, with five local films selected to screen at this year's event. This year's feature selection marks a large increase...

Hughes acts as AFI CEO.(Jennifer Hughes of Macquarie Bank Ltd. joins Australian Film Institute as chief executive officer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Former Macquarie banker Jennifer Hughes will serve the role of acting CEO at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) until incoming CEO James Hewison takes up the position later in 2006. Hughes, who is also an AFI board member, quit her role as...

Campbell upped at SBS.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2006... SBS Television has promoted network programmer Matt Campbell to the new post of director of Television and Online Content as part of a restructured senior executive. Campbell will oversee all television and online content, except news and...

Pearce joins law firm.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2006... Janine Pearce has taken up a role at the law firm Nina Stevenson & Associates after eight years as legal manager at the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC). Pearce replaces Duncan Gordon and will act as legal adviser to local and foreign...

Film Vic awards McLean.(Greg McLean honored)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Film Victoria awarded director Greg McLean (Wolf Creek, Rogue) with its 2006 Greg Tepper Award at a gala function on April 20, at which CEO for Film Victoria Sandra Sdraulig also announced the recipients of Film Victoria's Short Film Fund for...

Becker stepping down.(Richard Becker resigns )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Becker Group chief executive Richard Becker will step down as managing director and CEO at the end of fiscal year 2005/06. Becker has been in the role for 21 years and said "the timing is right" for him to hand over the reins to the company's...

Speer joins aunty.(Australian Broadcasting Corp. appoints Ty Speer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ABC Enterprises has appointed Ty Speer to the role of general manager, ABC Consumer Publishing and Content Sales, effective June 19, 2006. Speer succeeds Grahame Grassby, who resigned in December 2005, and will report to ABC Enterprises...

AFTRS changes.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2006... The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has appointed Paul Remati as its new head of Television and Andy Lloyd James to role of head of its Centre for Research and Screen Studies. Previously head of Production and Planning for...

MIP rep down under.(Peter Rhodes visits Sydney and Melbourne )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Managing director Reed Midem UK and local representative for Cannes-based television events MIP TV and MIPCOM, Peter Rhodes will visit Australia from May 22-30. Rhodes will spend time in Sydney and Melbourne and encourages during his vist....

'Home Song' shoots in Melbourne.(movie by Tony Ayres)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Writer/director Tony Ayres' feature The Home Song Stories commenced production in Melbourne on April 18. Produced by Liz Watts and Michael McMahon, the film is a romantic drama about a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer struggling to survive...

Clarification.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... The contact number for ABC Resource Hire's Melbourne studio was incorrectly printed in Encore magazine's annual Guide to Australian Studios (March 2006 issue, page 33). The correct contact number for Melbourne clients to call is 02 8333 5794.

Ten programs a restructure.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... NETWORK Ten has revamped its programming team in a restructure that will see current general manager--network programming David Mott step away from day-to-day programming matters to focus on strategy and direction and hand over the reins to two...

Polson heading home for 'Two Fists'.(John Polson receives letter of intent from Film Finance Corp.)
May 1, 2006... DIRECTOR John Polson will return to Australia to make his next feature, one of four awarded a Letter of Intent at the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC)'s May board meeting. Produced by David Elfick, Polson's Two Fists One Heart tells...

AFI launches trailer to promote Oz films.(Australian Film Institute)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A CINEMA trailer designed to raise awareness of and encourage people to join the Australian Film Institute (AFI) will screen at selected cinemas and events over the next 12 months. Shot on Super 35mm and starring Australian actors John Jarrett...

Independent drama.
May 1, 2006... It's hard to keep a focus on industry issues when so much is happening around us. Media has been dominated lately by news of the deteriorating situation in Iraq, Iran's plans to go nucleur, West Papua and the Solomon Islands and "Dizzy's" 201...

Local producers drawn into digital rights stoush.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... THE BROADCASTING industry watchdog is "at least two to three years behind the eight ball" in its handling of multi-platform distribution models, a situation that puts Australian producers at odds with the rest of the world, alleged ReelTime...

ASTRA awards 'love' FOX 8.(Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... THE FOX 8 channel dominated this year's Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) Awards picking up seven awards including Most Outstanding Drama Series, which as expected went to Love My Way. The red carpet event...

'Richard' comes out on top.(Mick Elliott wins prize at the Cortoons Film Festival )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SYDNEY-based filmmaker Mick Elliott took out the international short film prize at the Cortoons Film Festival held in Rome this week with his claymation short Richard. The film won the 'International 1 to 4 minute film' category, and was...

BIFF sees black in 2006 with film noir focus.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... THE BRISBANE International Film Festival (BIFF) will run an extended program in 2006 with a series of free public screenings leading up to the official event. Now in its 15th year, the festival program will include free screenings every...

DENDY Films boards 'Last Train to Freo'.(movie by Jeremy Sims)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... DENDY Films has picked up director Jeremy Sims' debut feature Last Train to Freo for theatrical distribution in Australia and New Zealand. The first film to be produced under Screenwest's West Coast Visions initiative, Last Train to Freo is an...

Local TV blooms in Switzerland.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... TWO Australian programs have received the prestigious international television award, the Rose d'Or at a ceremony held in Lucerne, Switzerland on April 29. Kathy Drayton and Helen Bowden's documentary about urban Australian photographer...

'Down Under' bows out.(Down Under Studios sells the Sydney studio/production facility)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The dwindling demand for dry hire of studio space has been cited as the motivating factor for Down Under Studios managing director Don Spencer's decision to sell the Sydney studio/production facility. Spencer said the move was in line with the...

Edge doubles up in Sydney.(new facility of Cutting Edge Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Post production company Cutting Edge will next month open a second Sydney facility located in the Moore Park 'Entertainment Quarter' adjacent to Fox Studios Australia. According to Cutting Edge CEO John Lee, the new 250-square metre facility...

Towards new Hollywood in 2nd chance America.(ROUGH CUT)('A History of Violence')
May 1, 2006... One good reason why David Cronenberg's A History of Violence so engages the audience is Viggo Mortensen's face. It's absolutely identical, as it happens, with that of the orating, pure-hearted, perhaps dull-witted peasant in Norman Rockwell's...

Local agencies: sell Australia at Locations Expo.(Association of Film Commissioners International)
May 1, 2006... The annual Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI)--Location's Expo was held in Santa Monica, CA from April 7 to 9. Celebrating its 21st year, the annual event is one of the entertainment industry's longest running trade shows. ...

Industry mourns loss of a treasured talent: much admired feature film associate producer/line producer Barbi Taylor passed away in Darlington, Western Australia on March 24, 2006.(OBITUARY)
May 1, 2006... Barbi Taylor, film producer, had a passion for film. Her experience, garnered over the formative years of the revival of Australian films, was boundless as was her enthusiasm and love of the craft of filmmaking. Barbi revealed an understanding...

'Goodnight from him: the two Rogers call it a day; Beyond Simpson Le Mesurier is wrapping up a 25-year career with a dramatic mini-series, Fiona Williams reports.(PRODUCTION)
May 1, 2006... The lengthy partnership of 'The Two Rogers' (aka: Roger Simpson and Roger Le Mesurier) has created some 500 hours of local drama in its 25-year history. The duo's swansong is the three-hour mini-series Answered By Fire, which tackles the...

One wedding and a funeral: ABC telemovie Stepfather of the Bride forms part of a resurgence in quality local drama for free-to-air television. David Hull caught up with the filmmaking team alongside a Sydney Beach.(ON LOCATION)
May 1, 2006... It's a hard life alright. Despite a limited production budget of $2.2 million and a hectic 20-day shooting schedule to adhere to, the cast and crew of Stepfather of the Bride are hanging out at Sydney's Coogee Beach. Conveniently, though,...

Aussie filmmakers handed: 'keys to Aladdin's cave'; Zero-fee licenses and new online databases for stock footage are welcome news for a struggling industry. Phillip Cenere reports on the opportunities recent archival initiatives afford to producers.(FEATURE: STOCK FOOTAGE)(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... In a major effort to boost a cash-strapped documentary sector Film Australia has announced that it will abolish the license fess for its audio-visual collection from July 1, this year. The archive, which includes films produced by Film...

Production report.
May 1, 2006... 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 project goes into post...

Australia on show at Locations Expo.(Association of Film Commissioners International)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... AUSTRALIA WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE ASSOCIATION OF FILM COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL'S LOCATIONS EXPO (SEE PAGE 16). 1. Ausfilm's LA-based commissioner (and Encore columnist) Tracey Montgomery (left), with producer Melissa Beauford. 2....

'Enough Rope' chalks up a century.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2006... THE ENOUGH ROPE CREW CELEBRATED THE PROGRAM'S 100TH EPISODE ON APRIL 10. 1. Hip, hip, hooray: (From left) Enough Rope producer Jon Casimir with Andrew Denton, Denton's assistant Ursula Mellor, line producer Janny Biltoft and executive...

How to run a: pay TV channel; 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)
May 1, 2006... Wouldn't it be lover-ly having your own pay-TV channel! Ted Turner thought so 26 years ago when he launched CNN on the sniff of an oily rag. Last year, the media billionaire said, "Failure was not an option despite the fact that it was...