Encore Magazine articles from November 2007

Encore Magazine archives from November 2007

Offset offers options aplenty; The landmark producer rebate legislation is now in place and it's time to start incorporating it into funding applications. But be warned: there are exceptions to many of the rules.(Editorial)(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT HIS NEW VENTURE, AMPCO Films, producer Mario Andreacchio lamented that the current climate doesn't encourage 'volume' filmmaking; that by and large, the model of 'one film every three-or-four years' is what's been holding...

Duthie upped to head arts at Aunty: the senior management at the ABC continues apace with Amanda Duthie promoted from her executive producer role to head the broadcaster's Arts, Entertainment & Comedy Department.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... ABC TV HAS APPOINTED AMANDA DUTHIE as its new head of Arts, Entertainment & Comedy Duthie has been a commissioning editor and an executive producer for Arts, Entertainment & Comedy for the past four years and takes over the role from Courtney...

'Wolverine' hits Fox.(PRODUCTION)
November 1, 2007... WOLVERINE, A SPIN OFF FROM THE X-MEN franchise, will start shooting this month at Sydney's Fox Studios in Sydney. The Twentienth Century Fox film, estimated to have a budget of $150million-plus, is a prequel that aims to explore the origins of...

'Fabulous' doco explores drag duo.(DOCUMENTARY)(Mago Films)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... WA-BASED MAGO FILMS HAS CONCLUDED THE SHOOT OF ITS DOCUMENTARY THE FABULOUS FLAG Sisters and is now completing post production in Perth. Directed by Franco di Chiera, the SBS documentary explores the phenomenal popularity of Italy's drag trio...

Retransmission rights amount to $14.5m.(BUSINESS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... SCREENRIGHTS, THE NON-PROFIT collection society, has announced that it will be administering royalties worth $14.5 million on behalf of its members generated by retransmission rights between 2001 and 2007. Screenrights chief Simon Lake...

'Romulus' and 'Home Song' lead AFI nominations: Richard Roxburgh's Romulus, My Father leads the charge to next month's AFI Awards with 15 nominations. But unlike in previous years, there's no clear frontrunner.(AWARDS)
November 1, 2007... THE HOME SONG STORIES, LUCKY MILES, Noise and Romulus, My Father will vie for the accolade of best film at this year's Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, which will take place in Melbourne next month. Romulus, My Father and The Home...

Cameron takes reins of Aurora channel.(IN BRIEF)(Aurora Community Channel)(Fiona Cameron)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Australian Film, Radio and Television School (AFTRS) director and former general manager of Nova in Sydney and Melbourne, Fiona Cameron, will be acting chief executive officer of Aurora Community Channel until February 2008. Cameron is taking...

Saville, Stenders bag directing gongs.(IN BRIEF)(Matt Saville)(Kriv Stenders)(Australian Directors Guild )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Matt Saville and Kriv Stenders were the big winners at the inaugural Australian Directors Guild (ADG) Awards, which took place in Sydney on October 13. The event was held as part of the ADG's inaugural conference, and was the first to take...

Helmers get down to business: the Australian Directors Guild conference offered an engaging blend of craft and business discussions. Fiona Williams reports.(ADG: EVENT REPORT)(Conference news)
November 1, 2007... THERE WAS A CELEBRATORY FEEL TO THE FIRST ANNUAL Australian Directors Guild conference (well, the first to be held under its new name, anyway), and an eagerness on the part of organisers to spread the word about the renewed energy of the...

Brown sets the record straight: SBS managing director Shaun Brown has borne the brunt of criticism about the decision to introduce advertising in programming. He attempts to set the record straight.(Dialogue: SHAUN BROWN)(Interview)
November 1, 2007... SBS MANAGING DIRECTOR SHAUN BROWN HAS BEEN called many things: "controversial", "devious", and, somewhat snidely, as someone who "might have a bit of difficulty running a bath [much less a TV station]" (The Australian, June 8, 2006). He's the...

Sydney fest talks cyber distribution; The growing number of filmmakers contemplating the use of the internet as a means to exhibit their work is giving rise to a new buzzword: the 'Cyber-Born' Film. Peter Galvin reports on the phenomenon.(FESTIVAL)
November 1, 2007... ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL distribution and exhibition models will provide part of the focus for the Destination Film Festival, which will be held over three consecutive weekends at Sydney's CarriageWorks arts space from November 24. Critic...

Mystery abounds in 'Emerald Falls': writer/producers Tim Pye and Cathy Strickland have tapped into the mystery of Sydney's historic Blue Mountains in their Network Ten telemovie, Emerald Falls. Fiona Williams reports.(On Location: EMERALD FALLS)
November 1, 2007... ON A MID-WINTER'S DAY AT A RUSTIC B & B IN SYDNEY'S BLUE MOUNTAINS, THE festive occasion of a South American couple's wedding (complete with colourful frocks, salsa dancing and a roasting pig-on-a-spit), is interrupted by a police chase and an...

A cold study of Vengeance: Bob Ellis takes a look at the Brave One and Pierrepoint; Each film deftly explores the justification for serial killing but presents a vastly different take on the controversial subject.(Rough Cut: REVIEW)
November 1, 2007... THIS MONTH: THE BRAVE ONE (DIRECTOR NEIL JORDAN, PRODUCERS SUSAN DOWNEY AND JOEL SILVER); PIERREPOINT (DIRECTOR ADRIAN SHERGOLD, PRODUCER CHRISTINE LANGAN); ONCE (DIRECTOR JOHN CARNEY, PRODUCER MARTINA NILAND) AND DEATH AT A FUNERAL...

Delegation promotes Oz rebates: Ausfilm's Tracey Vieira reports on the latest delegation to Hollywood which focused on promoting Australia's recently introduced Location and producer rebates.(LA Insider: DELEGATION)
November 1, 2007... AUSFILM ARRANGED A DELEGATION OF AUSTRALIANS, led by the Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator the Hon. George Brandis, to Los Angeles in September to raise awareness about the changes to the Australian film and television incentive...

MIPCOM headliners seek risky business: business models for content distribution are being reevaluated as new platforms emerge, European correspondent Julian Newby reports from the MIPCOM content market.(Euro Insider: TV MARKET)
November 1, 2007... MIPCOM BOSS PAUL JOHNSON ANNOUNCED record attendance on the event's penultimate day--which may surprise those who take the view that corporate consolidation coupled with audience fragmentation are conspiring to kill off not just such events but...

Phones run hot with offset queries: Screen Producers Association of Australia Executive Director Geoff Brown provides an update on the organisations activities relating to the implemntation of the new producers offset.(Above The Line: BUSINESS)
November 1, 2007... AFTER THE LONG FIGHT TO GET A GOOD DEAL FOR independent producers in the new tax legislation, we are now coming to terms with the complexities of the Producer Offset Producers will need to be across all aspects of the legislation and be ready...

Kiwis hold steady with hopes for resurgence: in what is a crucial period for the New Zealand screen sector, all eyes are on the Film Commission to see if it can renew the past momentum of local feature production. David Hull reports.(New Zealand: FEATURE)
November 1, 2007... WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NZ INDUSTRY SUBDUED IN THEIR fervour for the current production climate, it's fair to say opinion is mixed as to the current state of the country's screen sector. At the same time as overseas (i.e. US and Asian) film...

Rebate to the fore at SPAA 07: this month's 2007 SPAA Conference is much awaited for the opportunities it will provide for those seeking clarification and guidance relating to the Government's recent tax changes.(SPAA: EVENT PREVIEW)(Screen Producers Association of Australia )(Conference news)
November 1, 2007... THE ANNUAL SCREEN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (SPAA) Conference comes around at a time when Australian producers are one and all attempting to get their heads around the ins and outs of the newly-announced Producer Rebate and so the...

New opportunities: Tracey Prisk speaks to SPAA's international keynote speakers, Rex Wong and Wayne Garvie, about online distribution and format TV.(SPAA: EVENT PREVIEW)(Screen Producers Association of Australia )
November 1, 2007... AUSTRALIAN PRODUCERS SHOULD BE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT internet distribution in order to grow their business, according to Rex Wong, the founder of US-based multiplatform distribution company DAVE Networks who is speaking at this month's Screen...

Keeping on your toes.(SPAA: EVENT PREVIEW)(Screen Producers Association of Australia)(Conference notes)
November 1, 2007... BBC WORLDWIDE DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND PRODUCTION WAYNE Garvie admits that picking successful formats is no easy task. Despite having helped develop the Dancing With the Stars format, the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA)...

FTO seeks Aurora applicants.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... The New South Wales Film and Television Office (FTO) is inviting applications for the next Aurora script workshop from any genre, with preference going to filmmakers with a released film to their credit Aurora has one round per year, which...

Young filmmakers to pitch at AIDC.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... A documentary pitching competition entitled 'Document Your World' will be held during the 2008 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), to be held in Fremantle from February 20-22. Those aged 12-18 will have the opportunity to...

'Stormworld' set to rage in 2008.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Western Australia's Great Western Entertainment (GWE) will commence production on new kids/family sci-fi series Stormworld early 2008, as a coproduction between Canada, Singapore and Australia. Brightlight Pictures of Vancouver will co-produce...

Family-friendly films high on Andreacchio's agenda: producer Mario Andreacchio has launched a new production studio with a focus on making family-friendly films. He speaks to Fiona Williams about the venture.(Script: BUSINESS)
November 1, 2007... THE PRODUCER OFFSET COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A better time for Mario Andreacchio. The Adelaide-based producer had spent the past five years trying to get private sector backing for his plans to establish a film production studio for distinctive,...

Merewether tackles solo motherhood on screen: the SBS documentary Maverick Mother is filmmaker (and new mother) Janet Merewether's most personal project to date. Peter Galvin reports.(Shoot: MAVERICK MOTHER)
November 1, 2007... A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FILMMAKER JANET Merwether (Jabe Babe) decided to have a baby Hardly a controversial act, the decision for her, as she tells it, was dramatic and it came with a few distinct problems: she was without a partner and at 39,...

O'Flaherty makes directorial debut.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Filming is underway on writer/director Dean O'Flaherty's new feature Beautiful, a suburban drama that delves into the secrets and lies lurking beneath the surface of everyday life. The film stars Deborra-Lee Furness and Peta Wilson. O'Flaherty...

Lake wrestles with WWE Films GIG.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Fomrer Warner Roadhosw Studios president Michael Lake has been hired as president of World Wrestling Entertainment's WWE Films division, a role he has accepted with a stated wish to produce more films in Australia. Lake is a 36-year veteran of...

Xytech appoints Digistor local rep.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Equipment reseller Digistor has been named the local distributor of Xytech Enterprise software in Australia and New Zealand. Xytech manufactures business software for media operations including business workflow management, resource scheduling,...

The Lab recruits another compositor.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Eric Schaechter has joined The Lab Sydney as the facility's senior compositor. Schaechter joins the Ominlab Group post house having moved from Germany where he was most recently working as senior Flame artist for Deli Pictures Postproduction,...

Walshe joins Chyron as sales director.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... New Zealand-born industry veteran Richard Walshe has joined broadcast graphics systems provider Chyron as director of sales, where he will be responsible for growing the company's client base in Europe, Asia and the Middle East Walshe has over...

'Cactus' team come to grips with HD myths: the team behind the feature Cactus have emerged from the post suite wiser about the intricacies of shooting with high definition cameras. Fiona Williams reports.(Sync: CACTUS)
November 1, 2007... THE FACT THAT ONLY A HANDFUL OF AUSTRALIAN features have been shot using high definition (HD) cameras may go some way to explain the many myths about HD acquisition that abound, not least the belief that it is a much "cheaper" way to make...

'Mortified' nominated for Emmy Award.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Australian children's series Mortified is in the running for an international Emmy Award, in the Children and Young people category The series is the only Australian program to be nominated for the awards, which will take place in a ceremony in...

Hoodlum takes MIPCOM Mobile TV honours.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... Hoodlum's Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield took out a prize in the MIPCOM Mobile TV Awards, which were held at the MIPCOM content market in Cannes, in October Hoodlum's Emmedale Online Channel won the category of Best short form audiovisual...

NFSA offers indigenous fellowship.(IN BRIEF)
November 1, 2007... The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is calling for indigenous Australian researchers and creative practitioners to apply for an Indigenous Research Fellowship. The fellowship is to engage with the NFSA's collection and contribute to...

Europe debates 3D's merits as the saviour of cinema: the migration to digital exhibition was a hot topic at this year's IBC trade show in Amsterdam. Stuart Finlayson gives the European perspective on the debate.(Screen: DIGITAL CINEMA)
November 1, 2007... THE D-CINEMA Q & A AT IBC PROMISED TO BE A LIVELY affair, what with the studios and exhibitors currently embroiled in disputes over the migration to digital, revolving primarily around who should pay for it and what the timescale should be. It...

Doing things by the book: if you choose to base your story on a fact, you need to bear in mind the legal ramifications of your decision. Janine Pearce explains.(Legal: ADAPTING NON-FICTION)
November 1, 2007... YOU HAVE JUST READ A BRILLIANT BOOK, WHICH IS A FACTUAL account of the 2005 Cronulla Riots, and you are inspired to make a film version. Your film, however, will focus on the love story that emerges between the fictional characters of Stacey,...

Listings.(Production Report)
November 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 projects in post production...

The upside of the brain drain: David Gyngell's return to nine proves the theory that a stint overseas never hurts one's resume. He's one of many of Australians returning home to plum jobs, says Harvey Shore.(Hearsay: EMPLOYMENT)
November 1, 2007... LAST MONTH, DAVID GYNGELL RETURNED AS CEO OF Nine, his reputation all aglitter from a stint as CEO of Granada Television USA, bringing with him a glittering prize--the TV rights to the 2010 Montreal Winter and 2012 London Summer Olympics. ...