A news filled red alert lands in your inbox this week with details about the swag of AACTA nominations for AFTRS alumni, some early Oscar buzz for Cate Shortland and the lowdown on the latest pop-up radio station, NEXT FM, which is live on air now.  We also have Kimble Rendall joining us to talk about his soon to be released second feature Bait 3D at Friday on My Mind this week plus a great selection of AFTRS OPEN short courses inside…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND

Every Friday at 5pm AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry to discuss ideas and topics of relevance. So why not wind up your week with some food for the mind…

This week Friday September 14: Hooking Up with Bait 3D & Kimble Rendall

Writer, director and musician Kimble Rendall has made his filmmaking name as second unit director on big budget fare like Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, I, Robot, Casanova and Ghost Rider and has a swag of Aussie rock music video directing credits to his name (A Rolling Stone poll, saw Kimble voted Australia’s top music video director). Musically, he goes by the name ‘Dag Rattler’ in the punk rock band XL Capris, and he was a founding member of the Hoodoo Gurus.

On a roll, Kimble – who has recently signed on to direct the $25 million action-thriller Blowback, written by Brian Trenchard-Smith due to be filmed in Sydney next year – sees his second feature Bait 3D theatrically released this month after screening at Venice. A genre hybrid: horror/action/thriller, Bait 3D sees a battle between two massive great white sharks and a handful of shoppers all trapped in a submerged coastal Australian supermarket in the aftermath of a tsunami.

Kimble will discuss the lure of the shark thriller, the challenges of shooting in 3D and his ascending directing career.

BONUS: The session will be followed by a special preview screening of BAIT 3D at 6:30pm at Hoyts EQ, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

- Guest: Kimble Rendell

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm

AFTRS Theatre 1
Doors open 5pm.
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

AFTRS PEOPLE & AACTA AWARD FEATURE FILM NOMINATIONS

24 Feature Films are in contention for the 2nd AACTA awards and seven are the work of AFTRS alumni. The list of nominated films by AFTRS graduates is as follows:

- 33 Postcards – Directed/co-written by Pauline Chan (BA Directing, 1991), Music: Antony Partos (BA Sound, 1991)

- Dead Europe – the feature length directorial debut for Tony Krawitz (MA Directing, 2001) 


- The King is Dead – Director/Producer: Rolf de Heer (Graduate Diploma Directing, 1980), Editor: Tania Nehme (Editing, 1991)

- Lore – Directed /co-written by Cate Shortland (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2000) with Sam Petty (Sound 1992 and Editing 1991) as Sound Designer

- Mental – Director/Writer: PJ Hogan (Graduate Diploma Screenwriting, 1984), Producer: (one of a team of  seven ) Jocelyn Moorhouse (Graduate Certificate Directing, 1984), Music: Michael Yezerski (Graduate Certificate Screen Music, 2001)

- Not Suitable for Children – Director: Peter Templeman (MA Directing, 2005), Writer: Michael Lucas (MA Screenwriting, 2006), Music: Matteo Zingales (Graduate Diploma Screen Music, 2004), Editor: Matthew Walker (MA Editing, 2005), Production Design: Elizabeth Mary Moore (Production Design, 1997)

- The Sapphires – Directed by Wayne Blair (Indigenous Fellow, 2006/2007),  Cinematography Warwick Thornton – (BA Cinematography, 1996), Production Design Melinda Doring  (MA Production Design, 1998), Dialogue Editor Bronwyn Murphy (Graduate Diploma Sound, 1983), Assistant Sound Editor Jared Dwyer (MA Sound, 2007)

- Toomelah – Director/Writer/Cinematographer/Editor: Ivan Sen (BA Directing, 1998)

- Storm Surfers 3D is also nominated for a Best Feature Length Documentary  and was co-written by Chris Nelius (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2003) and also saw Michael Yezerski (Graduate Certificate Screen Composition, 2001) score the music while Liam Egan (BA Sound, 1987) worked as the Sound Designer alongside fellow sound alumni Glenn Finnan (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2005) as Sound Recordist and Simon Alberry (MA Digital Media, 2001) as Data Manager

Good luck to all at the upcoming awards

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

GRADUATE NEWS

On Friday, last week, some great news for AFTRS alumni Cate Shortland (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2000) was released with the announcement that Cate’s latest feature Lore has been selected as the Australian entry for consideration for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards.

Lore is Cate’s second feature length film (after her debut Somersault, which dominated the 2004 AFI Awards winning a record 13 awards), and is German-Australian co-production. Lore  is also nominated for an AACTA (see story above).

Lore, will be released in Australia this week after its North American premiere yesterday at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The final Academy Award® nominations will be announced on January 15, 2013, with the awards presented on February 24.

Fingers crossed for Cate to be officially nominated.

Meanwhile AFTRS alum Paola Morabito (MA Directing, 2006) has just seen her latest short film I’m The One, executive-produced by her mentor and fellow AFTRS alumni Jane Campion (Graduate Diploma Directing, 1984) screen in the official line-up of the 69th Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonto category, which showcases new trends in world cinema.

Paola received funding for I’m the One from Screen NSW as part of the Emerging Filmmakers Fund and we read that the characters and the situation of the film came to her in a dream so vivid it woke her during the night. The following morning, she immediately put pen to paper to begin writing the script. I’m the One tells the story of 17-year-old Wolfe who rejects his father’s invitation for a boy’s night out and is left to confront his overwhelming and forbidden lust for his father’s new girlfriend.

The 69th Venice International Film Festival, ran in Venice Lido from August 29 to September 8.

Congratulations Paola

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

NEXT FM ‘POPS UP’ ON THE AIR

The 2012 crop of AFTRS Graduate Diploma Commercial Radio Broadcasting students are live on-air now right through until Friday September 21 on NEXT FM, a pop-up radio station targeting the youth demographic.

You can listen now via www.nextfm.aftrs.edu.au and from this Friday you can also tune in on 100.7FM in western Sydney.

Calls are welcome on [02] 98056688 to share an opinion or maybe even take away a prize.

Once NEXT FM, wraps the students will head out on work attachment at radio stations around the country and most, if not all, will be working in the industry within a month or two.

Image:  Photo of Cate and the star of Lore at the Toronto International Film Festival. Image found on the official TIFF website

It’s officially Spring which means AFTRS courses for 2013 are open for applications as of September 1 and our big fat OPEN DAYS are happening this weekend. So swing on by to find out more about 2013 courses or just to have a look around one of the world’s top film schools. For Friday on My Mind lovers you will be delighted to know that Richard Roxburgh and Peter Duncan join us this week to discuss their long-time creative collaboration as well as the criminally good Rake. Full details are inside this week’s edition of Red Alert plus lots, lots more…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND

Every Friday at 5pm AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry to discuss ideas and topics of relevance. So why not wind up your week with some food for the mind…

This week Friday September 7: Criminally Good TV – Peter Duncan & Richard Roxburgh

Stepping up for the second season Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh the co-creators of Rake return to the murky legal waters and self-destructive domestic chaos of onscreen antihero, Sydney barrister Cleaver Greene. Season 1 earned Richard a Logie for ‘Most Outstanding Actor’, and an AWGIE Award for Peter.

With extensive feature film runs on the board as a writer, director and producer, including Children of the Revolution, A Little Bit of Soul, and the AFI and IF Award winning drama Unfinished Sky Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh – one of Australia’s most sought after stage and screen actors – will join us to discuss the trials and tribulations of their ongoing creative collaborations, and what it takes to return for a second season of criminally good TV.

Guests:

- Peter Duncan
- Richard Roxburgh

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm.

AFTRS Theatre 1
FREE
Doors open 5pm 
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

AFTRS OPENS ITS DOORS SEPTEMBER 8 & 9

Australia’s national screen arts and broadcast school – recently voted as one of the top 20 film school’s in the world by The Hollywood Reporter (August 3, 2012) – opens its doors just once a year and this weekend is your chance to drop in

What you can see and do:

- Talk to AFTRS lecturers and teachers
- Check out a live ‘Next FM’ radio simulation broadcast
- Watch live TV interviews in progress
- Check out the state-of-the-art facilities
- Watch a combined VFX/cinematography/ demo
- See the AFTRS mix theatre in action
- See & hear how a Foley recording studio works
- Get a feel for what its like to be a student at Australia’s national
screen arts and broadcast School
- Listen to info sessions delivered by Heads of Department
- Find out how to prepare your 2013 AFTRS application
- Talk to Student Services about FEE-HELP
- Check out the AFTRS Library

Plus lots more…

No need to book, just come along!

Saturday, September 8: 10am – 3pm
Sunday, September 9: 10am – 3pm

Full details & directions: aftrs.edu.au/opendays

Also from September 1- November 1 this year, all AFTRS 2013 courses are live and open to prospective students to apply in subjects including: Foundation,3D animation, cinematography, costume design, directing, documentary, editing, producing, production design, screen business, screen culture, screen music, screenwriting, sound, radio and visual effects.

Entry into all AFTRS courses is by merit selection. The full list of courses on offer for 2013 is available to view at aftrs.edu.au/awardcourses

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

Toronto International Film Festival

Well done to the creative teams behind Dead Europe, Lore, The Sapphires, Satelite Boy, Storm Surfers 3D and Underground on their selection at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which included the work of a raft of AFTRS alumni as follows:

The Sapphires which incidentally is doing gangbusters at the local box office is the output of the following fantastic people with an AFTRS connection:  Wayne Blair (Indigenous Fellow, 2006/2007), Warwick Thornton – Cinematography (BA Cinematography, 1996), Melinda Doring – Production Design (MA Production Design, 1998), Sue Kerr  – Boom Swinger (Sound, 1983), Bronwyn Murphy – Dialogue Editor (Graduate Diploma Sound, 1983), Jared Dwyer  – Assistant Sound Editor (MA Sound, 2007), Tara Webb – Sound Attachment (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2011) with recent graduate Cornel Ozies (Graduate Diploma Cinematography, 2011) completing a cinematography attachment during the shoot.

Lore – Directed /co-written by Cate Shortland (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2000) also saw Sam Petty (Sound, 1992 and Editing, 1991) get in on the act as the Sound Designer.

While Dead Europe – is the feature length directorial debut for Tony Krawitz (MA Directing, 2001) on the back of award winning shorts and docos.

Satellite Boy – Directed/Written by Catriona McKenzie (MA Directing, 2001 and Screenwriting, 1996) also saw Sam Hobbs (MA Design, 2002) take on the Production Designer role with Liam Egan (BA Sound, 1987) as Sound Designer and Simon Alberry  (MA Digital Media, 2001) as the Data Manager.

Storm Surfers 3D - Co-written by Chris Nelius (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2003) saw Michael Yezerski (Graduate Certificate Screen Composition, 2001) score the music and Liam Egan (BA Sound, 1987) working as the Sound Designer alongside Glenn Finnan  (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2005) as Sound Recordist with Simon Alberry (MA Digital Media, 2001) again as Data Manager.

Underground is the latest Directing/Co-writing credit from prolific AFTRS alumnus Robert Connolly (BA Producing, 1995) and the Matchbox Pictures team and explores the early life of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his gang – ‘the International Subversives’ – as they try to hack the world’s most impenetrable computers. Tony Ayres (Screenwriting, 1990) was on board as EP along with Andrew Commis (MA Cinematography, 1999) as cinematographer, Andy Canny (MA Editing, 2001) as editor and the irrepressible Melinda Doring (MA Design, 1998) as Production Designer.

We hear it is uncommon for a film produced for television to be included in TIFF so quite an achievement, all round. Underground is set to screen on Australian free-to-air screens later this year.

Congratulations to all.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

YouTube & AFTRS ‘Star In a Day’; FREE Workshop this Weekend

As we mentioned last week YouTube and AFTRS have joined forces to exclusively present a special FREE One-Day workshop specifically for 16 -18 year old new media creators keen to create an impression in the YouTube space.

AFTRS highly credentialed teaching staff will lead sessions on the day at Google HQ in Sydney along with YouTube sensations Christiaan and Nick from Bondi Hipsters.

With just a few places left for the September 8 workshop jump over to the AFTRS website now to find out how to book a place. First in best dressed.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

GRADUATE NEWS

Two good news items made their way to the stayconnected inbox over the past week from alumni Sam McKeith and Natalie Palomo:

Sam McKeith (Graduate Diploma Screenwriting, 2011) dropped us a line to let us know that he and his brother fellow AFTRS graduate Tom McKeith (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2010) have just had their short Rain, which they co-wrote, directed and produced, selected for the 2012 Telluride Film Festival screening as part of the Filmmakers of Tomorrow program that showcases the work of emerging directors from around the world. And as is often the case, fellow AFTRS grad’s Josh Flavell (Graduate Diploma Cinematography, 2010) and Alan Harca (Graduate Diploma Editing, 2010) teamed up with Sam and Tom to bring this short to the screen.

Nice work Tom, Sam and team!

Meanwhile the lovely Natalie Palomo (MA Producing, 2007) shared the good news that she has just been accepted into the Binger Filmlab for Creative Producers, with her feature film project entitled The Last Publican. A four-month program that runs in Amsterdam Natalie will commence her lab experience in October finishing with Cinemart at Rotterdam. Natalie points out  “It’s a great follow up from our other feature The Killer Within which has just completed the Aurora Scriptwriting workshop over the last year, and is currently being financed.”

Needless to say Natalie and her team are quite excited and so they should be!

Image: Creative from AFTRS 2012 ‘Courses Open’ campaign

Spring is in the air, which means applications are about to open for AFTRS 2013 courses in a matter of days. With a fantastic selection of courses on offer for next year the window of opportunity will only be open for a short time so make the most of the upcoming Open Days on September 8 & 9 and get to work on your creative portfolio. This week’s Red Alert also includes details about Friday on My Mind with director Peter Templeman joining us to delve into his debut feature Not Suitable for Children, plus an exclusive opportunity for 16 -18 year olds thanks to YouTube and AFTRS. Full details and more are inside…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND

Every Friday at 5pm AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry to discuss ideas and topics of relevance. So why not wind up your  week with some food FREE fuel for the mind…

This week Friday August 31: Not Suitable for Children – Peter Templeman

Peter Templeman, has garnered 38 awards all up for his short films, including an Academy Award nomination in 2007 for his AFTRS short The Saviour and has also worked extensively in television, directing shows that include, Dead Gorgeous, Bogan Pride and the BAFTA nominated episode of Lockie Leonard: Ladder of Love.

This year Peter saw the release of first feature Not Suitable for Children – written by fellow AFTRS alumni Michael Lucas, which just picked up the AWGIE in the Original Feature Film category. Not Suitable for Children was a five-year labour of love for Peter who will share how he found the experience of directing his first feature-length film, as well as what it takes to direct an urban-comedy in an Australian context.*

- Guest: Peter Templeman

* Includes screening of Not Suitable for Children after the session

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm.

AFTRS Theatre 1
FREE
Doors open 5pm 
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

2013 Courses Open for applications THIS Saturday, September 1

Just a couple of days to go until AFTRS applications open up for 2013 and full details about each course are live on the AFTRS website.

In the meantime following is the list of the offerings for 2013 and a link to bookmark so you can jump straight to the course you would love to apply for on September 1.

UNDERGRADUATE:
- Foundation Diploma

POSTGRADUATE:
- Graduate Certificate in 3D Animation
- Graduate Certificate in Cinematography Fundamentals
- Graduate Certificate in Costume Design
- Graduate Certificate in Directing Fundamentals
- Graduate Certificate in Documentary Fundamentals
- Graduate Certificate in Editing Drama
- Graduate Certificate in Screen Culture
- Graduate Certificate in Screen Music
- Graduate Certificate in Story Development & Screenwriting Fundamentals
- Graduate Certificate in Visual Effects

- Graduate Diploma in Cinematography
- Graduate Diploma in Directing
- Graduate Diploma in Documentary
- Graduate Diploma in Editing
- Graduate Diploma in Producing
- Graduate Diploma in Production Design
- Graduate Diploma in Radio
- Graduate Diploma in Screen Business
- Graduate Diploma in Screen Music
- Graduate Diploma in Screenwriting
- Graduate Diploma in Sound 

MASTERS PROGRAMS
- Master of Screen Arts
- Master of Screen Arts & Business

aftrs.edu.au/awardcourses

AFTRS OPEN DAYS coming up on September 8 & 9 [10am-3pm both days] are the best way to find out everything you need to know about applying for an AFTRS 2013 course and the ins-and outs of studying at Australia’s national screen arts and broadcast School…so save the date.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

YOUTUBE ‘STAR IN A DAY’ Workshop, Sunday September 9

YOUTUBE and AFTRS and have joined forces to exclusively present a special FREE One-Day workshop specifically for 16 -18 year old new media creators who; want to start generating YouTube content but don’t know where to start, are already on YouTube and looking to build an audience, want to know about trends, collaboration and analytics.

AFTRS and Christiaan and Nick from Bondi Hipsters will host sessions on the day. With just 80 places available get in fast and book your spot – because it’s first in best dressed.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

ALUMNI NEWS: AWGIES, Showfest and the Montreal World Film Festival

The 45th Annual AWGIE Awards were held on Friday evening in Sydney and AFTRS is delighted to share the news that alumnus Michael Lucas (MA Screenwriting, 2006) scooped up two AWGIE Awards on the night, one for Not Suitable For Children – also directed by fellow AFTRS alumni Peter Templeman (MA Directing, 2005) – in the Feature Film Original category and another for Offspring: Episode 206 in the Television Series category. Michael, who wrote NSFC with his own cancer scare in mind, returned from climbing Mount Killimanjaro to collect his awards, we hear.

The team of writers comprising; Emily Ballou, Alice Bell, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrksa and AFTRS alumnus Cate Shortland (Directing 2000) behind the compelling television mini series adaption of The Slap picked up an award, as did AFTRS Screen Culture lecturer Mike Jones, for Best Unproduced Screenplay. Congratulations to all 30 winners across all categories.

This week news also rolled in about short film The Secret Life of Objects made by AFTRS Animation Directing graduate Nathan Jones (Graduate Certificate Animation Directing, 2010). Developed during his time at AFTRS, the short just won top honors at the ShowFEST short film festival against a large field of entries.

Meanwhile Liz Cooper (Graduate Certificate Directing, 2010) dropped us a line to share the good news about her short film Grace also made during her time at AFTRS, which is screening right now at the Montreal World Film Festival in the Focus on World Cinema section.

As is so often the case Liz connected with fellow AFTRS students and graduates to make the short a reality which features the work of Adam Howden (Graduate Diploma Cinematography, 2006), Danielle Boesenberg (Graduate Diploma Editing, 2010), Paradox Delilah (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2009), Peter Climpson (Graduate Diploma Sound, 2010) demonstrating how powerful the connections and relationships made at AFTRS are.

Congratulations all.

Image: Still from Not Suitable for Children. Found online.

Lots of great news fills out this week’s edition of Red Alert including a huge list of Radio alumni nominated for a 2012 ACRA, details about the fourth installment in the ongoing FREE Sound Byte events at AFTRS and some genuinely excellent accomplishments from recent alumni Alex Murawski and James Raue.

As always we also have full details on Friday on My Mind, which sees a trio from team 
Blue-Tongue join us this week to dissect their ideas and approach to short filmmaking.

So dig around and enjoy the news, events and courses currently on offer at AFTRS!

We love to receive and share news so drop us a line: stayconnected@aftrs.edu.au

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND

Every Friday at 5pm AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry to discuss ideas and topics of relevance. So why not wind up your working week with some food for the mind…

This week Friday August 17: Mastering the art of the short – Luke Doolan, Drew Bailey & Matthew Dabner*

After securing an Academy Award nomination for their 2009 short Miracle Fish, Blue-Tongue filmmakers Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey have returned to the short format teaming up with screenwriter Matthew Dabner (whose credits include Nash Edgerton’s atmospheric neo-noir feature The Square). Cryo is a parallel story to the team’s upcoming feature Cargo; and has been designed to entice, yet also be more than just a trailer. In the trios eyes Cryo is a stepping stone to bigger things with the main goal being to get some runs on the board at festivals and hopefully entice some financiers along the way for Cargo.

Luke, Drew and Matthew will talk about their SFX learning curve, short filmmaking and the value of crafting a ‘proof of concept’ for a feature.

Guests:

- Luke Doolan
- Drew Bailey
- Matthew Dabner

* Includes a screening of Cryo after the session at 6pm

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm.

AFTRS Theatre 1
FREE
Doors open 5pm 
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

Sir David Attenborough, AFTRS & A Life on Earth

Rachel Landers Head of Documentary at AFTRS shares a fantastic documentary moment…

A little while ago AFTRS was approached by the producer of Sir David Attenborough’s A Life on Earth live show – set to tour Australia in August – resulting in the current crop of seven Graduate Diploma Documentary students shooting material for inclusion in the show about the impact that Sir David’s work has had on them as filmmakers (all shot against a rear projection of the slo-mo iconic footage of Sir David interacting with gorillas in the forests of Rawanda)

It turned out that the producers loved the material supplied by AFTRS’ future docomakers so much that they invited them all to meet the great man himself.

We arrived at the State Theatre in pelting rain and were escorted to the stage where excerpts from the show were being played.

Then he appeared and it was an ‘OMG moment’. Sir Attenborough was thoroughly charming and gave each student a hard bound copy of his new book Drawn From Paradise each with a personal inscription inside.

So not only did our students appear in the show that is touring nationally (with a credit) they also get bragging rights to say, ‘They met David Attenborough up close and personal’.

Big thanks must also go to Cinematography student Phillip Charles and Sound student Gareth Evans who both assisted to prepare the material (with credits).”

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

Latest Alumni News

Good news from the festival circuit with word just in that AFTRS 2010 Short: Kiss directed/written by Alex Murawski (Graduate Diploma Directing, 2010) has been accepted into the 28th FESTROIA International Film Festival in Portugal, running in September.

Congratulations Alex!

We also heard from James Raue (Graduate Diploma Screenwriting, 2011) who shared the exciting news that his comedy screenplay, The Worst Way To Make Fifty Grand is a quarter finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting – an international screenwriting competition established to identify and encourage talented new screenwriters that is run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This is a fantastic achievement and we wish James all the best.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

Sound Bytes # 4: The Sapphires, August 21

The Sound department at AFTRS is delighted to present the next edition in the ongoing series of free Sound Bytes events: Showcasing the sound on the new Australian feature The Sapphires.

The recently released Australian feature The Sapphires combines comedy, heart and romance with an unbeatable soul music soundtrack, all set against the racial and social upheaval of the late 1960s.

The sound & music team were given the challenge to place viewers in the lives and emotions of the four young aboriginal singers as they entertained american troops in Vietnam.

Sound Bytes # 4 will provide insight into the production techniques required to bring the songs, sounds & culture of the 60s to a contemporary audience.

TUESDAY AUGUST 21
6:30PM Theatre 1

FREE

No need to RSVP just turn up

More info >

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

27 AFTRS RADIO GRADUATES NOMMED FOR 2012 ACRAs

This year AFTRS Radio is delighted to share the fantastic news that 27 finalists in the 2012 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) are AFTRS Radio alumni, three more than the record set last year!

Spanning 24 categories across metropolitan, provincial and country markets across seven States and Territories Mark Collier Director of Radio says “the result is particularly pleasing as finalists come from a broad range of categories reflective of AFTRS Radio courses and teaching”.

The ACRAs ceremony will be held in October and the list of nominees is as follows:

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR  (Provincial)
Nick Karkazis – Hot 100, Darwin NT. Grant Broadcasters

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER  (Country)
Chris Holland – Star FM Dubbo NSW. Southern Cross Austereo
Marc McCreadie – 7AD Devonport TAS. Grant Broadcasters

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER  (Provincial)
Brian Madigan – Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST TALK PRESENTER (Country)
Stephen Cenatiempo – 2HC Coffs Harbour NSW. Super Radio Network

BEST TALK PRESENTER (Provincial)
Christian Argenti – Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST NEWS PRESENTER (Provincial)
Rod Mcleod – Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST ON-AIR TEAM (Country & Provincial)
Mike E & Emma Chow – The Edge, West Sydney NSW. Australian Radio Network

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR (Country)
Nerissa Pace – Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW. Grant Broadcasters

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR (Provincial)
Dan Hill – NXFM, Newcastle NSW. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR (Provincial)
Ryan Khay – Sea FM & MIX FM, Maroochydore QLD. Southern Cross Austereo
Andrew Very – Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT – LONG TERM
Reegan McLaughlin – Radar, Sydney NSW. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT – SHORT TERM
Nick Condon – Elf Radio, National. Australian Radio Network

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
‘Hug an Aussie Day’
Nick King & Lukas Goodenough – Star FM, Dubbo NSW. Southern Cross Austereo
‘Stuff You Thought You Knew’
Tim Blackwell – Nova Network, Melbourne VIC – DMG Radio Australia

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM (Provincial)
Hot FM’s Rob & Heidi
Rob Morrison & Heidi Anderson – Hot FM, Bunbury WA. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM (Metropolitan)
Meshel, Tim & Marty
Tim Blackwell – Nova Network, Melbourne VIC. DMG Radio Australia

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Non-metropolitan)
‘The 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin’
Nick Karkazis – Mix, Darwin NT. Grant Broadcasters
‘The Great Flood 2011′
Mike Byrne – River 949, Ipswich QLD. Grant Broadcasters

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION (Country)
Alex Mitchell – Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW. Grant Broadcasters

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION (Provincial)
Marc Dwyer – 2GO & Sea FM, Central Coast NSW. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL (Provincial)
‘The Joshua Tree – 25 Years On’
Mike Byrne – River 949, Ipswich QLD. Grant Broadcasters
‘Gold FM Unflogged 400′
Andrew Very – Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL (Metropolitan)
‘Smallzy – Live from Future Music’
Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small – Nova 969, Sydney NSW. DMG Radio Australia

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN
Elite Smash Repairs
Marc Dwyer – 2CFM, Gosford NSW. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION
HOT FM’s $30,000 or $30 Wedding – Hot FM Tactics & On Air Team
Rob Morrison & Heidi Anderson – Hot FM, Bunbury WA. Southern Cross Austereo

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
’2CC Christmas Lights’
Peter Davidson – 2CC Canberra ACT. Capital Radio Network

BEST STATION PROMOTION
‘New York New York’
Ange Frino – 3WM, Horsham VIC. ACE Radio Broadcasters
‘Juice on the Loose’
Tullia Connor – Sea FM, Devenport TAS. Grant Broadcasters
*

Image: Movie still from: The Sapphires. Found online at: The Australian – Australian film The Sapphires selected to screen at the Cannes Film Festival

This week at AFTRS we have news & events to share that we think you will like which includes our first radio-centric Friday on My Mind session with the funny and at times provocative Richard Fidler joining us  to share his thoughts and ideas about radio broadcasting in Australia today. We also have more great AFTRS events in the pipeline including our upcoming AFTRS Open Days – so get your calendars, icals and post-it-notes out and save the dates..full details and more are all inside.

We love to receive and share news so drop us a line: stayconnected@aftrs.edu.au

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND THIS WEEK

Every Friday at 5pm AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry to discuss ideas and topics of relevance. So why not wind up your week with some food for the mind courtesy of AFTRS

THIS WEEK Friday August 10:  Richard Fidler – Funny, provocative & extraordinary radio


Presenter of the very popular Conversations with Richard Fidler, a long-form interview program broadcast across Australia on ABC Radio, Richard Fidler (who in another life was a member of comedy group The Doug Anthony Allstars, that played to audiences all over the world) has interviewed CIA agents, ex-prisoners, astronauts, carers, nuns, prime ministers and the Dalai Lama. But the strongest listener response to his program often comes from guests unknown to the broader community who have seen and done extraordinary things.

With more than four million podcast episodes of ‘Conversations‘ downloaded each year, Richard’s show is easily the ABC’s most popular podcast. Come and listen to Richard talk about his thoughts and ideas on the state of radio in Australia today.

Guest: Richard Fidler

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm

AFTRS Theatre 1
Doors open 5pm. 
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

AFTRS events are on a roll

Over the past couple of weeks AFTRS rolled out three fantastic and well attended events for the screen arts and broadcast community that included: a VFX presentation on Prometheus, a film criticism panel discussion and the Not Fluffy conference presented by AFTRS’ Centre for Screen Business.

And the events keep coming with the fourth edition of Sound Bytes coming up in late August which will delve into challenges faced by the sound and music team who worked on the recently released Australian feature The Sapphires – so watch this space for the announcement of even more fabulous events in the specialist areas of producing and documentary…

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

Coral Rekindling Venus wins a Domie & Damien Power off to Venice

Two great pieces of news came into the stayconnected inbox this week including:

A terrific result for AFTRS 2010 Creative Fellow Lynette Wallworth who took out first prize in the art category at this year’s DomeFest awards (the Academy Awards of ‘full-dome’ works) an annual event that celebrates innovation and excellence. Hearty congratulations to Lynette.

And some fantastic news just in today: AFTRS alumnus Damien Powers (MA Directing, 2000) has made it as a finalist in the You Tube Your Film Festival with his short film Bat Eyes and now he is off to the Venice Film Festival and in the running for $500,000 to produce more content for his YouTube channel, with help from Ridley Scott, Michael Fassbender and a world class crew!

View all of the finalists >

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

Save the Date: AFTRS OPEN DAYS September 8 & 9

AFTRS is opening its doors to prospective students and the public…

So if you want to find out more about AFTRS courses or just check out the fantastic facilities here is a taste of what you can see and do:

- Talk to AFTRS lecturers and teachers
- Check out a live ‘Next FM’ radio simulation broadcast in our radio studios
- Watch live TV interviews in progress in Studio 2
- Check out our state-of-the-art facilities
- Watch a combined VFX/Cinematography/screen design demo
- See the AFTRS mix theatre in action
- See & hear how our recording studios work
- Get a feel for what its like to be a student at Australia’s national screen arts and broadcast School
- Sit in on info sessions about preparing your application for 2013
- Sit on specific specialist area of study info sessions delivered by Heads of Department
- Find out how to prepare your 2013 application for AFTRS
- Talk to Student Services about FEE HELP
- Check out the AFTRS library

and lots more…

No need to book just come along!

Saturday September 8: 10am – 3pm
Sunday September 9: 10am – 3pm

Full details: aftrs.edu.au/opendays
*

Red Alert lands in your inbox this week with a diverse array of offerings in the form of: the August 3 edition of Friday on My Mind with screenwriter Louise Fox (Love My Way), three fantastic events taking place at AFTRS this week to be part of, lots of AFTRS OPEN short courses to tempt you and some sensational news about AFTRS making it onto the list compiled by The Hollywood Reporter of the top 25 film schools in the world! Full details and more are all inside…

We love to receive and share news so drop us a line: stayconnected@aftrs.edu.au

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FRIDAY ON MY MIND THIS WEEK

Every Friday AFTRS brings you the best and brightest from the screen arts and broadcast industry who discuss their craft and practice in an intimate Q&A environment. So why not wind up the week with some FREE mind food courtesy of AFTRS…

Friday August 3: Character Love – Louise Fox

As one of Australia’s best writers, Louise Fox’s love of characters always shines through resulting in stories that have become embedded in our communal consciousness, such as her award winning writing for Love My Way. In addition to television drama, Louise has written and performed sketch comedy, children’s TV, and theatre – where she specialises in ‘challenging’ adaptations.

Recently Louise adapted Christos Tsiolkas’ novel Dead Europe for the big screen and wrote and directed award winning short A Natural Talent and has begun working internationally writing for the TV series Star Wars (with George Lucas) and on the big budget mini-series Camelot.

Come and hear Louise talk about character creation and drafting the stories that bring them to life.

- Guest: Louise Fox

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm

AFTRS Theatre 1
Doors open 5pm. 
First in – best dressed

Full details & directions >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS & EVENTS

THR includes AFTRS on it’s ‘Top 25 Films School’s in the World’ list

Late last week The Hollywood Reporter revealed its annual list of the world’s most prestigious film school programs and this year AFTRS made the grade, coming in at number 20. 

AFTRS is the only Australian film school to make the cut and the School is delighted to be recognised for the quality and standard of its programs of study and outcomes for both students and alumni.

Take a look at the list over at hollywoodreporter.com >

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

AFTRS EVENTS: 3 GREAT EVENTS THIS WEEK!

TONIGHT: AFTRS & FUEL PRESENT: PROMETHEUS & THE ART OF VFX

2012 saw Ridley Scott return to the sci-fi genre with the release of Prometheus, and Sydney based VFX company Fuel was one of the three lead visual effects vendors, delivering more than 200 complex visual effects shots for the feature.

Fuel’s VFX Supervisor Paul Butterworth who worked closely with Ridley Scott and VFX Supervisor Richard Stammers will share his Prometheus experience – perfect for vfx artists, screen designers and cinematographers!



6:30pm – 9pm
AFTRS Theatre 1



Full details over at the AFTRS website >

AUGUST 1
WHERE AND WHAT IS A FILM CRITIC IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

Join us for a discussion about the changing role of film criticism, how one becomes a film critic and its value as a job. Massive changes in media and communications means there are more channels of distribution for film commentary, discussion and writing than ever before, but is most of it criticism?

Options for encouraging quality film criticism will also be examined.

Aspiring critics are particularly welcome!

Panelists: Adrienne Mc Kibbins, Russell Edwards, Ed Gibbs, Giles Hardie,
Dee Jefferson, Alice Tynan, Karen Pearlman (moderator/head of screen studies at AFTRS)

A joint initiative of AFTRS and the Film Critics Circle

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

6.20pm for a 6.30pm start

Full details over at the AFTRS website >

August 4: AFTRS Centre for Screen Business presents: NOT FLUFFY*

*In the Romantic tradition, artists are considered to be in touch with the sublime… and a bit fluffy. Hopeless with money and no good at business. Many people still believe this. But is it true?

At this fast-paced conference, CSB is re-imagining the creative enterprise.
You will
- Find out from David Court what film producers can learn from a 17th century theatre company.
- Hear from Dr Jordi McKenzie about CSB’s experiments with box office prediction.
- Learn from economist Simon Molloy how love as well as money makes the creative economy go round (and what that means for producers).
- Hear Prof Michael Fraser make the case for a Copyright Registry (so that copyright works can be easily found, licensed, and transacted).
- See a presentation by Tony Shannon about the findings from his work with 300 businesses in the creative sector.
- Find out from Prof Deb Verhoeven what is it that producers actually produce.

Morning tea and lunch provided
+ Student: $75
+ General Registration: $95 
+ Bring a friend ½ price. (tickets must be booked & paid together)

August 4: 10am-3pm
AFTRS Studio 2

More information and full details visit the CSB microsite

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -

ALUMNI & STUDENT SUCCESS

Two good news items landed in the stayconnected inbox this week including:

- Christopher Potter (Graduate Certificate Animation Direction 2010) picked up the win in the student category at the Australian Effects and Animation Festival held at a lively awards ceremony last week in Sydney. Chris won for his Ernie the Echidna short against a strong field of international entries.

- We also just got word that short film Marla (written and directed by Nick King) and being produced by current AFTRS Graduate Diploma Documentary student Sophie Wiesner has just been accepted into the Orizzonti competition section of the Venice International Film Festival.

Big congratulations to all!
*
Image: Movie still from Ernie the Echnidna The Birthday Surprise: Found online at: Youtube – Christopher B. Potter