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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| NEWCASTLE CINEPOST ISSUE #4 NOVEMBER 2000 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| EDITORIAL Surely all CinePost readers are frequent viewers of SBS's Movie Show, or read if magazine/FilmInk/Cinema Papers, or utilise other sources of knowledge about Aussie films to know that this has been one kick arse year for films in Australia. And with Bootmen and 15 Amore the high points for Newcastle Feature films, as well as several major Documentaries and Shorts, Newcastle is proving to be well on its way to becoming a major player in the 'next option to Sydney' production base in Australia. This issue we find out more about the successes of Novocastrians in the Film world with Anthony O'Connor, and look into how the NHFTO is shaping Newcastle's image as an attractive base for filmmakers of all shapes and budgets. We hope you enjoy [and forward] issue 4 of Newcastle CinePost. eds. THIS ISSUE · NCP speaks with Anthony O'Connor, writer of the Australian film 'Angst' · Film Friendly Accommodation Report · Newcastle Film Festival and other Screenings Coming Soon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCREEN CULTURE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MOVIEMAKERS, PRIZE-TAKERS Newcastle Video Moviemakers held their awards night last week. Dion Cominos took one of two top awards - Best Production, for his film 'Zaide,' and Michael O'Leary took the Newcastle Moviemaker of the Year award for his 'Fun Facts About Termites.' Cominos's films also earned him the Audience and Nova Awards. Other winners were Graham Bryant with 'Places of Interest around Alice Springs', Bob Cook's 'Sydney: Show Me the Life!', Michael O'Neill's 'Live Steamers' and Graham Bryant & Bill Powell for 'Farewell to a Giant.' Newcastle Video Moviemakers hold their club meetings the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at Wallsend Community Health Centers meeting room. For more info, you can contact the president, Mansell Williams, on 4990 5383. Visitors & new members welcome! ---------------------------------------- TAKE 14 World Premiere of 14 short films from the Department of Communication & Media Arts' Video 2 class of 2000. An end-of-year screening/party is being held at the McMullin Theatre (opposite the entrance to the Great hall) on Friday 10th November at 6pm. Food and wine at 6pm, screening begins at 7pm and will last around 90 minutes. Free! Everybody welcome! The films are:       'DRAGON AND FLOWERS' Mel Brooks does Monkey Magic! A spoof of fantasy action flicks. Based on a script by Elizabeth Cashin        'JUST ANOTHER MORNING' A university student wakes up late after a huge party, and panics: he and his flatmate are due at an important exam, he battles the odds to catch a train before he realises… Based on a script by Margaret Haavik        'JUST ANOTHER PUNK' When a boy skater snaps his board, he finds a junk mail delivery job and a quick way to get the money he needs from his boss. Based on a script by Marcos Matos        'LEG OF LAMB' A black comedy about murder, mayhem and ... meat. Based on a script by Erling Gronhaug         'MONDAY MORNING' A girl is having a typical grumpy Monday morning, which she deals with in her own unique way. Based on a script by Heidi Regan         'MYTH' A young woman has a late night run-in with a kind stranger. A Good Samaritan, whose idea of a good deed has deadly consequences. Based on a script by Greg Tynan         'NEVER AGAIN' A young lady must face her fears of the outside world, with tragic results. Based on a script by Jean-Marc Mis         'PRICK' Infants don't have as much fun in infancy as adults do in adultery. Based on a script by Andrew Slattery         'RED CROSS' A tale of twisted seduction. Dark, sexy and gruesome. Based on a script by Alexandra Parsons         'SLOW CROSSING' A rushed businessman who's always late for work, not having enough time for breakfast. He faces a daily battle at a pedestrian crossing with an old lady, with a surprise identity. Based on a script by Anita Beaumont        'THRILL OF THE CHASE' When Martin and Michelle see a thief stealing Martin's car, a chase begins which takes them on an adventure ride in which much more is at stake than just Martin's car. Based on a script by Graeme McGirr         'UNPLUGGED' A boy and girl embark on identical missions in separate scenarios, to deliver a package, just like in a game, until they realise that they are the game. Based on a script by Zoe Sainsbury         'WHAT WOULD YOU DO?' A young woman has a dangerous encounter with a strange man one evening on a train platform. Based on a script by Elin Ostnor         'WHO DUNNIED? ' One public toilet, one sassy detective, ten thousand dollars. The stakes are high, winner takes all. Based on a script by Angie Kurnia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ANTHONY O'CONNOR'S ANGST [Marty Middlebrook spoke with Newcastle local Anthony O'Connor, writer of the new Australian feature film 'Angst.'] MM: Now, writers don't tend to get high profiles in filmmaking, what's your background, who is Anthony O'Connor? AO: I'm 23, I am now officially employed as a screenwriter, but that hasn't really changed much cause I still sit around and watch videos. I like horror movies, you know anything with the word Zombie or a Roman numeral in the title gets me goin'. MM: And you're originally from Newcastle? AO: Well, I did the primary teen thing in Newcastle, more specifically Maitland. MM: So what's it like knowing you've had a film made that you've written produced here in the land of OZ? AO: Well, having never been anywhere else, I'm not sure, but gathering from what I've read, writers are generally treated pretty shabbily the world over, and Australia being small even more so. I'm not bitching or anything, because I've been treated really well, and I've got a feature up at 23 which is great. But generally the writer is like an unknown commodity. It's hard to judge if a writer is writing well. So often the writer is treated like a bit of a freak. But I had a good experience doing 'Angst' because I got to work closely with the producer and director. Which I thought was the norm, but since then I've found the relationship that I had with the team on 'Angst' was quite different to what the writer normally gets. Most of the time a writer is given a cheque and politely shown the door. MM: Your resume here says that you worked with the director of 'Angst' before on video games. AO: Yeah, the director and I worked in a company called 'interactive ideas', where we did these kiddie horror choose-your-own-adventure style games. But they were sort of animated and stuff. We tried to add a bit of weirdness and style to them. And during that time we were re-writing and honing 'Angst' and making it what it is now, over a period of some four years. MM: I've read that 'Angst' is semi-Autobiographical. Now, the lead character is a video nut - which you just confessed to. So what exactly is the story and how true is Autobiographical part? AO: 'Angst' is actually the third script that I wrote, I wrote two horror screenplays before it. And at the time, someone actually told me to go with what you know. But at the time I was a 19-year-old video clerk so I didn't really know anything. So from there I started writing this screenplay about this young 19-year-old video store clerk trying to get a horror movie made! And I invented different characters and took the situations that actually happened, like funny dysfunctional relationship break-upidge, and tried to make it funny and added things that should have happened, along the way. And it got less autobiographical and less of a cathartic outlet of my genuine angst and more of a comedy. But it definitely started from a position of sexual and artistic frustration, you know I was watchin' too many videos, not getting laid and not getting anywhere in my career. The actual story itself is about a guy called Dean who works in a Kings Cross video shop, he hasn't had a root for about six months. He's still pining over his ex-girlfriend Heather, as well as trying to pick up an attractive Goth customer, May. At the same time his westie flat mate Ian, who is ashamed of his Western Suburbs upbringing, and is trying to break into the scene as a stand up comic. And then there's his other flat mate, Jade, who also is an ex-girlfriend of Dean's, who's a freaky green haired, pierced chick, and she's trying to dump her cardigan wearing, tofu munching, vegan boyfriend. It's sort of like two or three days in their lives as shit happens. MM: What do you think was the appeal for the producers to get this film up and running? AO: I dunno man. I don't want to get pretentious, but I guess what I tried to do is keep it honest. Essentially 'Angst', at its core is a romantic comedy. Which is shocking to me because I never thought I'd be doing that. It's like 'OH GOD! I'M WRITING A ROMANTIC COMEDY!' I feel like I'm sellin' out man! What shits me about romantic comedy is it's a valid genre, but it's only been done well a few times. Because generally you've got this gorgeous pin up guy, and some model chick, and they put glasses on her. And suddenly she's the 'awkward, gawky chick'. And we're supposed to believe that Jennifer Love Hewitt is a dork because she's wearing glasses! So what I did was I tried to find the funny side of the angst that you feel, and make it about what it's really like to be a 20 year old! MM: So you cast Jessica Napier and Abi Tucker. AO: Yeah Jessie was Jade and Abi almost unrecognisable as May, the Goth chick. MM: And they're two of Australia's finest looking actresses. AO: THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR DECISION WHAT SO EVER! MM: Just checking. AO: We didn't wanna deliberately hire slightly deformed-looking people. But we weren't trying to make a Laureal ad. Like, Abi and Jessie are gorgeous, but also quite interesting looking. You wouldn't see them on a 'Cosmo' pin up or anything. MM: You're currently working with Alex Proyas (dir. 'The Crow', 'Dark City')? AO: Yeah, it's interesting cause in 'Angst' I take the piss out of 'The Crow' and all the Goth's who watch it over and over. So I thought he might be calling to kick my monkey arse. But I used to be a Goth myself, I frequently wear black and I'm paler than most corpses. But I think that being able to poke fun at yourself, and your friends, is good. And when you poke fun at what you know, it's gonna be a lot funnier, because it comes from a position of truth. MM: So, what are you aiming to do in the future. Are you still trying to create the perennial horror film? AO: In deed. I've written what I hope is the perennial horror film. It's called 'The Fatal Ends'. It's sort of a dark snuff film, kind of roller coaster. And I know every time I mention snuff film everyone says, 'Oh. Like 8mm'. And I'm like 'NO. It's NOT like 8mm!' It's more like 'Scream' meets 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.' It's rollicking, intestines, all the stuff that makes movies great. And it's being developed by Jonathan Green who produced 'Angst'. That's a lot harder to get up. It's really hard to convince people that what the world needs is a movie about families being wiped out by masked, chainsaw wielding maniacs. People don't see the funny side of that. That's a longer road. But I think Australia needs to make a truly great horror film. MM: How important do you think it is finding your own niche in writing a film? Do you think that it's possible to use what's gone before and manipulate it into your film? AO: Well, a lot of people have said, 'There's a kind of Kevin Smith/Tarantino element to 'Angst'' And, sure they're both huge influences. I think that they're both fantastic! But 'Angst' was consciously with my own voice. I think your own voice is important. I don't think you should force it. MM: You said you need to see a really good horror film come out of Australia. How will Australia come across in a horror film? AO: I dunno. I guess 'Angst' isn't really an Australian film. I mean there is the westie guy, who was sort of modelled on my experiences living in Maitland. I don't feel any raging desire to define to the world what it is to be Australian. I don't need to be patriotic. I wouldn't live anywhere else. MM: If you got a call from Paramount to proof read a couple of screenplays in the US… AO: OH I'm there baby! There'll be a puff of Cartoon Smoke and a WOOSH sign! But wherever. I'd go to Japan, China, Hong Kong. I don't want to write just another romantic comedy, I wanna keep doing new things. I wanna have a body of work when I'm 50 that people look at and just go 'FUCK!' I want it to be eclectic and different. --------------------------------- FEATURE #2 HOW TO MAKE YOUR ACCOMODATION 'FILM FRIENDLY' SEMINAR by Marty Middlebrook On Wednesday October 25th at the Holiday Inn Esplanade, the NHFTO hosted a meeting with guest speakers from the film industry to discuss how local businesses can benefit from film productions coming to Newcastle. The meeting was chaired by June Tayloe, project manager of the NHFTO [see article in Billboards], and featured talks by David Watts, Senior Locations Officer for the FTO and George Mannix, Managing director of Hunter screen Entertainments. The meeting was essentially an insight into the 'other' world of movie making, the commercial behind the scenes side. The emphasis of course being on the logistics of bringing anything up to a 60 man strong film crew out to Newcastle for a location shoot, and the demands that would be put on local businesses. 'Upon returning home from an all night shoot at 7:30 in the morning, hotel managers will have to accept that the members of the film crew will want a beer before they go to bed.' suggested George Mannix. June Tayloe highlighted that, like other regions, filmmaking and productions utilising the Hunter region will increase tourism revenue as well as create great advertising in general for the area. As well as this, Ms Tayloe also pointed out the potential for the development of a skills base for Newcastle Filmmakers and production crews. NHFTO is currently in negotiations with the University and TAFE institutions, discussing the options of how to incorporate things like production assistance and work experience into accredited course work. She indicated that regions like Pitwater and Maitland who had been the sources of some productions, 'Home and Away' and Rachel Ward's 'The Big House' respectively. David Watts indicated that in the last two years, filmmaking had attracted around $300mil into NSW.  The majority of these films were US productions. [Think 'Matrix', 'Star Wars 2'] 'The bottom line is what counts' said David Watts 'You must ensure that you are giving the filmmakers a sweet deal'. George Mannix suggested that local businesses keep their hopes realistic, and not anticipate huge budget films to start being made in Newcastle next year. He suggested businesses emphasize benefits and value over just proposing a cheaper alternative to Sydney. He also indicated that feature films were not the only productions to expect. He indicated the benefit of having a Television Show filmed in a region is extremely beneficial. And to look forward also to events like 'Reality based TV' and 'Regular Advertising Shoots'. June Tayloe said that soon enough, the Film Friendly File would be on-line and Newcastle's film potential available  f or the whole world. The objectives of this will be to promote the Hunter Region as a Film Friendly Region, a One-Stop Shop for filmmakers. George Mannix made the suggestion that filmmakers are like professional tourists, 'Very cantankerous, demanding tourists who will expect the most interesting and unusual services, without interference.' The main point being, that if local businesses wanted to benefit from incoming film productions, they would have to learn to adapt to demands, expectations and attitudes of film crews. That if Newcastle is to become a film friendly region, an impression will have to be left on every crew that comes through to ensure that all the reports on Newcastle are positive. In short, be patient, be resourceful and expect the unexpected. [For further information see Billboard article FILM FRIENDLY FILE] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BILLBOARD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [A R T I C L E S] NEWCASTLE FILM FESTIVAL The official program has been released for this year's festival in November.    Friday 17th  7:30pm  * INTERNATIONAL SHORTS Screening a diverse array of award-winning animation, documentary and drama shorts from Europe, Middle East, USA and Asia. At Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle.     Saturday 18th 2pm * SHORT FILMMAKING SEMINAR Seminar focuses on the ins & outs of short filmmaking. Guests include Paul Scott (University's Dpt Communications), Glenn Fraser (writer/director), Kristi Street (Shootout), Ben Allan (local short filmmaker) and Paul Klarenaar (winner of Shootout 2000). PAN Building, Auckland Street, Newcastle.     4pm * OUT OF COMPETITION NEWCASTLE FILMS Screening local films in the non-competitive section. Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle.      7:30pm * NEWCASTLE SHORT FILM AWARDS Screening local films in-competition for the Newcastle Short Film Awards. Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle.     10pm * AWARDS CEREMONY & FESTIVAL PARTY Guests judges include Yahoo Serious ('Mr. Accident'), June Tayloe (NHFTO), Kristi Street (Shootout) and Beth Phelan (Women on Women Film Festival - Dir) to present the awards, then live music by local bands. The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle.      Sunday 19th 2pm * SCREENWRITING SEMINAR Seminar looking at the process of writing for the screen. Guests include George Mannix (Hunter Screen Ent.), Anthony O'Connor ('Angst'), Jackie Turnure (writer/director). PAN Building, Newcastle. For further information on Newcastle Film Festival, contact 4921 7374 or email newcastlefilmfest@start.com.au http://www.newcastlefilmfest.org -------------------------------- NHFTO: FILM FRIENDLY FILE by June H. Tayloe, Project Manager Newcastle and Hunter Film and Television Office As highlighted in Issue #2 of CinePost, the Newcastle & Hunter Film & Television Office has been established to facilitate the continued development and growth of the film industry in the Hunter region.  The office will also market the area to the entertainment industry as a potential filming location. The NHFTO is currently compiling a Film-Friendly File and would like to invite local businesses to participate at no cost. The Film-Friendly File is a directory of production professionals and businesses willing to provide products or services to film and television production companies who are interested in filming in the Hunter.  It is anticipated that the file will help foster mutually beneficial relationships between local businesses and incoming film production units. Each directory entry will be 1/2 page A5 size and will include details of the goods or services provided as well as comprehensive contact details and information about any special deals the business is willing to provide specifically to film production companies. To have your business included in the Film-Friendly File please send your details via email, post, or fax to Leanne Baxter or June H. Tayloe . Postal Address: Leanne Baxter/June H. Tayloe "Personal" Newcastle and Hunter Film and Television Office Newcastle City Council PO Box 489 NEWCASTLE  NSW  2300 Email:  lbaxter@ncc.nsw.gov.au or jtayloe@ncc.nsw.gov.au Fax:     (02) 4974-2804 For more information please ring (02) 4974-2994 or (02) 4974-2889. ---------------------------- BENEFIT SCREENING: HARRISON FORD! MICHELLE PFEIFFER! CENTRESCREEN is proud to support the John Hunter Childrens Hospital NeonatalIntensive Care unit's 10th Anniversary Picnic. To help raise funds for this important picnic, which will mark a milestone in the unit's presence in the region, The Showcase Cinema, in Wolfe Street, Newcastle will host a film night on Wednesday Nov 8 at 7pm. The film attraction will be the thriller 'What Lies Beneath', which pairs America's reigning screen hero and siren, Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfieffer. Cost $15 which includes a light supper following the screening. Organise a group and get tickets. Call Susanne Wooderson at NICU on 4921 4335 or pager 4921 3955 pager no 2453 to book. COLD READING SERIES CENTRESCREEN are presenting 4 hot screenplays, 16 Cold actors, With No Rehearsals, No Second Takes. You've got one chance to get it right baby... This is The Cold Read Series. A series of Workshops bringing actors and writers together to create that addrenalin inducing thrill of the most nerve racking aspect of the entertainment industry; The Cold Audtion, all in front of an audience. ACTORS WANTED / SCRIPTS NEEDED FROM LOCAL WRITERS The Cold Read Series kicks off at 8pm on Thursday November 9, at Centrescreen's Office, Level 1 7a Wolfe Street, Newcastle, and will continue every Thursday through till November 30th. For More Information Contact: Greg Hall  or  John Meadows at Centrescreen on  4927 1933 or 0413 017 771 centrescreen@ozemail.com.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REVIEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [F E A T U R E S] 'THE DISH' Despite having taken nearly $5million at the Australian Box office in less than two weeks, which works out at around 500.000 Australians in the audience, Marty Middlebrook has somehow managed NOT to see 'The Dish', and thus will not be able to bring you a review. He apologies and asks you to please note that he hasn't met anyone who didn't like it… sounds pretty good! [S H O R T S] [by Andrew Slattery] 'WHITEBAIT' (words by director, Beth Phelan) In a sleepy fishing village on the NSW coast, Mr. Baxter is a friend to the local kids. Rose and Teresa see him in a different light when Leanne starts to visit. Lemonade and tickles give way to smoking and talk so sex. Mr. Baxter is thrown into turmoil and Rose learns some hard lessons about sexuality and friendship. 'Whitebait' examines a morally ambiguous situation, one, which evokes an extremely strong emotional response. An old man and three young girls interact in a sexually charged atmosphere. The story is told in a way that does not attribute 'blame' or 'victimhood,' and includes the possibility of sympathy to both sides - a notion absent in almost all-popular discourse. The film captures the essence of the NSW coastal town of Swansea in the seventies: the beauty of the natural landscape; a social milieu that was in some ways more restrictive, in some ways more free than that of the present. 'BLACK XXX-MAS' "Once upon a time there was reality. Now in reality, there are no good guys and bad guys, just bad guys and guys that are worse, says Pieter van Hees of his short film, 'Black XXX-Mas.' Film is a late 20th century megacity ghetto version of Little Red Riding Hood (a.k.a. Little Red in the Hood). Also featuring a burgling black Santa and Wolfgang the evil cop. *Along with 'Whitebait,' you can catch this visual feast at the Newcastle Film Festival on Friday 17th November. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DETAILS |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| EDITORS: Andrew Slattery & Marty Middlebrook SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: ncp@start.com.au Phone: 02 4921 7374 Fax: 02 4921 6944 Newcastle CinePost PO Box 47, Union Building Callaghan 2308 NSW © 2000 Andrew Slattery & Marty Middlebrook ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||