Melbourne Ink: a documentary – Thursday May 7th Docklands

Street art isn’t for anyone, it is for everyone.

A documentary on the underworld of Melbourne’s street art screening @ OPEN  CHANNEL, Shed4, Docklands

On 7th May, Melbourne Ink, an independent documentary about our beloved laneways and evolution of street art in Melbourne and its protagonists, will be screened at OPEN CHANNEL, Shed4, Docklands. It is an opportunity to get an insight into these disembodied artists, their motivations and philosophies. It is a free event with artists from the film doing some live painting, a delicious Argentinean BBQ will be on offer and there will be plenty of beer at a cheap price.

The documentary is made by two French directors, Julian Sena and Romain Levrault, who wanted to make an uncensored film featuring Melbourne’s most prominent figures in graffiti and stencil art. “Melbourne is legendary for its street art, it brought us here. We wanted to make a film about the conflicting forces where street art is illegal but is widely used to market the city”, says Romain.

The film stars various artists from the Blender Studio, the Mitten Fortress, the Everfresh Studio, No Vacancy and Until Never galleries. The artists have been interviewed and followed during their performances in the city. “This is their story uncensored, you will see from the film there is no holding back. It is an exciting and politically-charged 25 minutes”, says Julian.

Sponsored by Melbourne Stencil Festival, OPEN CHANNEL, Art Truck and Mountain Goat, the screening brings a night of live spraying demonstrations, music and a chance to get close up with some of Melbourne’s most notorious street artists.

Melbourne Ink
Thursday May 7th 2009
Victoria Harbour, Shed 4 North Wharf Road (end of Bourke Street) Docklands
Time: 6 till 9pm
Free entry

Vounteers wanted – Change the World.

“This documentary follows the challenges, the struggles, the seemingly impossible dreams of 12 ordinary Australians who are being given the chance (by way of financial and practical support) to go out into the broader community and make a significant and positive impact in the world.

This film is a mass media vehicle that will capture the realities of making real change, and deliver the vision to all Australians in an entertaining and meaningful way.”

For more information please go to our website: http://www.changetheworld.com.au

The producers are looking for emerging talented individuals to assist us in filming and editing short clips of social change and business leaders, personalities and sporting identities that are located in Melbourne.

Clips will be no longer than 5 minutes

Needed:
Camera Persons & Sound Recordists:
•Preference given to established teams – Individuals still can apply
•Must have access to own camera tripod and microphones.
•Ability to flim in High Definition 1080i or JVC 720p format on mini DV
•Camera should have canon (XLR) audio jacks
•Quality shotgun microphone and or lapel mics must be used  – high quality
audio is critical!
•To film in Docklands studio or on location (Melbourne Metro)- Own Transport

Editors:
•Ability to do basic cut
•Own edit suite
•Have access to final cut pro

If interested please contact Brent Masters via email: brent@changetheworld.com.au

Naked Landscapes of Victoria on TV

Early in 2008, Arlene Texta Queen travelled in a custom painted 1977 Bedford van around regional Victoria drawing around a dozen women and performers posed in interpretations of Australian history and culture. From a cake lady and her stall by a lake to Mary at the 12 Apostles to a feminist bushranger in Glenrowan, Claudia Rowe documented the adventures and has turned them into a doco that will be screened Sunday April 12th at 5pm on ABC Sunday Arts.

Watch Texta and her gal friends as they go leech loving, cake eating & bunyip cursed travels.

For those without a TV, you can watch it on the Sunday Arts website  soon after it airs on the tele.

Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: your TV

The 12th over the fence short film festival

“For short films with an excellent sense of humour.”

The Over The Fence Short Film Festival is the coolest, boldest, funniest film festival in the land. Animation, Drama, Documentary, Mocumentary and Experimental comedy! So if you’re thinking about making a comedy…if you’re in the middle of making one…or you’ve finished your comic masterpiece – then get cracking !!!

Entry deadlines:
$35 Before April  24 – Mid Deadline Special
$45 From April 24 – June 30,  Deadline
$55 LATE FEE – until July 10.

Visit http://www.overthefence.com.au to download an entry form that can be sent to:

Over The Fence
PO Box 468
Hamilton Hill WA 6963

Films entered must be no older than 2005 and no longer than 20 minutes.

Contact : Deanna 0415 221 024 or Greg (08) 9337 6049
http://www.overthefence.com.au
mail@overthefence.com.au or deanna@overthefence.com.au

Lester Bostock Indigenous Mentorship

Supported by the NSW Film and Television Office and run by Metro Screen this mentorship is open to all Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander screenmakers. Metro Screen is looking for filmmakers with drive, ambition and the commitment to produce a 5-8 min film in any genre from experimental, documentary or drama. Patron and founder of the LBS, Lester Bostock, the highly esteemed indigenous radio, television and film pioneer, will help select, and take personal interest in the progress of all of the LBS participants at every stage of their project. Each filmmaker is mentored by an industry professional and supplied with equipment, stock, post production facilities, and a $2,500 budget. In addition each filmmaker is also provided with dedicated producer support, skills training in Directing and development assistance through professional script editor consultations. Films are screened at our special cinema event and at the Museum of Sydney during NAIDOC week plus
other venues around Australia.

Closing date Thur Apr 9.

Click here for more information – http://www.metroscreen.org.au/indigenous.htm

Lights, Camera TRACKtion

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is now open for submissions for the Lights, Camera TRACKtion: Melbourne Shorts presented by Yarra Trams competition, a special event to be held at the 2009 Festival to celebrate Melbourne’s iconic trams on film. Entry is open to all short films (Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Music Videos) that must feature either a tram/trams as a focal point or as imagery in the film.

A judging panel will select the ten best Lights, Camera, TRACKtion shorts which will be shown at the Australian Centre of Moving Image (ACMI) on Thursday 6 August, 2009 at 7.00pm. First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded by a special judging panel on the night made up of prominent film industry and Melbourne personalities.

First prize will be awarded $3,500.
Second prize will be awarded $2,500.
Third prize will be awarded $1,000.

The Lights, Camera, TRACKtion competition is an initiative to provide a forum for professional and amateur filmmakers alike to celebrate the tram as a Melbourne icon.

•    Lights, Camera, TRACKtion short film entry deadline – 5pm Friday 5 June 2009.

More information: http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/lights_camera__tracktion

Mu-mesons March film program highlights

Where have all the Surrealists Gone?

Friday 13th March
Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali

This portrait of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali details the dreamlike inspiration behind many of his avant-garde creations. Set in Dali’s hometown of Lligat, Spain. Journey into the subconscious of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and take a look at the world through Salvador Dali’s eyes.

Giger’s Necronomicon

Giger’s Necronomicon was originally self published, then made into this 40 minute documentary in 1975 and was broadcasted in Japan only. Not you’re run of the mill documentary. As for the alien fan, this film is definitely a must see. Although there is no content directly related to the Alien series, you can see how Giger’s style is reflected in the films. Mu-Meson Archives Doors 7.30 for 8pm start $10 with supper.

For More extensive and detailed information please visit Mu-Meson Archives web site http://www.mumeson.org

Mu-Meson Archives at Crn Parramatta Rd & Trafalgar St Annandale, Sydney at the end of King Furniture building up the steel staircase. Phone (02) 9517-2010

TABU silent film with live music accompaniment – Melbourne

21st March 2009 – 8.30pm – $8 cc.
A very special night’s entertainment at Melbourne’s – Tiki Lounge and Bar – with a fabulous new print of this very famous and rare gem of cinematic history. From the director who made Nosferatu and the very famous Sunrise (often featured in top ten lists of best films of all time) Tiki Lounge and Bar is proud to present – Tabu – with a score composed and played live from music iconoclast and underground legend Mike Cooper.

About  the Movies:
There has never been another film like Tabu. This is a unique blending of ethnographic documentary and expressionist drama, from a master director. The actors are real Polynesians and their ceremonies and rituals are faithfully captured, and interwoven with a tragic love story. The cinematography deservedly won an Oscar – it is truly beautiful. Murnau, away from his usual studio sets, manages to create the same sense of danger using natural light – especially moonlight – and real locations. The performances are very strong – especially Chevalier as the girl, and the old man is as scary as Nosferatu as he haunts her dreams at night.

Sadly this was Murnau’s last film – he died in a car crash just before the premiere. It is a little dramatically uneven, and certainly not the masterpiece that Sunrise is, but it is still very worthwhile. (Source)

Motu Tapu, the place where Murnau made this film, is an actual sacred tabu place. It is therefore understandable that the islanders believe Murnau’s disregard for the tabu, in making a film on this forbidden site, was the cause for his tragic death soon afterwards.

MIKE COOPER – GUITAR /LAP STEEL GUITAR/ ELECTRONICS/ VOCALS
For the past 40 years Mike Cooper has been an international musical explorer, performing and recording, solo and in a number of inspired groupings and a variety of genres.

Initially a folk-blues guitarist and singer songwriter his work has diversified to include improvised jazz and electronic music, live music for silent films, radio art and sound installations. He is also a music journalist, writing features for magazines, particularly on Pacific music and musicians, a visual artist, film and video maker, collector of Hawaiian shirts and appears on more than 60 records to date. Cooper was forging connections between folk and experimental musics long before America got New or Weird… (The Wire)

Where: Tiki Lounge and Bar
Contact: 327 Swan Street, Richmond, Melbourne 3121
Phone : (03) 9428 4336
Website: http://www.tikiloungeandbar.com/
When: Saturday March 21st 8:30pm
Cost: $8 on entry

How Buildings Learn TV series – Jason Kottke

…is a weblog about the liberal arts 2.0 edited by Jason Kottke since March 1998 (archives).

In 1997, the BBC aired a three-hour documentary based on Stewart Brand’s book, How Buildings Learn. Brand has posted the whole program on Google Video in six 30-minute parts: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six.

If you’re hesitant about whether to watch the series or not, check out this two-minute appetizer of perhaps the meatiest tidbit in the book: the oak beam replacement plan for the dining hall of New College, Oxford. (via smashing telly)

Source: http://www.kottke.org/08/08/how-buildings-learn-tv-series

Star Log: Trippy Sci-Fi Mash-Up Alert!

By turns absorbing, confounding, exhausting and altogether stranger and more rib-ticklingly funny than most fiction, Craig Baldwin’s infelicitously titled and cacophonous provocation, “Mock Up on Mu,” comes close to defying categorization. Much like Mr. Baldwin’s previous cut-and-paste works — including the film “Tribulation 99,” his self-professed “pseudo-pseudo-documentary” about American interventions in Latin America — this new work hits your synapses like a cluster bomb, assailing your tremulous gray matter with a barrage of cinematic fragments (most recycled, some newly shot), miscellaneous rants and ruminations.

Divided into 13 chapters, “Mock Up on Mu” — shot on 16 millimeter and shown digitally — recounts some of the more far-out and apparently true tales involving American inner and outer space travel. The Web site for the movie (othercinema.com/mu.html) contains the coy assertion that it’s “(mostly) true,” which is the kind of truth in advertising that should be more widely adopted. More to the point, this defensive assertion may be directed at anyone who might take offense at the gently parodic portrait of one of its main characters, L. Ron Hubbard (the filmmaker Damon Packard), whose trippy musings blend in with those of Jack Parsons (Kal Spelletich), a founder of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; his wife, Marjorie Cameron (Michelle Silva); and some guy named Lockheed Martin (Stoney Burke).

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