The Company 2008
Call for Entries Announced

The Media Resource Centre’s Members Production Group, TAFE SA, Adelaide Centre for the Arts, Acting Department and Flinders University are commissioning three (3) short films to showcase the skills of the Adelaide Centre for the Arts 3rd year acting students – The Company.

Each film will receive a cash budget of $2,500 in addition to a $2,000 equipment subsidy from the Media Resource Centre’s Members Production Group.

To assist in the development of your submission, DVD screen tests and head shots and bios of all acting students are now available from the Media Resource Centre.

Deadline for proposals: Monday 26 May, 5.30pm.

Guidelines || Application Form

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Digital Camera Donations

The Media Resource Centre is about to undertake a series of projects in regional South Australia and is looking for older model digital still cameras (3.2 mega pixel +) and digital video cameras (mini DV or DVCAM) in order to assist communities in creating their stories on screen.

If you have an older model stills or video camera and are interested in donating to this project contact Martin at the Media Resource Centre: 8410 0979

Animation Unplugged
Saturdays, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May & 31 May 2008

Where: Iris Cinema, 13 Morphett St, Adelaide - 10am to 5pm
Cost: $120 members / $150 non-members for all 4 sessions

Over four Saturdays participants will join experienced members of the Adelaide digital animation industry for a series of fun seminars to learn about the basics of animation and get some tips on breaking into the industry.

Each week’s seminar will be presented by a different animation company (The People’s Republic of Animation, Vishus Productions, Monkeystack and Rising Sun Pictures ) and will include a presentation showcasing their work, discussing their process and the tools of their trade, the company’s focus and background, and each presenter will also share their own personal career journey and tips for participants.

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: Call Olivia or Lisa at the MRC on 8410 0979

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Digital Animation Production Initiative
Successful applicants for animation initiative announced

The Media Resource Centre would like to congratulate the three teams selected for the 2008 Digital Animation Production Initiative, supported by the South Australian Film Corporation and the Department for Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

The three films will be mentored through production by Supervising Producer Hugh Nguyen of the People’s Republic of Animation and provided with technical and creative support by mentors from local animation houses Rising Sun Pictures, Monkeystack and The People’s Republic of Animation.

The three successful teams and their projects are:

AWESOME FIGHTER: OF BATTLE A GO GO
When a science experiment goes wrong, Andy believes he has gained super powers and sets about defending justice in the schoolyard. But after realising he’s not as super as he first thought, Andy discovers what makes a real hero.
Team: Tim Cannan, Levi George, Johnny Cousins, Sam Williams, Scott Wright
Animation: 2D Characters, 3D background/foreground elements.
Mentor: The People’s Republic of Animation

DUSK DAY
A modern-day gothic fairy tale tells the story of Pali, a young boy lured into the deep dark forest despite the warnings of his grandfather, Alim.
Team: John Willanski, Emily Brindal, Steven Ready, Alex Brindal, Colin Zammit, Anna Kotoousova
Animation: 2D cutout (Ink Rain technique).
Mentor: Monkeystack

PROJECT ROLF
Rolf the monkey finds himself stuck in a big city and struggles to adjust to his new surroundings.
Team: Roy Masterman, Bill Northcott, David Smith, Heath Dingle
Animation: Hybrid 2D/3D.
Mentor: Rising Sun Pictures

The finished films will screen at the Mercury Cinema in November. We wish all the filmmakers the best of luck for production.

The MRC’s 2008 Annual General Meeting will be held at 6.30pm Wednesday 21 May in the Mercury Cinema.

Any two members of the MRC may nominate any other financial member to serve on the Board, the Members’ Production Group and the Members’ Exhibition Advisory Group.

Signed nomination forms must be lodged at the MRC's office by 5.00pm, Wednesday 7 May 2008

After the close of nominations, information about the candidates will be available at the MRC

If there are more nominations than positions available, an election will be held.

To be eligible to vote or to be nominated to either the Board of Management or the Members’ groups, you are required to have been a member of the MRC for more than 28 days prior to the AGM (that is, you must be a member as of close of business, Wednesday 23 April 2008).

Non-financial members will be ineligible to vote, however, provision will be made for non-financial members to renew their membership before the meeting

The meeting will be followed by drinks in the Mercury Cinema Foyer.

We look forward to seeing you there!

STU CONNOLLY: Animation Script Consultations
Monday 19th –Tuesday 20th May 2008

It's often said that reckless editing can disrupt the writing process more than anything else. That's why it's crucial to get the right advice at the right time - before you submit your script to producers, funding bodies, or interested parties.

The Australian Writers’ Guild is proud to offer a unique opportunity for animation writers to have a comprehensive face-to-face script consultation, run by highly respected and multiple award winning Stu Connolly, at greatly reduced rates - perfect for considered feedback on a developing project.

Stu Connolly is an award winning animation writer/editor, producer and creator working across television and interactive. Stu's recent writing and development credits include Yakkity Yak, Pixel Pinkie and I Got A Rocket. Stu won the Australian Writers Guild (AWGIE) award for Best Interactive for Chiko Accidental Alien (ABC). www.abc.net.au/chiko - The game also won both the ATOM & AIMIA awards for Best Childrens.

As a creator, he has projects & shorts in development with Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network including two pilots with Gorillaz director Pete Candeland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2JAEh120ow

Recently Stu took part in a Nickelodeon shorts initiative where he wrote/produced Herb & Ray's Yum, Louie's Lunch & Dirk Breaka http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/nickshorts/

He is also a co-creator & writer of the animated series CJ the DJ currently in production for the ABC with Kapow Pictures (Yakkity Yak).

Stu is a founding partner in Australian prod-co Sticky Pictures www.stickypictures.tv who are in production on two new animated series for kids; Pearlie (based on Wendy Harmer's books) and the new Dennis & Gnasher series (based on the UK comic). Stu is writing and editing on both series.

These scripts consultations are immensely popular and book quickly.

Writers’ selected will be required to send in their script by Thursday 15th May, to allow consideration by Stu. A one and a half hour appointment will be arranged at the Media Resource Centre on either Monday, 19th May or Tuesday, 20th May 2008.

Script Consultation Cost: $30 AWG/MRC members and $50 non-members (GST incl.) and bookings will be on a first in first served basis.

For booking and any questions concerning the Stu Connolly: Animation Script Consultation program email Miriam Katsambis at sa@awg.com.au or call (08)8232 6852 <mailto:sa@awg.com.au or call(08)82326852.

This program is brought to you by the AWG and the South Australian Film Corporation’s Industry Development and Activities Fund, and kindly supported by the MRC.

SA Short Screen Awards Winners Announced!

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Renmark / Chaffey Theatre - Friday 9 May
Mount Gambier / Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre - Saturday 17 May
Whyalla / Middleback Theatre - Tuesday 20 May
Port Pirie / Nothern Festival Centre - Wednesday 21 May

We all have recently completed this extraordinary project - stories will be online soon!

Stories will also be showcased at The Australian Centre for Moving Image in Melbourne.

Puppetry for Animators
Tuesday 3rd June 5.30-7.00 Iris Cinema

The next animation master class will feature puppeteer, Lachlan Haigh, on establishing character in puppetry, and following on from Greg Holfeld's talk on timing, will show how timing is a critical part of story-telling. Lachlan will also touch on the importance of strong voice-acting.

rsvp essential, to Rob Farnan rsvp_animation@internode.on.net
(places limited)

The subsequent masterclass will be on Tues 17th June- JoAnne Bouzianis-Sellick from Anifex, on camera work in animation.

New Workshops Available!
Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer,  The Art Of Colour Grading

Final Cut Pro Workshop

This intensive workshop is offered at two levels – introductory and advanced. Introductory level covers digitising, batch capture with time code, working with wide screen, editing footage and sound, creating titles and effects and outputting the final product to videotape. Advanced delves in depth into Final Cut features, effects, media management and output.

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Avid Media Composer Workshop

Avid is currently the screen industry standard for digital non-linear editing platforms. The vast majority of television shows, feature films, commercials, and music videos are made using one or more Avid products. Having knowledge of Avid increases an editor’s professional opportunities with 90% of Australian feature films edited using Avid products.

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The Art of Colour Grading

This one day hands on workshop will offer editors an insight into the power of colour grading and correction.

In this intensive, hands on one day workshop participants will utilise grading tools inside Final Cut Pro to achieve basic looks, corrections and explore colour theory before moving on to the more advanced Colour and After Effects applications and more detailed notions of grading and the workflows involved.

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New Equipment at the MRC! Book Now!

The Media Resource Centre has recently acquired, 3 new Boom Poles to complement the Seinhheisser Microphone's and 302 Sound Devices Mixer. We have also locked in a BTABO pipe dolly, Lowel DV9002Z DV Dreator Kit 44 and new heavier 10kg shotbags. Additionally we have refurbished our JVC Field Monitor.

Our edit suites have also been upgraded with the latest version of Adobe Production Premium, including Flash, After Affects and Colour Finesse.

Don't forget all our equipment at the MRC is available for half day rates from 9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays - that's a saving of 50% on top of the existing members discount.

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