Internet R.I.P: Jackie Chan

I was spewing when I heard a rumour that beloved Jackie had passed away from a heart attack. A part of me was the failure to learn as much as possible from this notorious icon before the anticipated meeting (when I finish most of the "Quest" film) and to even think of such thing, was unimaginable.

I recall thinking about that earlier in the project. Someone brought up the "What if" scenario. I replied with "as if". As if Jackie Chan would die. He's done bla films, broken bla bones and looks exactly like my dad. How often do you think about your father dead? Never! It would never cross my mind, as most of the time, the people who are closest to you, are always immortal in your mind. You never think about and you take them for granted. That's the same thing with Jackie. After my trip to HK and chatting with some of his closest colleagues, I came to discover more depth about people's varying perceptions.

People just don't realise how hard this guy has worked his whole life. I recall doing a guest lecture at the University of Hong Kong and to my discoveries, finding out all the negative connotations the "Jackie Chan brand" elicits amongst the young people.

"He's too old!", "He's done this, he's done that", "Do you really know what he's like?"

Personally I don't, nor do I care about the finer details but I'm just inspired by what "Quest for Jackie Chan!" can create, which is the old school connection with the new wave filmmakers and storytellers.

Anyhow, false alarm everyone, Jackie Chan is still alive and well and still making movies. Let that be a lesson to everyone and all those people who are so easily swayed by what's in the media. Unless you can top Jackie Chan, in the meantime, sit down and shut up.

Love y'all

oxoxo

MY WORK: Urban Cultures - Welcome "The Narcycist" and Sundus Abdul Hadi from Canada!

After two months of planning a prep, ICE's international artists in residency hip hop rapper/ MC "The Narcycist" and his partner, mixed media and visual artist, Sundus Abdul Hadi have finally arrived in Australia. I must admit, my frame of mind of the last few days has been a little run down and clouded, nevertheless, it was refreshing to finally meet and also anticipating working with these two. These two are about my age, and yet their progressive minds, boundary pushing works inspire me a little bit more to engage and grow as as a little gungho activist in my very own ways.

It captivates me how these two speak with such clarity and an understanding of who they are, where they are going, how they are developing and their impacts on own cultural identities and also abroad. Narcy's sound tracks all have some rationale, incited incidents, that people just usually don't think about. Personally, I never dig the hip hop scene, I always thought it was music about "pimps and hoes" and autotuned noise with the sporadic "yeah babies". Another thing, prior to working with ICE, I had a fear of Arabs (a common view shared by my closed off parents who relied on mainstream media 6pm reports) as well as the ocassional debate with a very old school ocker who kept on warning me that the "Asians will be taking over, so be careful".

Speaking of fear of Arabs, Narcy will also be releasing his published book "Diatribes of a Dying Tribe" based on the concept of the Fear of an Arab Planet. On the same note, I did get the chance to meet the boys from "Fear of a Brown Planet" - comedian Amer & Nazeem from Melbourne. Check out my quest clip.

So where does this leave me? Fear of an Asian Planet? Let's help me brainstorm...

Fear of A Slant Eye Planet

Fear of A Gook Planet

Fear of Riceeaters Party

I know, I know. So where does the white (wo)man who really have this fear stand? The Australian Protection Party of course. They seem to be quite a media saavy bunch with all sorts of backups (from academia, politics, businesses etc...) who truly have a major concern with the potential "invasion" fears. Be slightly surprise. There's this fear of "White genocide" and the "minorities" taking over.

Then I thought for a further minute, is the term minority/ majority relative? What if you are a whitey living in China? Wouldn't you be a minority and Asians becoming a majority? Ok, I'm tripping out now and some of the issues and "parties" just wouldn't make sense in another context.

Are Martial Arts Ruining Action Movies?

Another interesting read that has been forwarded to me by Newstead Grindsworth (Adam), who I met earlier this year for a Maximum Choppage: Round 2 screening in Newscastle. I thought I'd repost it on my blog and to see what you think about it. Click here for the source.

Photo: Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Focus Features, Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia Pictures, iStockphoto

In Joe Wright's stylish action-drama Hanna, the titular character (played by Saoirse Ronan) has been raised by her father to study martial arts and close combat in seclusion before finally entering the real world at age 16, ready to kick some ass. She's never met a person other than her father (Eric Bana), she's never set foot anywhere other than the wintry landscapes of North Finland, and she's never known pop culture or seen a single movie ... and it's a good thing she hasn't, because if Hanna were to duck into a theater to catch the latest action flick, she'd be stunned: Everybody fights like her in movies nowadays. And it's starting to take the fun out of things.

Actors often brag about how much Krav Maga or karate or capoeira they had to learn for their roles, but to judge from the onscreen world of modern action movies, that kind of skill set is hardly rare: A built-in understanding of martial arts is instilled in everyone, be they hero, villain, or mere henchman. (Fortunately, heroes always get to fight off bad guys who somehow know the exact same form of martial arts they do.) Too often, it seems like movies grind to a halt for obligatory hand-to-hand combat with low stakes and little invention, as though the screenwriter typed, "A fight breaks out," and the director left it up to the second unit and fight coordinator to fill three minutes.

It was fun when the trend began — when The Matrix westernized the modern martial arts movie and the Drew Barrymore–led Charlie's Angels traded guns for roundhouse kicks — but it has quickly become rote. In movies like The Green Hornet, Salt, Sucker Punch, andThe Last Airbender, the heroes fight off drone after drone after drone, occasionally taking a hit to the face, stomach, or back, yet emerging with little more than a comely cut on the cheek (if that). With little in the way of stakes, a sameness in presentation, and no blood or bruises, martial arts have turned action scenes into dance scenes, and while those can be fun, they're not usually renowned for their suspense. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World wasoccasionally inventive within its fight sequences, but it was really more of a musical, and even Wright himself has admitted that when choreographing Hanna's fights, he figured, "Just treat it like dance and it'll be fine." That's all well and good, but whatever happened to treating action sequences like action sequences?

Gone are the days when a fight might involve a gun, a makeshift weapon, or a hit that actually hurts. Now every movie hero is Jet Li, and every woman is Buffy the Vampire Slayer (though Buffy's martial-arts acumen was a by-product of her mystical Slayer power, the new breed of action heroine can dispatch a 200-pound assailant even if the woman in question is five-foot-two and has a physique better suited for red carpets than battle).Hanna handles its action scenes better than most — and Bana gets a fun all-in-one-take fight that's highly choreographed but is at least dazzling to watch — but even the most stylish spin on these sort of fights can't disguise the feeling that we've seen this all before. It's time for directors to rethink the idea of a movie fight sequence, and if they can't add anything to it — or if watching the hero toss another drone over his shoulder adds nothing to the movie — then it should go. After all, what does it say when an actual dance movie, Black Swan, has ballet sequences and cathartic confrontations that pack more punch than any action movie we've seen over the past year?

By: Kyle Buchanan

SHOPPING: I bought myself a Netbook!

I did it! I got myself a netbook and haven't looked back ever since! I'm simply a bloghead and love to be able to capture my thoughts and experiences at any given random moment or if time persist

I do have my trusty Toshiba 15 inch screen which I do most things including my edits, but I need something light, compact, will quickly start up and have a long life battery power. Hence, my quick trip to Aldi caught my attention to neat little netbook, costing me $250 but had spanking features of 250 GB memory, 10.1 inch screen size, 0.3 Mb camera and wifi.

So looks like you'll be hearing from me more often and my thought, words and actions will connect more quickly and free flowing than ever before.

TEACHING: Canley Vale High School

I've finally wrapped up on a teaching gig at my old school Canley Vale High School ever so proud of the Yr 10 class and their dynamic enthusiasm on the project. These kids started off as quite unsure about the field of filmmaking as the mix were predominately "Asian" with such familial and societal pressures of following the common fields of medicine, law and engineering. But after 8 weeks of my training and activities, it does give me some kicks that the majority of these "youngies" have their minds slightly geared towards acting and/ or filmmaking.

One particular student, J. Nguyen has impressed me with his maturity and eagerness in his pursuit as a film director. He was pedantic about shots, locations and his peer performances on the project. He and P. Tran sacrificed their lunch times and defied their parent's curfews just to get their edits done.

My role became secondary, and I'm glad to have sparked their interested, taken a step back and let their passions run their first film project. Fingers crossed for the submission to the 2011 Shortcuts Film Festival - Western Sydney's only youth film festival.

Speaking of Shortcuts, please do attend if you are in town. I will certainly be there. The details are below:

WHEN: Saturday 9th April @ 7pm

WHERE: School of Arts, 19 Harris St, Fairfield

BOOKINGS: 02 9724 6077 or shortcuts@pyt.com.au

COST: $5

EVENT: Stuff Premiere

I was at the Stuff premiere last Thursday watch the 7 short films made through the Parramatta City Council funded project that was managed by Amin Palangi at Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE). There was a good turn out of 200 people, either friends, families or distinguished guests, all wanting to watch 7 films from 7 different cultural groups and the issues that they faced.

I was one of the actors in Marie Setiawan's film "Fairytale", and it was the first time I acted on something "dramatic". I don't know why, and maybe its an actor thing, but I really hated my performance. I thought I did awful. I got external feedback and there were people who think I did well for my character and that they didn't expected a more mellowier performance from me.

Apparently, some actors have trouble detaching their true selves when it comes to roles and learning to act without bringing in remenants of yourself can be a tricky thing.

My sister, on the otherhand, didn't like my character. She reckons I'm a shockingly boring dramatic actor. Maybe so, I guess I better to either comedies or just plain action (which of course, I'm still developing).

P.S - Shout out to David Cheng (STUFF! Sound guy and his snapshots!

TEST FIGHT: Maria Tran & Adrian Castro

This one is just for fun everybody. I'm still on the "Quest for Jackie Chan!" and in the meantime, time to get inspired and into "action" with a quick clip.

I was a little bored on the weekend and decided to get a quick teamof film buddies together to shoot a very short fight chorie piece just for experimentation purposes. Only 25s but it was surely a good learning curve. No storyboards, no concepts, and practice. On the spot thinking is this kind of film exercise!

Hope you like the edits and there will be plenty more to come in future.

Camera operator: Quan Tran
Editor: Maria Tran
Choreography by: Maria Tran & Adrian Castro
Equipment: Vanna Seang & Dragon Vision Productions

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MY THOUGHTS: I think there is an aspect of me that really wants to delve into fight choreography (from both a performer as well as a filmmaker perspective). So far, I know there's not a lot of women in this field that know beyond the martial arts side of things, but also how to shoot, edit and sell action shots. So again, I'm still developing, and will be rolling out a series of developmental clips and am open to further collaborations with different teams.

So what makes or breaks a fight scene/ sequence? M. Choi (from Marvel Comics) article points to the question of: How high are the stakes? She mentions how the uber fast cutting of fight scenes such as those of Transformers: Dark of the Moon just didn't move her. The audience needs to connect with what is at stake and that if the "underdog" fails then it will be the end.

Anyhow, I just hope my quick fight scene (unfortunately, I never reach the end because, it is just a test fight) proves a little more edgy then this:

But then again, this Kung Fu Catfight leaves little to the imagination...which can be quite an exciting venture....

GET TOGETHER: Film Club #2 Meet Up

Last Saturday was another session of Film Club #2 and we had in attendance Marie Setiawan, Laurent Boitex, Quan Tran, Thuy Ng, Adrian Castro and myself. Another fully charged get together of gungho and learn on the fly filmmakers who want to eventually see their stories on the big screen. This week, Marie continued her focus on the essence of human drama. Drama film genres are perhaps one of the hardest to market internationally, but its deeper level of character development and inter-tangle of emotional conflict has its appeal.

Marie took us through some script breakdowns, and also a big run through on scene and character objectives, goals and actions. We watched the intro to Quentin Tarrintino's "Reservoir Dogs" in regards to the competency vs social hierarchy of characters. The final exercise of the night got me some dibs in directing a short scene from "The Full Monty".

Anyhow, I'll be plugged in most Saturday nights from 6-9pm with this group for the next few months. Shout out to Marie Setiawan for her great work.

REALITY CHECK: The Quest continues...

Yesterday night I was chatting to a friend who's probably 12 thousand kms away about the whole ordeal with the "Quest". He's a straight talker, down-to-earth and knows how to be ambitious but keeping it real.

It's true, I have to admit, still very overwhelming of a project and the pressures are coming from all sorts of directions and the biggest, from within. It is very good to be able to speak to someone who can sense what's going on and set me on some sort of direction.

When it comes down to it, I'm a scatter brain and during my week of chats with people who are contributing to the "Quest" with their great ideas, I haven't connected with even one person to embark on the whole project on its full entity.

Hence, mission of the week for me is to source my core team who I can start sharing this project, the trials and tribulations that I'm facing to pull this baby through.

In the meantime, this week has been quite a full one. I've got down the pipeline some parkour training (Fri night) , film teaching (Sat morning), film and acting studies (Sat night) and the fight test collaborations with Adrian Castro and Quan Tran (Sun morn) and Jackie Chan film schooling (Sun night).

EVENT: 2011 Tropfest

This year was the first time I attended the Tropfest Short Film Festival - the world's largest of short film festival. I had accompanying me, my trusty film intern protege - Thuy Ng and newfound friend Quang Nguyen - who is currently a dedicated barrister, but possibly a future media maker. We had a good spot amongst the other 10,000 people on a patchy grass and in full view of the 3 sided screen.

But then when you look at Tropfest, even though it has come a long way, it hasn't been the platform for films made by people from culturally diverse backgrounds even though 40% of the population are born overseas or to parents born overseas. Despite the films being quite "watchable", I still yet to see the day more films from the "other" make it to the top finalist on their own terms and telling the stories they want to tell and watch.

But that in itself is filled with complexities. In one lecture that I crashed at the Sydney International Film School, I recall Ray Lawrence saying that "filmmaking is for the privileged". To some extent, I agree, as the "privilege" have access to such equipment and vast knowledge, experience and expertise.

In addition, culturally diverse communities, are more often focused on making a living than storytelling through the digital medium. I know for a fact, that if I turned back time and asked my Vietnamese parents if I could do film, I'll probably be kung fu whacked across the head for the thought of it.

But the times are changing, and 2012 Tropfest Short Film Festival Signature item is the "lightbulb" so it looks like I may be submitting something next year....Perhaps.

This year, the 16 finalist that made it were quite good.

Here are the winners...

1ST PRIZE - Animal Beatbox - Damon Gameau

2ND PRIZE - The Unspoken - Jason van Genderen

3RD PRIZE - The Maestro - Adam Anthony

BEST MALE ACTOR - SIlencer - David Collins

BEST FEMALE ACTOR - Y2GAY - Kate Worsley

WOMEN IN FILM AWARD - Things To Do - Ana Maria Belo

BEST EDITING - A Desperate Deed - Matt Bird

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - The Maestro - Tony Gardiner

BEST SCREENPLAY - Missing Her - Michael Weisler

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - A Desperate Deed - Jared Underwood

THOUGHTS: Thinking of Law of Attraction

Before I start this blog, I just wanted to say thanks to all the people (David Lee, Naomi Lynch, Nghi Huynh, Kane Wilson, Martin Landauer, Ridwan Hassim, Quan Tran, Gentle Storm, Gary Phuong, Igor Breakenback & Daniel Whyte) who connected with my status update: Law of Attraction: What's your thoughts on it? Comment now! :) Monday at 2:09pm.

Your comments really got me thinking a bit more about "bigger picture" learning and how one spur of the moment thought can spark a whole different way of thinking.

I've been carrying my copy of "The Secret" around lately (to work, the gym and around the place. I haven't finished it though.) ever since my Melbourne-based film buddy Somchay Phakonkham has sent me a copy (even though he himself hasn't read it).

Its a handy little book and I guess essence of "The Secret" is the simple "Law of Attraction". Prior to this, I heard about this Law of Attraction in fleeting conversations about the metaphysical, but in general, its means "like attracts like" , positive thoughts brings positive results and negative thoughts brings negative outcomes.

Take for instance, if you thought out there the statement "I need more time" then you will continue to "need more time". So if you were to change this statement to "I will find more time", as in, you move away from focusing on it as a problem but more as a goal, then things will change.

In David Lee's response of "There is no such thing as true love!" Monday at 2:14pm, then apparently through the Law of Attraction, then this statement will continue to run true.

Nghi Huynh "If there is something you really want then your subconscious will work overtime to find opportunities for you to achieve it. That is why it almost seems like magic that you find just what you are looking for" Monday at 2:19pm.

I think so too with Nghi's comment. I don't know why, but like a year ago, I put it out there in the world that I wanted to meet Jackie Chan and through one thing after another, things all started connecting and opportunities showed around every corner from my Australia travels and even to Hong Kong, Beijing and China. Personally, I think if I really tried harder I could of met Jackie through my last visit to Hong Kong as I met so many people who were connected to him (personal and professional). But, my subconscious did hold back, somehow I felt the timing was off I started to delve into my own personal journey and to why I've come about to making the "Quest for Jackie Chan!".

The book, the concept and the facebook posting comments really changed my perceptions of my "inner and outer adventure", from just trying to prove a point to meet one of the world's recognisable superstar to more of a creative plight and a nation-wide wide platform and showcase of the independent filmmaking, multimedia and arts scene in Australia.

So my directions have changed, I want to make "Quest for Jackie Chan!" an epic movie. My apologies, I will make "Quest for Jackie Chan!" an epic movie.

Naomi D Lynch "

Forget the details- dont be too hung up on exactly what, and let go of how and when... But if you can create, by visualisation and imagination, (just pretend!!) the way you will FEEL once you achieve/receive whatever it is you want, then you have a goal your subconscious can work with, and like Nghi says, you will recognise opportunities and take actions that will inexorably lead you towards it. :)" Monday at 2:36pm

Naomi's comment reminded about how I first started with the idea. But I'm sure everyone else have experienced it when you get so bogged by details of the "how is it going to happen" and bringing up an exhaustive list of how an idea won't happen. I mean, our society is geared towards the fear of failure, hence, ideas that are "deemed as far fetched" are often discouraged. But hey, how would have Thomas Edison invented electricity without some "What if" thinking.

Kane Wilson "...

Now if humans were magnets we could all just stick together. But we don't! However some people are repelled.This may be a deodorant thing. In conclusion! I really have no bloody idea!"

Monday at 6:27pm

Kane's mention of some people "repelling" rings true to some of my experiences. I have come across people who I just simply cannot gel. Its not that they are a bad person or anything, I came to accept that people are diverse and can have different wavelengths. At times it can be frustrating to get them to see the "picture" of the project, but at the same time they are vital as they highlight unforeseen challenges that I will eventually have to confront.

Martin Landauer "Game theory seems more reliable." Monday at 6:48pm

Martin has a point. Law of Attraction suffers from the scientific perspectives. Its is a concept that is unfalsifiable and untestable and most evidence are all subjective, personal and story-based. I guess, we are living in a world where having control and the ability to replicate things are successful is important to maximise efficiency and productivity. It is a worldview perspective choice though, and I have to side with this comment:

Gary Phuong "....And it's easier when you feel good about yourself." Monday at 11:05pm

I definitely prefer to be seen a an agent of change rather than a bunch of swirling atoms randomly hanging around and waiting to be hit by a bunch of bigger swirling atoms (like a bus) or something.

Here are also some other to add:

Ridwan Hassim "If u believe it and see it and feel it and hear it, with great repetition, it becomes a reality." Monday at 7:17pm

Quan Tran "You can't runaway from it but time will tell how long it will last."

Monday at 7:40pm

Gentle Storm "Laws are undeniable truth! Especially this one. ;p"

Monday at 8:58pm

To keep things on a light note, this is Igor Breakenback's visual interpretation titled "Law of Attraction At Work".

I also got this awesome link from Melbourne-based actor/ martial artist Daniel Whyte (who's met Jackie Chan before) and he stars in the feature film "Being in Heaven", which is on the concept of Law of Attraction. Check out the trailer.

My final note, I think the Law of Attraction works for me. From thoughts, words to action, even in a simple facebook status, I'm able to map out people's thoughts, experiences and projects that has pretty much been the "Star Wars - Yoda" at this point in my life. Everything I've thought up has gone pretty much how I wanted, and all the people I've connected with are the "gold" in my life.

Thank you for everything!

Signing out,

Maria Tran

New home with B & E Productions

After a string of wacky and unwanted events from staying from one hostel to the next. Executive producer of B & E ("Breaking & Entering" and/or "Bey & Elizabeth" Productions) Bey Logan has offered me a nice place to stay and be more focused on the "Quest for Jackie Chan!" until my departure on the 26th of January, 2011. I'm so glad as I was being to wonder if I was to survive another week of small tight and flea infested spaces.

Its been a challenging and new learning curve at the B & E Productions. I've been interning for the team (Elizabeth, Vicki & Bey) and doing a series of office tasks, from coffee making (Bey likes it hot, two equals and good decent dollop of milk. You'll be told if its shitty), running office errands to film concept developments, research, script readings and film budgeting. I've been sitting in to quite a number of his meetings as well and also learning more about independent, yet commercial, realm of filmmaking in Hong Kong.

Bey is a quirky character indeed. He has is moments of highs and lows, but at the end of the day, he is quite focused on the things his straightforwardness will certainly get to the bottom of any dilemma. If anyone wants to work with this man, you need to be almost psychic and be able to tap into the chakras to figure out this individual.

But overall, Bey's taught me a whole bunch of new things and it is very rare to meet people that are willing to give you a chance in the brutal HK filmmaking/ entertainment industry.

He's been in the industry for a very long time so knows all the who's who and is always on the lookout for up and coming talents entering the field. Of course, he reminds me that young people may have fresh ideas and passion, however, sometimes a little too much arrogance and ego will see them walking out the door as quickly as they got in. So to break into this industry, there has too be a high level of persistence, following through with what one sets out to make and collaborative thinking.

Ideas are always in abundance, they are everywhere and can also be found under a rock. Its whether or not the individual has enough guts to risk all to lift that idea and bring it to life.

So what is up with B & E Productions? Well, "The Blood Bond" is releasing soon in January 2011, Bey's book is currently available in selected Hong Kong bookstores (Dymocks & HMV). Bey's producer credits on the "Little Gobie" is visible on Hong Kong billboards and bus stops. Also at certain restaurants Cafe De Corale, have partnered up with "Little Gobie" movie so their marketing and promos is also visible here. He's also juggling between concept developments on "Snowblade" as well as further developments of "Red Dawn Rising".

At the end of the day, I'm grateful to be surrounded by inspiring people and also resources (you should see their library collections of action films and books! *Drools).

On the Quest...

I'm currently working on a string of interesting events to be unfolded around Hong Kong in the next few weeks in relation to the "Quest for Jackie Chan!". News over here on "Jackie Chan" himself have been quite negative lately, hence my "Quest" has been not well received by the general public. But I will not be disheartened and will continue on my own journey and self discovery and see this project through to the end.

MELBOURNE SHORT FILM: “Bullies”

I’ve been waiting for ages now and finally have seized the day and collaborated with You Cake Productions and emerging film director Somchay P. on the recent short film production “Bullies” set in the backdrops of Brunswick, Melbourne.

This was a quick turn around project that emerged within a week of idea brainstorming, script development and production, that tells of a child crush story of “James” (played by Jack Ngu) and “Linda” (played by Maria Tran) that is interrupted by a mob of school yard bullies lead by gang leader “Dennis” (played by Somchay Phakonkham).

The experience on set was in true fashion of grassroots and guerrilla filmmaking, there was lots of innovative moments where we the key creators got the chance to collaborate and tag team problem solved tricky shots as well as the fight against the diminishing sunlight.

Overall, “Bullies” aspires to be non sensivcally random madness weaved into the midst of school yard love. Belly full of laughs filled with lots of “What the?” moment.
Coming soon in 3 weeks....to You Tube!

Credits

Somchay Phakonkham , Francis Pham, Kevin Le Tran, Lan Mai. Daniel Wu, Minh Bo, Johnny Le, Luan Pham, Rob Hammad & Jack Ngu. Special thanks to script advisers Elizabeth Vu & Chris Pang. Extended thanks to the You Cake Productions crew.

James (Jack Ngu) gives Big Boss (Luan Pham) a pow!

Linda (Maria Tran) knocked onto the ground

Gangster boys playing cards

For more behind the scenes photos, click here.
Anyhow, the the meantime, check out You Cake Production's latest works by clicking here.

Quest for Jackie Chan! 3rd place at Metro Screen Pitching Competition

Quest for Jackie Chan! Team Maria Tran, Thuy Ng & Jack Ngu

Quest for Jackie Chan! takes out 3rd place for the 2010 Metro Screen SPAA Pitching Competition! The project was selected out of over 70 submissions and was amongst the top 10 finalist competing for 3 prizes.

THE FINALISTS ARE:

•Jiao Chen with 'Remembering Six-Four' – Transmedia documentary
•Brianna O’Donohue with 'Godsville' – Animated television sitcom
•Adam Lemmey with 'Creepy Weekly' – Children’s live-action television series
•Richard Attieh with 'Outback Skies' – Travel and adventure series
•Maria Tran with 'Quest for Jackie Chan' – Feature documentary
•Rick Viede with 'All the Way with Glace' – Transmedia project
•Julie Noever with 'The Kingdom' - Feature documentary
•Katie Hickson with 'Horse Talk TV' – Factual television series
•Shanon Wilson with 'Parita’s Journey' – Historical drama feature
•Roy Weiland with 'Barton the Ghost Catcher' - Children’s transmedia project

Good Pitch
by Cara Nash September 29, 2010 11:29 Edited September 29, 2010 11:31

The winners of the Metro Screen's SPAA Fringe Competition have been announced.

Metro Screen's SPAA Fringe Pitching Competition held September 28 saw ten unique projects pitched in front of seven industry leaders and a capacity audience.

The project which took out the top prize and is now representing Metro Screen at the national SPAA Fringe Pitching Competition on October 23 - an event designed to find the best projects in the country - is Roy Weiland with his children's transmedia project Barton the Ghost Catcher.

The project sees class weirdo Barton tormented by ghosts until he discovers he is the only person who can stop them and save the world.

"I'm really excited to pitch in front of the movers and shakers. To be put in front of them is why I do it. It's a long quest as a filmmaker, this is really amazing," Weiland said.

The winner of the SPAA Fringe Competition will then compete as one of only two finalists at the Holding Redlich Pitching Comp at the SPAA Conference in mid November. This winner will receive an airfare to the Cannes Film Festival or a TV market in 2010/11.

Second place on the night went to Julie Noever with her feature documentary The Kingdom and third place was awarded to Maria Tran for her feature documentary Quest for Jackie Chan.

Also highly recommended by the judges were Rick Viede's Transmedia project All the Way with Glace and Brianna O'Donohue's animated television sitcom Godsville.

The panel of judges included independent Producer Trish Lake whose credits include Gettin' Square and The Burning Season, Distribution Executive of Verve Entertainment David Dombrosky, and Megan Simpson Huberman who is Director of Creative and Enterprise Development at Screen Australia.

For more information on Metro Screen and the courses available, visit their website here. For more information on the SPAA Fringe Pitching Competition, click here.

Picture caption:Winner of Metro Screen's SPAA Fringe Pitching Competition, Roy Weiland.

2010 Cabramatta Moon Festival - Vietnamese Theatre Project

After diving from the "Quest for Jackie Chan!" stage 2 transmedia project I plunged into rehearsals for the Vietnamese Theatre Project showing at the 2010 Cabramatta Moon Festival. The show started at 7pm and was watched by hundreds and hundreds of people who lined the streets of Cabramatta.

After months of workshops and rehearsals, I must admit, I've grown a big attachment to those involved and have seen major transitions in all of them. The majority of them embarked on the project, only to be sideliners, but with due time, have been cleverly roped into some acting roles.

Everyone beamed with anticipation on show night; scurrying around in preparation with costumes, make up, rehearsing lines and dance movements. I recall hearing snippets of recollections of the beginning of this project, of uncertainty, disbelief, but all has changed and evolved into something bonding and magical.

About the theatre production "Aussie Cuoi"
Coming together at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta in July this year, a group of local Vietnamese residents shared stories and experiences close to their hearts – family life, settling and growing up in a new country, Vietnamese folktales and proverbs. Each week, this group grew larger and closer, and soon began meeting at the Cabravale Leisure Centre where they learnt new skills in acting,comedy, storytelling, movement and singing, under the guidance of Director, Lex Marinos.

The culmination of these ten weeks of theatre workshops is Aussie Cuoi, an interpretation of the traditional Vietnamese folktale of the wise old man in the moon, with a modern twist.

Devising Aussie Cuoi has been community-based, with the Vietnamese community collaborating to develop the themes and script ideas, designing the set and making costumes and props.

With the assistance of experienced artists, the project has also sparked compositions of new music which will be performed live alongside traditional songs, a new multimedia production and also features a children’s choir. Aussie Cuoi premieres at the 2010 Cabramatta Moon Festival.

Aussie Cuoi will be performed in both Vietnamese and English. It interweaves the
themes of migration and settlement in a new country and - with the performers and crew
ranging in age from 7-78 years - it also explores the relationship between parents and
children.

Aussie Cuoi is an initiative of Fairfield City Council, supported by the NSW Governmentthrough Arts NSW. We also thank the Vietnamese Community in Australia (NSW
Chapter) and Powerhouse Youth Theatre and the generous assistance of Mekong Panthers.
Check out the photos below. For the originals, check out Haline Ly.