================================================================= FILMNET 2.04 Volume 2 Issue 04 Thursday 28 January 1999 - ISSN: 1441-726X THE FREE ONLINE WEEKLY AUSTRALIAN FILM INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (email to subscribe/unsubscribe) ================================================================= =========== CONTENTS =========== Rounders, Urban Legend & the usual news & roundup. ============ EDITORIAL ============ Don?t forget to checkout the Flickerfest short films coming to Melbourne?s Nova next week. =========== GIVEAWAY =========== We have 20 double passes to a preview of DEAD MAN ON CAMPUS to give away thanks to UIP. Its due for release on March 4 and is a tale of 2 students at college who conclude that the only way they?ll pass college is if they use the loophole of having a dead room-mate. You must be subscribers and be able to get to the Greater Union cinemas in Russel St, Melbourne on Monday March 1st at 6.30pm sharp. Email Filmnet at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ASAP with your name and postal address to win the tickets. First in, first served so be quick. ======== �NEWS ======== JANE KENEALLY LOOKS TO BIG TIME. Jane Keneally daughter of famous writer, Thomas Keneally has turned her hand to film-making. She has just finished her Masters degree majoring in production at the AFTRS and entered her short, EL TWISTO (with cinematographer Tony Davison and editor/writer Dave Redman) into Tropfest. She has also bought the film rights to her father?s novel, WOMAN OF THE INNER SEA and is currently seeking finance. She wants to work in Australia rather than the US and is looking for a career in television. FREE FILM_link_ FOR FANS As of February 25, FILM_link_ magazine will be available freely within most of Sydney metropolitan stores, cinemas and selected outlets. It will remain being sold for $A3.50 outside this area around the country. The long term plan is that within 12 months it will also be freely distributed in Melbourne and Brisbane. GIBSON GIVES UP GOTHAM Mel Gibson has publicly stated that he definitely will not take part in the next Batman movie which is reputed to again star Jack Nicholson as the Joker. He will also not be involved with another Mad Movie. Judging by his effort in Lethal Weapon 4 he may be better suited to a role in Stepmon II. Meanwhile Mel has passed on a role in Barry Levinson?s rendition of A Tale of Two Cities as he prepares his adaptation of Ray Bradbury?s Fahrenheit 451. Francois Truffaut?s version will be hard to beat. Also Mel may take a secondary role as a bald detective in the film, `The Million Dollar Hotel? which is a collaboration between Bono of U2 and famed director Wim Wenders. ABC TV WANTS YOU ABC TV documentaries needs prestigious powerful programs from independent filmmakers about the places, people, issues and events that define Australia. They will screen on THE BIG PICTURE and INSIDE STORY and applications must be received by the 4 assessment round closing dates of Feb 5, May 7, Aug 6 and Nov 5. Contact The Manager, TV Documentaries, Ph02)9950-4967, Fax: (02) 9950-4942 for details. INDUSTRY INTERCOURSE The SPAA/ASDA Documentary Council (SADC) will meet at 6pm, Thursday Feb 4 at the NSW Writers? Centre, Rozelle, Sydney (coming to other capitals) to seek the opinions of members on various issues related to the sector. Contact SPAA or ASDA for the numerous issues being covered such as whether Documart becomes a one-day annual event etc. FLICKERFEST HITS MELBOURNE The Flickerfest touring shorts program hits Melbourne on Sunday January 31 at the Nova and runs on various nights at 9.15pm through to February 25. There are Aardman Animations, New Zealand and Scottish short film programs and 4 programs of Australian and International shorts. HANDS UP FOR GREGOR JORDAN Young Australian director, Gregor Jordan?s film Two Hands was well received by a packed audience at the Sundance festival. The 1000+ crowd at Park City?s Eccles Theatre clapped loudly at many moments during the film that should do well at the box-office. GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS Australians performed well winning 2 Golden Globe awards. Cate Blanchett won one for best actress for her role in Elizabeth. Burkhard Dallwitz won a globe for best original music score on The Truman Show. CHAN KEEN ON AUSTRALIA Jackie Chan is keen on returning to Australia now that his parents, who live in Canberra have recently become Australian citizens. His father loves watching videos of Jackie?s completed movies but his mother hates the violence. NEW PERTH DRIVE-IN A new drive-in cinema costing $A50 000 has been installed at the Midland Military Markets north east of Perth. Sound is broadcast through a processor to car?s FM stereos rather than the old fashioned speakers hung from poles. It costs $A15 a carload (max 5 people) fora double of first release films and is open 7 nights a week. Cinema operator, Des McKenna hopes to entice families away from the vcr and attract young people who have never experienced drive-ins. LET THE OLD TIMERS ROLL 2 retired projectionists in Tasmania have resurrected a 1937 projector and started showing old films at the Port Sorrell Memorial Hall. They will start by showing old b&w movies and have vowed never to show a movie with Tom Hanks in it. GEORGE MILLER WANTS TO HELP EMERGING FILMMAKERS George Miller, Terrence Malick and Steven Soderbergh are on the Next Wave Films(www.nextwavefilms.com) panel and are looking for outstanding new work which need finishing funds. They can also be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . CATCH THE CHINA POST MFO personnel recently visited China to promote Victoria?s post production facilities and showcase the Victorian industry and locations. A trip report is available from Lucy Chancellor-Weale for those interested (03)9651-0610 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it JOURNEY TO VICTORIA?S CENTRE The mini-series Journey TO The Center Of The Earth will shoot in Victoria in April and is currently in pre-production. George T Miller is the director on behalf of Hallmark Management. TOWNSHIP TO BE TORN DOWN? The Paterson?s Ridge township built for The Man From Snowy River tv series at Chattering Lodge, Newbury may be demolished soon says owner, Nola Whitehouse (03)54-241-415 if the film & tv industry are not interested in using the location. Anyone interested in destroying the village for a film should also give her a call. DODGY DISCOUNTS Metropolis books in Acland st, St Kilda (Melb) has a good selection of cinema _title_s but they no longer offer ASDA members a 10% discount. However their sister store 50 stores down the road which doesn?t stock t film books still gives a discount! Bizarre logic at work. Cinestore in Sydney and the massive Borders superstore in South Yarra have bigger selections anyway. NFSA IN MIDDLE OF A MOVE Canberra?s National Film & Sound Archive is currently moving to a new site which will be equipped with the latest in film restoration technology. The Melbourne office is in the process of making a video compilation en_title_d, A History of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne?s Beach Culture On Film. It is composed entirely of original film and _link_ed by detailed commentary and will be released in 1999. The NFSA are always interested in acquiring old films, radio and tv broadcasts, photos and memorabilia for their collection. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for enquiries. MADC ENTRIES ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE On February 8 entries for the MADC advertising and craft awards will close so hurry. The presentation night will be held on Saturday 8 May at the Melbourne Convention Centre. Call (03) 9690-7455 for details. MP TRIES TO PUT DRAPES ON LOLITA Federal Liberal MP, Ms Trish Draper in the seat of Drakin (Adelaide) has called for a ban of the remake of the film, Lolita. She hasn?t seen it but believes it provides justification for paedophiles and its subject matter was reason enough for a ban. MCKENZIE ON A ROLL Jacqueline McKenzie (ANGEL BABY) has finished acting in the US film FREAK WEATHER. LOVE FROM GROUND ZERO written and directed by Stephen Grynberghas in which she star with fellow Australian, Simon Baker-Denny has premiered at Palm Springs (US). TROPFEST CLOSES Tropfest 99 received a record 370 entries and is said to have nurtured and tapped into a boom in short film-making. Former winner Paul Fenech has taken his film, SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS to Slamdance �and another winner, Gregor Jordan has taken his film TWO HANDS to Sundance Film Festival. PREMIER FILM COMPETITION Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has been called on to help judge the best of 10 finalists in a 1 minute documentary competition held by channel 10 and Berri Ltd. Other judges were film director, Nadia Tass, Vince Sorrenti and Democrats deputy leader, Natasha Stott Despoja. ROBERTS? RUGBY MOVIE Former rugby league star, Ian Roberts looks set to star in a film about his life and experiences as a gay rugby hero. He co-wrote the _script_ with Dean O?Flattery and is negotiating with a US production company in the hope of beginning production in September in Sydney. JAFFAS DOWN THE AISLE FILM FESTIVAL Films under 15 minutes are currently being sought for this film festival with the deadline of February 19 fast approaching. Allens is the presenter so expect lot of jaffas during the screenings from March 7-9 1999. FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE AWARDS The Sydney run FCCA have announced their nominations with THE BOYS receiving 10 and HEAD ON and THE INTERVIEW 7 each. It will be interesting to compare the winners with those chosen by the AFI. WHERE ARE THE WHEEL WARRIORS? Gary Young (02-9636-4249) is looking for people who appeared in the 1970s Australian movie, WHEELS OF FIRE for a follow up to the movie to be called, 25 YEARS WITH THE WEEKEND WARRIORS. BUFF BONANZA Film buffs are in for a treat over the weekend of February 13-14 at the 1st annual Melbourne Film Buffs Weekend. There will be a swapmeet, cinema tours, an
... read more �

Filmnet < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote in article < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it <SNIP then (C) 1999 Gawain McLachlan Curious this last bit...... Film net seems to be slow to identify that much of the information seems to come �from other publications or Web sites (with the exception of the filmn reviews). There is no credit or even the slightest bit of verification. So if some poor bastard appears incorrectly as a contact on, say, Australia's Cultural Network or Screen Network Associates, then it seems that they will also get unwanted calls from people reading Film Net. There have been cases of this in recent Film net publications. For example anyone following up on the Channel [V] items about short films on PM would have been given the following: This competition has only run once and should be up again in 1999 but the date is uncertain at this stage. Doesn't sound like a deadline of March 1 as reported on in Film Net and Australian Cultural Network or Screen Network Associates. Odd that it appears incorrectly in the other media, then a little later �on Film Net. If you are going to lift material, at least support the people doing the legwork and give them credit. Odd, some people may consider this copyright infringement but I'm sure Film Net has a good explanation and will happily talk about the source of its material. EPS PS Hello to everyone at Encore Magazine

PS Hello to everyone at Encore Magazine As a professional within the Film/TV industry I have to say that Filmnet is far and away the most useful locally relevant publication available. Gawain is doing a great job and I think you are wrong in suggesting that there is anything untoward in his methods. I was never in any doubt as to the fact that he is collating information from a variety of sources. He is in error however in suggesting that you must be a journalism student with an axe to grind. Anyone who has ever read and compared competing daily newspapers in this country knows damn well that half the stories printed are borrowed without credit from other sources. As Gawain says, if you don't like it, don't read it! Paul Harrington