OAFILMS NEWS - Chasing Mel keeps screening!

Chasing Mel has had another successful screening, after being officially selected for the 'Katoomba Short Film Festival' and the 'Caught Short Shorts Festival' at the TAP Gallery in Darlinghurst.

The crowd response at Katoomba was terrific and I am getting ready for the TAP screening this Thursday, 2nd July.

I will be answering questions in a filmmaker Q and A on the night at the TAP Gallery. For more info, go to http://www.filmcaughtshort.com/?m=200906

WHAT'S NEXT?

Well.....maybe not.

It has been hectic of late, but I am loving it. My next projects are:
- 1st Assistant Director on a 16mm short titled 'A Flaw In Perfection'. We have shot 3 days and have 1 more day to go.
- Writing a short film script (working title: 'Dead Man Walking')
- Miscellaneous helper (editor? story consultant? fluffer?) on my talented friend Mark Tipple's documentary on Indonesian poverty.
- Writer/co-director with my uber-skilled pal Chino on an untitled short film.

That should keep me busy for the next few months at least.

Chasing Mel Screening - 23rd May 2009

Chasing Mel screened at the Newtown Film Festival to a majority unbiased crowd (i.e. minority friends and family). I was a nervous wreck before hand, but the crowd reaction was brilliant! They laughed in the right places and in a few I didn't expect.

I didn't win the 'audience favourite' award for my session, but I was not overly bothered given the crowd was STACKED with the people who featured in a particular documentary. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that, during the voting, one of my friends overheard the following conversation:

Person 1: "Finished your vote form?"
Person 2: "Not yet. I know I am supposed to vote for our one, but I really liked that Mel Gibson one"

I am sure that person would have eventually voted for the other film. The moral is, if I made one person second-guess their guaranteed vote for a friend, I must be doing something right.

Thanks to my friends and family who came along, it was very special with you there.

Chasing Mel in Newtown Flicks 2009

I have entered 'Chasing Mel' into the Newtown Flicks Film Festival 2009. It will have a screening at the new theatre in Newtown on either the 22nd, 23rd or 24th of May 2009. One of the judges is Academy Award winning writer and director Bruce Beresford. Here's hoping he likes documentaries about stalking celebrities.

For more details visit the festival website at http://www.newtownflicks.com.au

And I Would Like to Thank.....

We won!

Chasing Mel won best Documentary and Best Sound in a Documentary at the Sydney Film School Awards. The awards were judged by a panel of industry professionals, and the film was selected from a field of 8 very good documentaries.

The after party was the stuff of legends.....

Chasing Mel Screening - 17th December 2008

My short doco, Chasing Mel, screened on Wednesday the 17th December. It was without a doubt the most nerve wracking experience I have had - and I've been skydiving.

The screening went really well, and the audience reaction was fantastic! It was such an amazing experience and the adrenalin took a long time to wear off.

Chasing Mel

My first project will be a short documentary called Çhasing Mel. I developed and then pitched the project,along with 11 other people, and mine was one of four selected for production!

We are in production right now for 4 weeks and will be in post from 13 Ocotber onwards. The final film will be ready for screening in December 2008.

For further details go to http://www.sydneyfilmschool.com/films/film-database.aspx?film=6289

I am also working in a supporting role on Mark Tipple's 16mm film: 'Dirt' (http://www.sydneyfilmschool.com/films/film-database.aspx?film=6278)

July 28th 2008 = Day 1

This is it. I am confirmed and ready to go. The next two years are destined to be either the start or end of my film career.

I vote 'start'.

I want to break freeeeeeeee....

After far too many distractions from film, I have quit my day job and am looking for a new one which is not all consuming. It honestly feels like coming out of a 5 month coma.

With my newfound freedom, I have enrolled at Film School, which will give me all the fundamentals I need, and I have lined up some work as a runner on a TV pilot shooting in 2 weeks.

It's good to be awake again.

The next step....

The website is registered, www.openingactfilms.com

Next step is putting together the webpage itself. On we go.

Pete

Coming soon....

Details for my Tropfest entry. The next Tropfest has already wrapped up entries, so I am looking to enter for the 2008 schedule. Entries close Dec 2007/Jan 2008.

Inspiration on the Emerald Isle

As a fan of mythology and folklore, my trip to Ireland was a bonanza of stories based on ancient Celtic legends. One in particular has given me a much needed kick in the creative pants, and from that I have spent a number of days developing a story and some visual ideas for a Irish folk-lore project.

The working title is 'The Emerald Wars'.

Registering the domain

Soon I will be securing the domain for the official Opening Act website. I have already organised the web designer who will help get this project finalised. Stay tuned for the official unveiling early next year.

In the interim, there will be updates of production issues, developments in the finalisation of my short film, and of course notification of any major events in the lead up to a festival entry.

London the Muse...

Since I have been here, London has been like a creative Mecca for story ideas.

The latest is probably the toughest to pull off, given the current climate in Australia and the world, however there are things that need to be said in my country. I think, with the right amount of disarming humour, it could work really well. It's a documentary, which is a branch out for me and not one I really expected. The best facet of a good documentary is that they often tend to self-publicise, and if done right you can get good quality without spending a fortune. Add that one to the ever growing list of story ideas I have.

What is it about? A gentleman never tells, but here's a clue - is it simply coincidental irony that Australia, the U.S.A. and the U.K. are all reporting obesity epidemics while parts of the world are reporting record levels of famine and starvation? Food for thought.

It Begins Here......

This is where it starts. From small beginnings to god knows where. Time to make my dreams happen.