OA FILM NEWS - 'Risen' selected for Muestra Intergaláctica de Cine in Saltillo, Mexico!

Good news alert - our film 'Risen', written and directed by the fantastic Tony Radevski will be screening at 'Muestra Intergaláctica de Cine' in Saltillo, Mexico! 

Congratulations to Tony, our wonderful cast and crew, Screen Australia and Berlinale Talents for making this possible.

OA FILM NEWS - our collaborator Tony Radevski wins for his 'Risen' pilot script

A huuuuuge congratulations to our collaborator Tony Radevski for his recognition by the Australian Writer's Guild's 'John Hinde Award'  - a wonderful achievement and we're sure good tidings for his original episodic series idea 'Risen', that we've been developing with him.

https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/dystopic-thriller-kin-wins-top-australian-sci-fi-screenwriting-award/

And of course, thanks to Screen Australia for their crucial Development Support of 'Risen'. 

OA FILM NEWS - Some recent news for our short film 'Risen' and the 'Risen' TV series concept

 

Our film RISEN, written and directed by Tony Radevski, has had a gaggle of recent press we wanted to share; plus some great news about the pilot script for the RISEN episodic series. 

'Extra Features Podcast' - interview with Tony Radevski and Pete Ireland about RISEN

https://www.extrafeatures.ca/extra-features-interviews-pete-ireland-and-tony-radevski-about-their-film-risen/

'Film Carnage' - 4.5 star review for RISEN

https://filmcarnage.com/2022/07/04/review-risen/

RISEN pilot script a quarterfinalist in the 'ScreenCraft Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenwriting Competition 2022' 

Big congratulations to our friend and collaborator Tony Radevski, for being named a quarterfinalist in the 'ScreenCraft Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenwriting Competition' for the RISEN pilot script. A fantastic achievement given there were nearly 1500 entries from around the world. And thanks to Screen Australia for their development support of the RISEN episodic series.

https://screencraft.org/blog/2022-screencraft-sci-fi-fantasy-screenwriting-competition-quarterfinalists/

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, JUST THE FACTS

Yes, my friends, it has been another year since I've given a full account of the actual filmmaking being done here at Opening Act.

And as I always say, while I appreciate your willingness to take my creative activity at face value, I feel I would be remiss to not provide at least a snapshot of our efforts over the continuing oddity that was 2021.

So, here goes.

* The annum began somewhat timidly in Sydney, not just because of the lingering trauma of COVID, but also because of its sudden resurgence between December 2020 and January 2021. Unfortunately, this reticence would be an indicator of what was to come over the next twelve months. With so many film festivals cancelling or moving online, and most productions without the resources to surmount the COVID safety hurdles, it was a very quiet start to the year.

* Despite that negative inertia, I received the delightful news that my feature documentary in development - 'Richard and the Windmill' - had been selected for the Industry Pitch competition at DocEdge NZ. I pitched the concept so many times at the event in April, I could recite the speech in my sleep. Good practice though, with an even better result: we were announced as one of the winning pitches!

* Just as we were beginning to build momentum, however, the dreaded Delta variant arrived. It was May 2021, and the country watched with anxiety to see if our island borders had officially been breached. By early June, Delta was suddenly exploding everywhere. Three weeks later, on my birthday, Sydney was officially back in lockdown.

* This dance of good news for my work and bad tidings for the global health situation, continued apace for the next few months. In July I learned that 'Risen', which I produced in collaboration with writer/director Tony Radevski, had been selected for the Oscar-accredited LA Shorts International Film Festival. All circumstances considered, the festival opted for an online version, so this achievement was tempered with the fact I never left my living room or my comfortable pants. Perhaps in rebellion against this stasis I also took on another producing project, a beautifully poetic short film called 'Fish Lake'; written and directed by Emma Jaay.

* In another bemusing twist to this whole lockdown saga, we were advised that 'Risen' also won 'Best Sci-Fi Film' at LA Shorts in August, which is a wonderful accolade that we were only able to celebrate via Zoom and modestly priced wine. We made the best of it with good cheer, regardless.

* As August rolled around, the full weight of the continuing lockdown landed with a thud. On reflection, it occurred to me that I'd come into 2021 with the hope that it would not be a "lost year" like its predecessor. When the calendar flipped to the eighth month, and we were still in lockdown, the heavy realisation that we had forfeited another precious year finally dawned on me.

* Not that I had a lot of time to feel sorry for myself. In August, 'Richard and the Windmill' was selected for the industry pitching event at the Dhaka DocLab. Once again, Richard's story was well received, which was much needed encouragement at that emotionally frayed time.

* In September, again perhaps as a psychological response to the feeling of stagnation, I signed on to co-produce a short documentary called 'Line Rider', with a talented Slovenian director named Simon Intihar. We're excited to be releasing that one this year.

* And then, a ray of sunshine in October. The lockdown in Sydney was officially ended. Relief at last...?

* While existing in our hermetically sealed lives, the end of the year barreled closer and closer. This reality could have renewed our sense of melancholy, but instead we were greeted with the announcement that the 'Risen' TV pilot script - penned by the talented Mr Radevski - was selected as a quarterfinalist (top 25%) in the ScreenCraft TV Pilot Competition in November; from 3800 worldwide submissions. An incredible achievement.

* The macabre dance twirled on. One day an international accolade, the next Omicron announces its November arrival. What a time to be alive.

* Which brought us to December. As we learned more about Omicron's potency (or lack thereof), some of us dared to wonder aloud: is this finally the end? Into the heart of that burgeoning optimism, came the news that our 'Risen' short film had been selected for two festivals: Shockfest Film Festival in the USA, and the Oscar-accredited Flickerfest International Film Festival in Australia. That early Xmas gift was followed up with an official invitation to premiere our short-form LGBTIQ comedy series 'Romp' at the Mardi Gras Film Festival in February. Spoils all around.

Thus bringing the heartbreak and triumphs of 2021 officially to a close.

At this point I would ordinarily have an overarching observation, some moral or lesson learned from another leg of this creative journey. When it comes to last year, however, I am officially stumped.

Babies were born and other lives ended. New jobs commenced and fledgling businesses founded. Awards were won. Students graduated. Lovers of every kind walked down the aisle, while others walked away from each other altogether.

Yet in spite of all the universe threw at us, we endured while the planet continued its celestial rotation.

There's something inspiring in that simple truth.

Perhaps the kindest thing I can say about 2021, is that we survived it.

And may there never be another one like it.

Onwards and upwards.

OA FILM NEWS - 'Risen' selected for the Oscar-accredited St Kilda Film Festival and nominated for three awards!

Some wonderful winter news - our film 'Risen' has been selected for the 2022 (Oscar-accredited) St Kilda Film Festival!

Congratulations also to our collaborators Tony Radevski and Zen McGrath, for their award nominations at the Festival. Our film 'Risen' is nominated for: 

BEST DIRECTOR - Tony Radevski 

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY - Tony Radevski 

BEST YOUNG ACTOR - Zen McGrath 

Thanks to the amazing cast and crew, and everyone who has supported 'Risen', especially our primary funding partner, Screen Australia.

http://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/

OA FILM NEWS - 'Bogan Moths' screening at the Melbourne International Animation Festival 2022

Delighted to reveal our animated comedy 'Bogan Moths' is screening at the Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) this week! 

Our founder (and producer of 'Bogan Moths') Pete Ireland will be there - in the hallowed halls of the Australian Centre of the Moving Image - to present the film on behalf of he and writer/director Tony Radevski. 

Hope to see you there! 

https://miaf.net/events/australian-showcase/ 

You can see the 'Bogan Moths' trailer at: https://vimeo.com/415015380/1e6f685512

OA FILM NEWS - 'Risen' nominated for five awards at the Los Angeles FirstGlance Film Festival 2022!

Our film 'Risen' has been selected for the FirstGlance Los Angeles Film Festival, where it has been nominated for 5 festival awards. 

The film is screening at Laemmle North Hollywood No7 on 14 May (5:15PM). Tickets and the full festival programme are available at: https://firstglancefilms.com/fglaschedule/ 

Thanks to our amazing cast and crew, for making these selections possible, and to Screen Australia who's funding made 'Risen' a reality! 

OA FILM NEWS - Our founder Pete Ireland a winner in the 2022 ScreenCraft Short Screenplay Competition

Congratulations to our founder and managing director Pete Ireland, who received the runner-up prize in the ScreenCraft Short Film Screenplay Competition for his script 'Children of Laika'; chosen from 1300 global entrants!

https://screencraft.org/blog/2022-screencraft-short-film-screenplay-competition-winners/

And thanks to Inside Film for a lovely write up about the win for our founder Pete Ireland: https://if.com.au/opening-act-films-pete-ireland-named-runner-up-in-global-screenwriting-competition/

OA FILM NEWS - 'Bogan Moths' screening at the Die Laughing Film Festival in Los Angeles

Times like these you wish you had a private jet. 

Excited to announce that our animated comedy short, 'Bogan Moths' (written and directed by the talented Tony Radevski) has been selected for the Die Laughing Film Festival in Los Angeles. 

Thanks to our wonderful cast and animator Andrew Martin. 

And if you're curious about our Mothy friends, check out our trailer at: https://vimeo.com/702736311

OA FILM NEWS - 'Pilè' screening at the Rochester International Film Festival 2022

Some good tidings before you become overfed with chocolate eggs and Jesus parables this weekend. 

Pilè - our film collaboration with writer/director extraordinaire Tony Radevski - has been selected for the 64th Rochester International Film Festival, in upstate New York - which is the oldest continually running film festival in the world! 

Having been screening in Australia and overseas since 2017, this will be both the North American premiere and the festival swansong for Pilè 

Our screening is Friday May 6 (8:00 PM) at the Eastman Kodak Theatre in Rochester, and our writer/director Tony may be going along to present the film; schedule permitting. 

It's crazy to think that we shot this film in 2016 and it continues to have a life, and an audience, six years later. For Tony and us at Opening Act Films, that is testament to the passion, care and skill our cast, crew and investors put into the film; which is visible in every frame - thank you.

OA FILM NEWS - 'Romp' selected for the 2022 Mardi Gras Film Festival

Thought it was worth sharing some good news, as we all downslide into the weekend. 

'ROMP', the LGBTIQ comedy series we produced with Tonnette Stanford (Wri/Dir), Zayn Buksh (EP), and Gita Irwin (AP), has been officially selected for the 2022 Mardi Gras Film Festival - yay! 

This is a huge honour for our series, given the festival screened all 6 episodes (90 minutes worth) in a binge session on the big screen at the iconic Event Cinemas, George Street. 

We had a sold out screening, and a raucous full cinema, which was truly wonderful given the last two years. 

Thanks to our wonderful cast and crew, Screen Australia and Queerscreen; for making 'Romp' possible. 

OA FILM NEWS - 'Risen' selected for the Oscar-accredited Flickerfest International Film Festival!

Some good tidings in the last sleeps before Xmas. 

'Risen' the film we produced with the visual maestro writer/director Tony Radevski with timely and much needed support from Screen Australia and Berlinale Talents, has been selected for its Australian premiere at the Oscar and BAFTA accredited Flickerfest Film Festival. 

Thanks to Screen Australia and everyone who supported and worked on the film, and hope to see as many of you in person in January as the global malady allows! 

https://flickerfest.com.au/film/risen/

OA FILM NEWS - InsideFilm reports about 'Risen' winning BEST SCI-FI at the LA International ShortsFest 2021!

Well, you know the secret is really out when it's in the trades.

InsideFilm has kindly interviewed writer/director Tony Radevski for their article on 'Risen' winning BEST SCI-FI at the LA Shorts International Film Festival 2021.

You can read the article HERE

OA FILM NEWS - 'Risen' wins BEST SCI-FI at LA International ShortsFest 2021!

We're excited to share the great news that our collaboration with the lovely writer/director Tony Radevski won 'BEST SCI-FI' at the Oscar and BAFTA accredited LA Shorts International Film Festival!

Thanks to our amazing cast and crew, Screen Australia for our production funding, Berlinale Talents for development support and LA Shorts Fest for championing new storytellers.

Hopefully this bodes well for the 'Risen' TV series, currently in development with support from Screen Australia.

OA FILM NEWS - LA International ShortsFest 2021 posts a director's commentary for our film 'Risen'

As LA International Shorts Fest winds down for their 2021 edition, writer/director Tony Radevski has recorded a Director’s commentary for our film ‘Risen’. You can check it out at:

https://www.lashortsfest.com/directors

OA FILM NEWS - our film 'Risen' has been selected for 2021 LA Shorts International Film Festival!

In yet another sign that we are leaving the dark tunnel of the last 18 months, our film 'Risen' (written and directed by the talented Tony Radevski) has just been selected for the 2021 LA Shorts International Film Festival! The festival is in its 25th year, is Oscar and BAFTA accredited, and has notable directing alumni like Tim Burton, David Lynch, Terry Gilliam, and Jon Favreau.

 
Thanks to all who made 'Risen', and this good news, possible!

More information available at L.A. Shorts International Film Festival and thanks to our key supporters Screen Australia (production funding) and Berlinale Talents (development support).

OA FILM NEWS - 'Richard and The Windmill' wins at the DocEdge Pitch Competition

It's been a while between postings, but thought we'd interrupt the radio silence to share some good news.

'Richard and the Windmill', our documentary in development/production, was recently selected as a finalist of the very well regarded DocEdge pitch competition. 

And then, late last week, we discovered our pitch is one of the winners! Thanks to everyone who has supported the documentary so far, and to Keith and Arthur at DocEdge for their incredibly well run pitch competition and forum.

OA FILMS NEWS - an EVEN LONGER overdue update...

It's been an odd eighteen months, we're sure we can all agree on that. 

Despite the existential crisis created by the global malady (or perhaps because of it) we've been quite busy here at Opening Act Films. Well, not so much busy - "busy is the new stupid" after all - but engaged fully in trying to scrape some meaning during this potentially bleak period. 

So, for the curious of heart about what we've been up to, here are the highlights (lowlights?) for a very strange 2020 at Opening Act Films:

* After the January Xmas break concluded, in February we started working on a new project called 'Najis' with the very talented writer/director Tony Radevski (Runtime Pictures). We moved into lighting tests, location scouting and auditions, blissfully naive to what lay ahead.

* In late February, we received fantastic news that our previous collaboration with Tony, 'Risen', had been selected for the Oscar and BAFTA accredited Slamdance Film Festival's 'Emergence'. Word of a scary new virus was growing, but at this point we were still looking forward to travelling to Los Angeles, and being at the historic Arclight cinema in Hollywood where 'Risen' would make its debut. The event was scheduled for the end of March.

* As we rolled into March, we kept working on the 'Najis' pre production, and also dived heavily into planning for the trip to Los Angeles for Slamdance.

Then, the world turned upside down.

* From the end of March onwards, international borders were officially closing down every few days. Domestic borders sprung up shortly afterwards. Plans were scratched. Bookings abandoned. Lockdowns enacted. Existential crises set in.

* Ironically, at the end of March, 'Risen' was also selected for the FIAPF-accredited 'Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival'. 'Risen' would have played in a festival programme featuring Pixar's latest film 'Onward'; Toronto FF, Stiges and FantastFest Austin's Netflix acquisition 'The Platform'; and the latest HBO series from the Wire's David Simon, 'The Plot Against America'. The actual festival itself was of course cancelled.

* In April, as the lockdowns entered full strength and film production came to a shuddering halt worldwide, we and our creative peers tried to pivot. Our founder Pete Ireland recorded a couple of podcasts with Tony Radevski and his co-host Shaun Macey. Also in April, Pete was invited to speak with another collaborator of ours - Tonnette Stanford - to creative studies University students on Zoom. It was one of our first Zoom experiences, so felt exceedingly odd, but little did we know it would be far from our last.

* The lockdown stretched on. Many people - ourselves included - barely left their houses. Trying to keep mentally occupied in May, we - along with writer/director Tony Radevski - started the finishing process for our slowly forming, animated short film 'Bogan Moths'. Oddly, May was also the start of meaningful conversations about completing a corporate video which had been in the works since 2018. Weird timing, even if the distraction was welcome.

* In June, we started the final Quality Assurance checks for our Screen Australia funded, short form episodic series 'Romp'. Just because we were all being overcome with cabin fever didn't mean we couldn't be productive.

* In early July, we released a teaser trailer for 'Bogan Moths', that seemed to bring a morsel of welcome levity, perhaps even some joy.

* During the months of lockdowns and cancelled events, the "online film festival" concept suddenly rose to prominence. We reaped some of the benefit in mid-July, by having our animated documentary ‘Chip’ chosen for an online showcase for LA ShortsFest International Film Festival's YouTube channel. Making hay while the sun shines...outside.

* The 'Chip' selection signaled an unexpected purple patch, because at the end of July we also received word that our short zombie-comedy script 'Ned' - written by our founder Pete Ireland - was selected as a Quarterfinalist in the esteemed Screencraft Comedy Screenplay competition. The script didn't make the semifinals, but it was nice news, none-the-less.

* In September, a new animated documentary concept we were working on with writer/director Tony Radevski called 'That Queer Feel' was selected for Queer Screen's 'Mardi Gras Film Festival PITCH OFF'. Tony and Pete pitched the project via Zoom, with Tony appearing as a cartoon person to sell the power of animation. We didn't win the cash to make the film, but the feedback was great, and Tony enjoyed his stint as 2D character, albeit short lived.

* In November, despite everything the world had endured by this point and the restrictions we still faced, we completed the shoot for that long gestating corporate video (years!); eventually delivering it to a satisfied business owner.

* And finally, in December, after post production delays and a five year journey to completion, we officially delivered the 'Romp' series to our post production financier, Screen Australia'. Finding an audience through the COVID maze would be the next challenge.

Then, despite at times feeling like it would last a decade, 2020 was over.

But it's worth noting, before we get too carried away with self congratulation, that there was one highlight more heartening than the rest, during these often bleak times.

The camaraderie of the filmmaking community.

Surviving those early dark days, when the fall seemed so fast, and we weren't sure where the bottom would be, the many warm conversations with peers, with strangers and with friends, were all part of how we got through it.

In truth, with so much latent trauma yet to be realised we're not even sure if we have gotten through it.

But watching people come together, in solidarity and in friendship, makes us more certain than ever that we will.

Our deepest wish is that you also found safety and support in whatever circle you call home.

Here's to a much better rest of 2021 and beyond.

OA FILM NEWS - our film 'Chip' selected for Oscar- accredited LA ShortsFest's online showcase

Have a spare few minutes and need some cheer? 

Then feel free to check out our animated doco ‘Chip’, which has been chosen for an online showcase on Oscar and BAFTA accredited LA ShortsFest’s YouTube channel 

And a special thanks to our collaborators who made 'Chip' happen, the uber talented producer/illustrator Tony Radevski and animator Andrew Martin at Honeydew Studios.

Watch the film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgPzZXSwXlk

OA FILM NEWS - our script 'Ned' was recently selected as a Quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Comedy Screenplay competition!

Some nice news, and a small humblebrag - if you'll indulge us.

Our zombie comedy script 'Ned', written by our founder Pete Ireland, was recently selected as a Quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Comedy Screenplay competition. We didn't make the semifinals, but nice news, none-the-less.

Brag over. Aside from the fact Pete may have coined the term "zombedy".

https://screencraft.org/2020/06/03/2020-screencraft-comedy-contest-quarterfinalists/