Press release from Lighthouse Communications
Aspiring and established Australian screenwriters could find themselves taking their first steps to the big screen by participating in the Dungog Film Festival’s (DFF) newly expanded In The Raw program, to be staged for the first time in Sydney.
In The Raw, part of DFF since 2008, is a script development program where actors read selected unproduced screenplays to a live audience. The program has this year been expanded to a stand-alone event, held bi-monthly and commencing on Monday February 7.
The expansion of the program was made possible by a newly signed partnership with Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay – Sydney’s premier home of quality Australian and international performance.
Since its inception, DFF’s In The Raw has provided a stage for 14 screenwriters plus numerous actors and associated filmmakers to expose their work to the industry and film loving public. These include Pauline Chan, whose screenplay Mei Mei took part in the program’s inaugural year and is now in post-production. The film stars Guy Pearce and Claudia Karvan and is set to be released this year.
Pauline Chan said DFF’s In The Raw program was significant in developing her script and bringing it to the silver screen.
“Presenting our script at DFF’s In The Raw was a wonderful chance for us to gauge invaluable audience reaction before the film was made,” Ms Chan said. “The experience gave us deeper confidence and set us on our feet."
Dungog Film Festival Director, Allanah Zitserman, said the expansion of the program would provide an even greater opportunity for Australia’s talented screenwriters to get their works heard by key industry players and road tested with their intended audience.
“Partnering with Sydney Theatre makes it possible to present In The Raw as a regular event in Sydney. We’re delighted to stage the live reads at the Richard Wherrett Studio, a striking historic space.”
Sydney Theatre’s Executive Producer Jo Dyer said “Sydney Theatre is thrilled to work with Dungog Film Festival on their In The Raw program. Having hosted the premieres of such great Australian films as Lucky Miles, Romulus My Father and Men’s Group, Sydney Theatre has long been a friend of the Australian film industry and sees this partnership as an important development in this deepening relationship.”
Unproduced feature screenplays and television pilots can now be submitted to DFF’s In The Raw program for consideration by an expert industry panel.
Event Details
Event: Dungog Film Festival in association with Sydney Theatre present In The Raw
Location: Richard Wherrett Studio, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney 2000
Date/Time: Monday February 7th, 6-9pm
Reading begins 6pm and on completion, the audience is invited to start a dialogue with the filmmakers. Feedback is encouraged.
Cost: The event is free but attendees must register to attend
Tickets: From Monday 24 January, tickets can be reserved online, by phone or in person at the Sydney Theatre box office – www.sydneytheatre.org.au / 02 9250 1999 / Sydney Theatre Box Office, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Further information on In The Raw: http://dungogfilmfestival.org/2011/in-the-raw.html