Press release from Solid Ink Communications
Three new short film projects will launch into action thanks to production funding from Film Victoria’s Propeller Shorts program.
JUST DESSERTS, THE RAT and TETHERED are the latest innovative and original short narrative projects to secure the program’s funding, which aims to ‘propel’ budding filmmakers into long-form work.
Film Victoria CEO, Sandra Sdraulig, congratulated the successful applicants and elaborated on the underlying goal driving the Propeller Shorts funding; “Working without the pressure of commercial demands, filmmakers have a wonderful chance to hone their creative and technical skills.
“The projects coming out of the Propeller Shorts program continue to impress year on year and I’m sure the latest creative teams will be no different. Congratulations to everyone involved, we can’t wait to see your wonderful concepts come to life as you take this very important step in your careers,” said Ms. Sdraulig.
In recent years a number of acclaimed practitioners have launched their careers on the back of Film Victoria Shorts funding, such as Sarah Watt (MY YEAR WITHOUT SEX) and Phillippa Campey (WORDS FROM THE CITY). Last year’s projects have also garnered positive attention such as Juliet Porter and Kylie Bryant’s heartfelt drama FLOATING which has been nominated for an AWGIE award and secured invitations to the Montreal World Film Festival and the LA Shorts Fest for 2009.
In addition, the team behind NULLARBOR were able to establish the animation and VFX company The Lampshade Collective as a result of the program, which has since been providing digital animation services to the industry.
As part of the Propeller Shorts program, the completed films are showcased to leading established Victorian practitioners at a special networking event hosted by Film Victoria. This year the invite-only premiere screening of the 2008 Propeller Shorts participants will take place at ACMI, Federation Square, with the films LOVE APPLES, FLOATING, PEST and NULLARBOR being screened.
The successful projects for 2009:
Writer/director Craig Irvin will begin production on TETHERED, a story about teenager Tobin and his job working in the local abattoir. When he becomes the joke of the workplace, Tobin must do what he has to do in order to become a man, even if it means losing the most beautiful thing that he has.
JUST DESSERTS is a twisted tale of fear, revenge and absolution by director Nigel Karikari, writer Gillian Bartlett and producer Donna Lyon. Two sisters running a tiny truck stop in rural Victoria are confronted by a menacing shadow from their past one evening as they’re closing up shop. Can these two old timers take on a demon from their past and dish him his just desserts?
THE RAT explores the outer limits of human despair centring on the story of Joey who steals, cheats and lies to get his hit. Always careful not show too much of who he is, Joey lives in the moment. But what will become of Joey and the vicious circle of life he is trapped in? Writer/ Director John Evagora and producer Polly Staniford will begin production on THE RAT later this year.
The teams from Propeller Shorts 2009 have jumped right into the filmmaking process, with JUST DESSERTS commencing filming this week. THE RAT and TETHERED are also scheduled to start filming in the next few months, with all projects due to be completed before Christmas 2009.