As Victoria’s home for emerging and early career screen practitioners for over 40 years, Open Channel filmmaker initiatives are focused on bringing creative people together. In this article, you’ll hear about how Open Channel like our Generation Next Drama and Comedy Conference bring members face to face with the creators and producers behind shows like Summer Heights High, Winners and Losers, Puberty Blues, House Husbands, and star of Howzat Lachy Hulme.
GENERATION NEXT DRAMA AND COMEDY / DOCUMENTARY CONFERENCES, Supported by Film Victoria and SBS
Our Generation Next Conferences provide a space for emerging, early career, and experienced practitioners to network and share knowledge and industry skills.
Our recent Drama and Comedy Conference was a priceless opportunity to hear from actor Lachy Hulme of Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War and Beaconsfield and Laura Waters, producer of Chris Lilley’s smash hit Summer Heights High.
Participants engaged with industry professionals including: Mary-Anne Carroll (EP Comedy, Seven Network), Rick Maier (Executive Producer, Network Ten), Peter Hudson (CEO – TV1) Jason Stephens – (Creative Director – Fremantle Media Australia), Anthony Mrsnik (Showtime), Dan Bennett (Seven Network), Imogen Banks (Producer, Puberty Blues) David Taylor and David Maher (Playmaker Media – House Husbands) and many more. The conference was designed to serve as a launch pad for establishing our future community of Victorian drama and comedy screen practitioners.
Open Channel will run the Generation Next Documentary Conference on 6 & 7 December 2012, and expressions of interest to attend are open now at rsvp@openchannel.org.au
SHORT AND SHARP / SHORT AND SHARP PRO PITCHING COMPETITION, supported by Film Victoria
Open Channel’s pitching competitions provide members with the opportunity to sharpen pitching skills, pitch in front of leading industry decision makers, and to win great prizes including access to Open Channel equipment, and mentoring by production companies or producers. Past winner Jehan Ratnatunga is now working as an Executive with YouTube USA.
Our Shepparton Short and Sharp event is being held on Monday 8th October with panellists including Roadshow Films’ Seph McKenna, Comedian Tim Ferguson (Doug Anthony All Stars), Director Marc Gracie (The Craic) and Executive Producer Jennie Hughes Dirty Deeds, starring Toni Collette). Our Melbourne Metro Short and Sharp will be held on 15 October 2012, and our Short and Sharp Pro competition for 2012 will also be announced soon.
RAW NERVE FILMMAKING INITIATIVE, supported by Screen Australia
The Australian Screen Network runs the Raw Nerve filmmaking initiative, creating many award winning shorts from the finest emerging filmmakers. Expect to see a great crop of short films in 2012, and new opportunities for film funding and exhibition under our production initiatives in 2013.
FRAMED, supported by Film Victoria
Framed is a free seminar series which examines aspects of the screen industry including new media; career pathways; crew roles; and creating screen-based content. Framed brings in industry experts to share their knowledge within a practical setting that enables an open discussion of industry issues, and fosters a sharing of experience and industry networking. Upcoming events include Self Distribution with Kate Gorman and Anna Whitelaw from Pozible (October 18, 5pm at Open Channel rsvp@openchannel.org.au), and Visual Effects and Animation with Lampshade Collective later in the year.
INDUSTRY NEWS
We have a free fortnightly newsletter, OPENline for the emerging and early career sector in Victoria, OPENline includes information on all our upcoming programs and initiatives, as well as other industry information. Find out about competitions, screenings, events and crew opportunities by signing up at http://www.openchannel.org.au/about_openline.html
Our Facebook page includes a range of specialist groups so you can choose to receive information and opportunities in areas that interest you. It’s a great platform for talking to your peers, and to industry. Look for the Facebook icons on this page http://www.openchannel.org.au/training/shortcourses.html
WHAT ELSE?
Other services we offer filmmakers include:
* member discounts and screenings
* affordable equipment and facilities hire, including Sony F3 Cinealta
Camera, Edit Suites, and Panasonic HPX-250 P2 Camera Kits
* production office and Black Magic online edit suite hire
* shed hire for large scale shoots
* customised training, regional and Indigenous production initiatives
* internships on productions for course graduates
OPEN CHANNEL has been in important institution in Victoria for over 40 years, and has been the launchpad for the career’s of many of Australia’s best filmmakers and technicians. We welcome people from all backgrounds to become a member of the Open Channel family, and look forward to providing many new opportunities to help you on your pathway in the screen industry.
More information:
Telephone (03) 86109300 (business hours Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm)
Email: info@openchannel.org.au
Address: Shed 4, North Wharf Road Docklands, 3008
