December 2007 Archives
Happy New Year, welcome to television for 2008!
In the Training Department at the Film and Television Institute a key philosihpy we have is that if you want to get into the business of making film and television you have to get a good understanding of the film and TV landscape. You've got to have a good knowledge of what's been on, what's works, and what doesn't and what's coming up next.
Sounds simple, I mean you wouldn't be exploring a career in making TV unless you liked watching it as well. The challenge however is that what we watch as individuals - is probably quite different to what the masses watch. A good way to test how much your personal taste is in tune with everyone else is to complare what you watch with the weekly ratings - most of would be stunned by what the majority of other people watch.
Why is this important? Well if your going in to pitch an idea to a TV executive it's probably not a good idea to pitch the exact idea they made last year. Plus watching lots of television can help build your skills and knowledge in whatever area your interested in pursuing a career in. It's just not the quality TV that matters - what the bad stuff as well - there's lots of money to be made in low quality product as well.
In 2006 and 2007 we published a list each week, (most weeks) to our students of things on television that might be of interest. This year we'll make that list public here on this blog each week. Some weeks there are lots of great things on, other weeks are a barren landscape. We'll highlight locally made WA productions, innovative new shows, new series that are beginning and things we predict might crash and burn.
Our recommedations will be for both free to air and PAY TV. If you see something good let us know about it too. Obviously the first week of January is a terrible time to be watching TV - your supposed to be weatching cricket or going to the beach. If your like us your more likely to be binge viewing TV series on DVD.
TUESDAY 1st January
Lockie Leonard
4:00pm Nine Childrens Series
Lockie's first day of high school runs exactly to plan... not! After quickly making an enemy, Lockie is an immediate target for all kinds of treatment at school.
This locally filmed show recently won the Best Children's TV award at the AFI's. If your going to work in TV in WA there's a really high chance you'll work on a kids show at some point, after all - were really good at them.
Changing Stages
10:00pm Ovation Documentary Series Part One
Stars Jet Li, Maggie Cheung and Xhang ZiYi.
THURSDAY 3rd January
Kiki's Delivery Service
10:15pm SBS Feature Film - Animation
Kiki, a young witch, has turned 13 and according to the ancient tradition she leaves home to find her own place in the world. She flies her broom to a coastal town where she finds a room above a local bakery and sets up a delivery service. Despite a few misadventures, Kiki is doing well until one day her powers disappear. She cannot fly her broomstick and she can no longer communicate with her cat, Jiji. Ursula, a painter Kiki has met on one of her delivery runs, explains about artistic blocks and how something similar may have affected Kiki. A Hayao Miyazaki film, in the genre of Japanese anime.
The Friday Night Project
8:30pm UKTV Variety Show
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, with a different celebrity host every episode. This time it's David Tennant. With two comic presenters on hand, he gets involved in comedy sketches and hidden camera stunts.
Someone in the programming area of UKTV seems to have missed an essential point in this shows title - and scheduled it on Thursdays.... hmmmm. This show has been going since 2004 in the UK and has been a success. This episode was aired in the UK at the beginnning of 2007. Since 'Hey Hey it's Saturday' left Australian screens the idea of creating a similar type show has often be suggested in Australian TV land, maybe the Friday Night Project will provide some inspiration.
There is another episode on Friday night with David Walliams from 'Little Britain'.
FRIDAY 4th January
Feature Films
Channel 7, 9 and 10 all have feature films. On Seven there is the classic comedy of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' followed by 'Kinsey'. Channel 9 has Ron Howards 'The Missing' followed by 'Eye's Wide Shut', while Channel 10 has the comedy 'America's Sweethearts'. Depending on whether or not you've seen them already we'd recommed checking out the films on Seven - both pretty good. 'The Missing' - well something is missing - it drags on and on. However it will seem fast paced if you stay on to watch 'Eye's Wide Shut'. 'America's Sweethearts' is a very forgettable film where you follow an obvious recipe - add one Julia Roberts, one John Cusack, one Billy Crystal and stir for a romantic comedy.
Indie Sex
10:00pm SBS Documentary Series Part One - Teen Flicks
In the Training Department at the Film and Television Institute a key philosihpy we have is that if you want to get into the business of making film and television you have to get a good understanding of the film and TV landscape. You've got to have a good knowledge of what's been on, what's works, and what doesn't and what's coming up next.
Sounds simple, I mean you wouldn't be exploring a career in making TV unless you liked watching it as well. The challenge however is that what we watch as individuals - is probably quite different to what the masses watch. A good way to test how much your personal taste is in tune with everyone else is to complare what you watch with the weekly ratings - most of would be stunned by what the majority of other people watch.
Why is this important? Well if your going in to pitch an idea to a TV executive it's probably not a good idea to pitch the exact idea they made last year. Plus watching lots of television can help build your skills and knowledge in whatever area your interested in pursuing a career in. It's just not the quality TV that matters - what the bad stuff as well - there's lots of money to be made in low quality product as well.
In 2006 and 2007 we published a list each week, (most weeks) to our students of things on television that might be of interest. This year we'll make that list public here on this blog each week. Some weeks there are lots of great things on, other weeks are a barren landscape. We'll highlight locally made WA productions, innovative new shows, new series that are beginning and things we predict might crash and burn.
Our recommedations will be for both free to air and PAY TV. If you see something good let us know about it too. Obviously the first week of January is a terrible time to be watching TV - your supposed to be weatching cricket or going to the beach. If your like us your more likely to be binge viewing TV series on DVD.
TUESDAY 1st January
Lockie Leonard
4:00pm Nine Childrens Series
Lockie's first day of high school runs exactly to plan... not! After quickly making an enemy, Lockie is an immediate target for all kinds of treatment at school.
This locally filmed show recently won the Best Children's TV award at the AFI's. If your going to work in TV in WA there's a really high chance you'll work on a kids show at some point, after all - were really good at them.
Changing Stages
10:00pm Ovation Documentary Series Part One
Sir Richard Eyre, one of the world's leading theatre directors,
explores his passion for theatre and gives his personal view of key
moments of 20th century stage. Evocative archive footage of many of the
century's most memorable productions is blended with first hand
testimonies from the writers, actors and directors who made them
possible.
An impressive cast tell their stories, including Sir John Gielgud, Dame Judi Dench, Arthur Miller, Robert Lepage, Sir Peter Hall, Sir Tom Stoppard, Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Neeson, Stephen Sondheim, David Hare, Harold Pinter and Stephen Rea. Program One is about Shakespeare, the greatest ever playwright, who could be described as carrying the DNA of theatre. How do changing interpretations of his work throughout the century tell us just as much about our times as about his plays.
Continues throughout this week.
WEDNESDAY 2nd January
Hero
10:00pm SBS Feature Film
In ancient China, before the reign of the first emperor, warring factions throughout the Six Kingdoms plot to assassinate the most powerful ruler, Qin. When a minor official defeats Qin's three principal enemies, he is summoned to the palace to tell Qin the story of his surprising victory. Hero was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2003 Academy Awards.
An impressive cast tell their stories, including Sir John Gielgud, Dame Judi Dench, Arthur Miller, Robert Lepage, Sir Peter Hall, Sir Tom Stoppard, Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Neeson, Stephen Sondheim, David Hare, Harold Pinter and Stephen Rea. Program One is about Shakespeare, the greatest ever playwright, who could be described as carrying the DNA of theatre. How do changing interpretations of his work throughout the century tell us just as much about our times as about his plays.
Continues throughout this week.
WEDNESDAY 2nd January
Hero
10:00pm SBS Feature Film
In ancient China, before the reign of the first emperor, warring factions throughout the Six Kingdoms plot to assassinate the most powerful ruler, Qin. When a minor official defeats Qin's three principal enemies, he is summoned to the palace to tell Qin the story of his surprising victory. Hero was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2003 Academy Awards.
Stars Jet Li, Maggie Cheung and Xhang ZiYi.
THURSDAY 3rd January
Kiki's Delivery Service
10:15pm SBS Feature Film - Animation
Kiki, a young witch, has turned 13 and according to the ancient tradition she leaves home to find her own place in the world. She flies her broom to a coastal town where she finds a room above a local bakery and sets up a delivery service. Despite a few misadventures, Kiki is doing well until one day her powers disappear. She cannot fly her broomstick and she can no longer communicate with her cat, Jiji. Ursula, a painter Kiki has met on one of her delivery runs, explains about artistic blocks and how something similar may have affected Kiki. A Hayao Miyazaki film, in the genre of Japanese anime.
The Friday Night Project
8:30pm UKTV Variety Show
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, with a different celebrity host every episode. This time it's David Tennant. With two comic presenters on hand, he gets involved in comedy sketches and hidden camera stunts.
Someone in the programming area of UKTV seems to have missed an essential point in this shows title - and scheduled it on Thursdays.... hmmmm. This show has been going since 2004 in the UK and has been a success. This episode was aired in the UK at the beginnning of 2007. Since 'Hey Hey it's Saturday' left Australian screens the idea of creating a similar type show has often be suggested in Australian TV land, maybe the Friday Night Project will provide some inspiration.
There is another episode on Friday night with David Walliams from 'Little Britain'.
FRIDAY 4th January
Feature Films
Channel 7, 9 and 10 all have feature films. On Seven there is the classic comedy of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' followed by 'Kinsey'. Channel 9 has Ron Howards 'The Missing' followed by 'Eye's Wide Shut', while Channel 10 has the comedy 'America's Sweethearts'. Depending on whether or not you've seen them already we'd recommed checking out the films on Seven - both pretty good. 'The Missing' - well something is missing - it drags on and on. However it will seem fast paced if you stay on to watch 'Eye's Wide Shut'. 'America's Sweethearts' is a very forgettable film where you follow an obvious recipe - add one Julia Roberts, one John Cusack, one Billy Crystal and stir for a romantic comedy.
Indie Sex
10:00pm SBS Documentary Series Part One - Teen Flicks
Underage sex is one of the most taboo topics on screen. The first
of three parts, Indie Sex: Teens Flicks presents the history and role
of teenage sex and sexuality on screen - from Splendour in the Grass to
Kids to Thirteen. The blockbuster teen films of the '80s and more
contemporary teen flicks are all explored as mediums through which teen
films have played a central role in adolescent sex education.
The Adventures of Barron Munchausen
1:55am Sci-Fi Channel Feature Film
If your awake this late why not check out this odd film from Terry Gilliam.
The Adventures of Barron Munchausen
1:55am Sci-Fi Channel Feature Film
If your awake this late why not check out this odd film from Terry Gilliam.
Last night the WA Screen Industry filled up the top part of the Cottesloe Hotel and mingled and schmoozed the night away, if you stayed long enough there were even dancing funding assistants. Who was there, well everyone really, there is no better night to catch up with everyone apart from the WA Screen Awards.
It was a great night, we only took a couple of pictures though, so here some snaps of the recent Graduates from the Screen Academy, this morning I can;t remember all their names - but feel free to add in the comments section, Gen Y Documentary Filmmaker Janine Boreland with Zak Hilditch and Chair of the Film and Television Institute, Lisa Bradock catches up with Kate Rothschild.
It was a great night, we only took a couple of pictures though, so here some snaps of the recent Graduates from the Screen Academy, this morning I can;t remember all their names - but feel free to add in the comments section, Gen Y Documentary Filmmaker Janine Boreland with Zak Hilditch and Chair of the Film and Television Institute, Lisa Bradock catches up with Kate Rothschild.
On Friday evening students in the Advanced Diploma in Screen (Video Production) program screened their collection of short drama films and documentary to a packed FTI cinema. The films included Gregg Johnson's 'Midnight Waltz', Julia Negow's stylish 'Practice Makes Perfect', Phil McNally's comical 'Shit Happens' and the short action film 'Snapshot'.
Over the last 30 weeks the 15 students in the program created 8 drama films and 15 documentaries - kearning about film by making films constantly throughout the program.
Several of the students were unable to attend their own graduation ceremony as they have hit the ground running and are already hard at work in the local industry. Locky Patterson and Clint Lawrence are on the feature film 'Two Fists One Heart', while Steve Brown is working at local documentary company Prospero Productions.
The screening also brought out many of the local industies professionals including cinematographer Anthony Webb, Director Zak Hilditch, ABC TV's sound guru Kim Lord, writer John Rapsey and Prospero Productions Lesley Hinde and editor Nick Dunlop.
Over the last 30 weeks the 15 students in the program created 8 drama films and 15 documentaries - kearning about film by making films constantly throughout the program.
Several of the students were unable to attend their own graduation ceremony as they have hit the ground running and are already hard at work in the local industry. Locky Patterson and Clint Lawrence are on the feature film 'Two Fists One Heart', while Steve Brown is working at local documentary company Prospero Productions.
The screening also brought out many of the local industies professionals including cinematographer Anthony Webb, Director Zak Hilditch, ABC TV's sound guru Kim Lord, writer John Rapsey and Prospero Productions Lesley Hinde and editor Nick Dunlop.
Jeremy Malcom recently appeared on local television program 'Wake Up WA' discussing his role in 'Selling Hopkins' a short film by local Director Scott Earthorne. 'Selling Hopkins' was funded through the Raw Nerve funding program and has been well recieved at film festivals locally and internationally.
