Charles Bean’s Great War started filming in and around Williamstown last week covering significant moments in his life both pre and post war.

Careful casting has seen all of us amazed at the likeness that Nick Farnell carries for Bean and Nick has certainly thrown himself entirely into the role.

The production moves on to the war years next week with purpose built trenches and a swag of circa WWI uniforms, guns, hats and haircuts.

Charles Bean’s Great War is playing on the History Channel in November. […]

Producer Sally Ingleton was pleased to be awarded the National Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media for her film John Gollings: Eye for Architecture.

The Bates Smart Awards are among the most prestigious in Australia and are part of the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter annual awards program. This year the award ceremony was held at the Crown Palladium on June 25.

The documentary was indeed well received by the Institute, receiving this wonderful write-up on the Institute website:

National Award: Sally Ingleton for ‘John Gollings-Eye for Architecture’

Sally Ingleton has produced and directed a remarkable documentary, John Gollings: Eye for Architecture, which both documents his distinguished career and provides an insight into the volatile lives of people who make architecture.

Supported by SBS, Film Victoria and other sponsor groups and at some 57 minutes long, this film shows Gollings broad range of interests – from photographing large commercial works to his long-term archaeological project in India.

For architects, the film gives insight into a profession which is trying to make exciting and enduring buildings under difficult circumstances.

For students of architecture in Melbourne, Ingleton enables us to better understand the culture of Melbourne architects.

For those who know John Gollings, he comes through as a confident yet unpretentious, well-grounded master of his profession.

Read more […]

360 Degree Films, Wide Angle Tasmania and the State Cinema of Tasmania are proud to present a screening of The Trial, followed by a Q&A with Joan Robinson (director and writer) and Greg Barns (barrister and documentary participant).

The screening will take place at the State Cinema in North Hobart, starting at 8:30pm with the Q&A session to follow.

Bookings are essential – please call 03 6223 8344 or email info@wideangle.org.au.

We are very pleased at the opportunity to work with Wide Angle Tasmania on this event, an organisation that aims to inform and encourage Tasmanian audiences as well as support and collaborate with industry practitioners. Visit the Wide Angle Tasmania website for more information on the event and the organisation.

Our films have been having a busy time of it across the globe recently, visiting many festivals in many countries.

Last week two of our films, Seed Hunter and Tibet: Murder in the Snow screened as part of the Awareness Film and Arts Festival in California, USA. The festival focuses on films that entertain as well as promote education and awareness.

We have also been informed that Seed Hunter has been invited to be part of the China Animal and Nature Film Festival which will take place in Ya’an, China, a city that is famous for its Jjajin mountain range – the breeding place of Giant Pandas. The festival will run from 1-7 August, 2010.

Stay tuned for more festival news!

360 Degree Films is currently filming Kangaroo Mob, a documentary about kangaroos in Canberra for ABC TV and other international broadcasters. Over the coming year the crew will be following several kangaroo mobs on their journeys into the suburbs of Canberra.

We are looking for all types of stories about humans and kangaroos interacting and would love to speak to any members of the Canberra public with a story about kangaroo encounters. Perhaps you have a roo that visits regularly, swims in your pool, or grazes in your backyard. Or maybe one of your pets has had a close encounter with Skippy.

Whatever your story, bizarre, funny or confrontational, 360 Degree Films would love to hear from you.

Also – if you see any kangaroos in unusual places, please film them on your mobile phone or video camera and send them in to us!

If you can help, please contact Kate Breen at 360 Degree Films on 03 9948 1922 or send her an email.

At the Screen Australia Board Meeting in March, a decision was made to fund two new projects by 360 Degree Films.

Kangaroo Mob, a one-hour documentary, will look at the world of the mob of kangaroos that are taking over the suburbs of Canberra and the team of scientists and ecologists following their every move.

Charles Bean’s Great War will chart the remarkable life of war correspondent, obsessive historian and reluctant mythmaker Charles Bean – the man credited with the creation of the Anzac legend.

Kangaroo Mob is set to begin production in May and Charles Bean’s Great War will commence production in June.

Penguin Island is getting close to fine cut for all six episodes. Editor Steve Robinson finished up at Easter and now it’s up to Tony “Scissorhands” Stevens to wrangle the rest of the episodes to the finish line.

The team has been fielding notes left, right and centre from all the  broadcaster partners (ABC, BBC and Arte France) along with the terrific science team at the Phillip Island Nature Park. The series is looking great and the Little Penguins are certain to charm audiences far and wide.

Bergen O’Brien has been busy cutting clips for the website, including some lovely memories of the penguin parade from Victorians over the years.

Not only is Seed Hunter making its way around the world (see our previous news item), it is also coming to television screens in its home country of Australia.

Seed Hunter addresses a topic that is vital for the future of the planet: finding seeds that may help save the world from its greatest ever crisis – a global food shortage brought about by human-induced climate change.

Join Dr Ken Street – a real life version of Indiana Jones – and his team of ‘gene detectives’ as they hunt for plant genes that will help our food withstand the impact of 21st century global warming.

ABC2 will be showing Seed Hunter on Sunday May 23rd at midnight (Sunday morning).

We are very pleased to share that Seed Hunter will be continuing its successful festival run with three new festivals announced for May 2010.

Seed Hunter has been nominated as a Finalist in the “Point of View” category at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, USA. The full list of screenings will be available online soon. In the meantime you can find out more about this prominent festival here.

In addition to this, Seed Hunter will also be part of the Reel Earth New Zealand Film Festival this May, located in Palmerston North. Screening dates are yet to be announced on the festival website.

Last but not least Envirofilm 2010 in Slovakia will also host a screening of the film as part of their programme running 10-15 May. This festival has long been renowned for showcasing creative films that address important environmental issues. Please visit the website for screening details.