Hello from Down Under!

Josef Heks · November 25th, 2005, 10:16 PM

Hey chris,

You might be ineterested in this...Have you seen Midnight Oils video clip to Power and the Passion? Well the mural they are playing in front of for most of the clip, (the one which says "A land of corporate gains") was painted by my mum!

Chris Hurd · November 25th, 2005, 10:57 PM

Wow, that goes way, way back... to the early Eighties! Oh, the temper of the time!

Ron Kofler · November 27th, 2005, 08:52 PM

Talking about classic songs, how about classic films. I just noticed the little note at the bottom of Chris Hurd's replys. Tuesday is Soylent Green Day. WOW, Soylent Green, what a classic, classic movie. The thought of a food shortage in the future forcing people to eat people. It was scary when it first come out.

Ben Gurvich · November 27th, 2005, 10:25 PM

WHos your cousin Charles?

Josef.

If your regional its good. Im actually in Albury, on the New South Wales/Victoria border currently working for a regional Network. They have good opportunities to get in the bizz. Melbourne has too many people wanting in, with too little jobs.

Noel Fleck · November 28th, 2005, 01:57 AM

Bloody Victorians! - all most as bad as NSW cockroaches :)

Hi Josef,

We seem to have moved a little of track on "dis here old tread" so just moving back quickly before jimmy Barnes comes on for his next set, I think the industry here in Oz is great, just don't expect to make a living out of it. Don't get me wrong, I think there is scope for a career but it is competitive and even being the best at what you do still puts you in a lottery for regular work. If you do manage to make a regular wage then indeed you are fortunate to be working with great people and in a great industry. I think most people in the industry have film/TV/corporate as a profession, ie they are consummate professionals with outstanding talent and love of the game, but do other work to pay the bills at one time or anther.
Don't forget to look at short film / indie work as that is a growing segment that does not have a lot of the pressure of "must not fail" attached to it as the feature/tv market seems to. As a result the cast and crew seem to be happier, try harder and really push the envelope as well as the most important part, they have a great deal of fun doing what is their passion.

So good luck to you, it can be a hard road, but in this industry its the journey that has all the adventure not the destination.

Noel

Ron Kofler · November 28th, 2005, 04:06 PM

Bloody Victorians? NSW cochroaches? Go the Mexicans.

As I am 90% actor and 10% filmmaker, when I made my first comments to this thread regarding the Australian Film industry, I was looking from an actors perspective. As an actor the quality of acting in Australia is not great. We have the talent, but they are more than often overlooked. Also the quality of our scripts is lacking. For every one great script, our industry overlooks so many quality scripts. A friend (ex professional actor and director) recently added that too often films look like a first draft.

From a technical perspective - it is obvious that Australia has talent to spare from the quality of the filming and the fact that on so many occassions we seem to be the leaders in the industry with new technologies. The beauty of being in the industry behind the camera is that you are not judged by a photo. You can create a CV that people will read. As an actor it is disheartning to know that how you look in a 6x4 glossy can determine whether or not you get a chance to show what you are capable of.

I believe that Australia has so much opportunity to be the best in this industry in the world. Unfortunately it is not open to wholesale changes that would send it forward and away from the stagnation it lives in at present. It's run but people who need to embrace a challenge, and take greater risks.

This is a great, it's getting me more motivated to complete my script.

Joe Carney · November 28th, 2005, 11:43 PM

There are some great films made down there, the Matrix trilogy, one of my favorite SciFi series Farscape that had mostly OZ talent. I heard they are making the new Superman movie down there.

Do the unions have a negative effect on trying to make changes?
(I'm not anti Union, just wondering).

btw, I met some really great OZs last August at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. They were all volunteers helping out at just about everything. (As a near life long trek fan, that was the first one I ever went to, and I didn't wear a costume, I promise).

Josef Heks · November 29th, 2005, 02:14 AM

Yeah they do seem to like Australia for the big Hollywood films. I think Fox in Sydney was used a lot for the new Star Wars movies. And Stealth was shot here...of all places in the world, they came to the tiny rural valley (population of <200) of Megalong - where I live!! It was a treat for me, an avid film fan, to be able to stand on the biggest set of a 100-million dollar blockbuster. Pity it was a terrible film, but it was so much fun for me - plus I got to know the location manager who was a great guy. I also got to meet Dean Semlar who was DOP, which was an honor.

Joe Carney · November 29th, 2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josef Heks

Yeah they do seem to like Australia for the big Hollywood films. I think Fox in Sydney was used a lot for the new Star Wars movies. And Stealth was shot here...of all places in the world, they came to the tiny rural valley (population of <200) of Megalong - where I live!! It was a treat for me, an avid film fan, to be able to stand on the biggest set of a 100-million dollar blockbuster. Pity it was a terrible film, but it was so much fun for me - plus I got to know the location manager who was a great guy. I also got to meet Dean Semlar who was DOP, which was an honor.

Very cool indeed. Did you get to meet Jessica Biel?

Josef Heks · November 29th, 2005, 07:06 PM

no, but she was the main actor on the set at that time. I was standing about 2 metres from her for ages, but she was really busy getting made-up, and reading stuff. In fact, no one was talking to her! It was pretty surreal...and yes, she was lookin' good!

Jipsi Kinnear · December 9th, 2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josef Heks

Yeah they do seem to like Australia for the big Hollywood films. I think Fox in Sydney was used a lot for the new Star Wars movies. And Stealth was shot here...of all places in the world, they came to the tiny rural valley (population of <200) of Megalong - where I live!! It was a treat for me, an avid film fan, to be able to stand on the biggest set of a 100-million dollar blockbuster. Pity it was a terrible film, but it was so much fun for me - plus I got to know the location manager who was a great guy. I also got to meet Dean Semlar who was DOP, which was an honor.

Agreed, Stealth was awful. On the other hand, Mr Dean Semler is about the coolest cat working in the biz today. I had the pleasure of working for him on his directorial "debut" back many years ago. Sadly the film was a flop and was cursed with bad luck, but Mr Semler took it all in stride. I learned more as an AD on his set then I did in my previous five years in the business. It's a shame all Academy Award winners can't be as humble as Dean Semler. It's also a shame he never directed again, not counting that stupid Steven Segal movie.

Jipsi K.

Josef Heks · December 18th, 2005, 03:26 AM

yeah he was really really nice. I didnt talk to him for long, but when I was introduced to him he actually was genuinely interested and very down to earth (a genuine aussie!) Actually nearly evryone I met on the set seemed really nice. Specially the fx guys.

Quito Washington · January 8th, 2006, 11:12 PM

*gasp* Am I the only one???
Q

James Darren · January 9th, 2006, 09:23 AM

I would almost certainly say yes......

Quito Washington · January 9th, 2006, 03:25 PM

okay, right, yeah, there ARE other people in Darwin, Australia....(aren't you clever!)
I was referring to are there any other members of this forum, in Darwin, Australia.....the Great Northern Expanse, the Gateway to Asia, the Fabulous NT!

November 25th, 2005, 10:57 PM	#17
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Wow, that goes way, way back... to the early Eighties! Oh, the temper of the time! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 27th, 2005, 08:52 PM	#18
Ron Kofler New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11	Talking about classic songs, how about classic films. I just noticed the little note at the bottom of Chris Hurd's replys. Tuesday is Soylent Green Day. WOW, Soylent Green, what a classic, classic movie. The thought of a food shortage in the future forcing people to eat people. It was scary when it first come out. __________________ The 4th wall is as real as your imagination

November 28th, 2005, 01:57 AM	#20
Noel Fleck New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 10	Bloody Victorians! - all most as bad as NSW cockroaches :) Hi Josef, We seem to have moved a little of track on "dis here old tread" so just moving back quickly before jimmy Barnes comes on for his next set, I think the industry here in Oz is great, just don't expect to make a living out of it. Don't get me wrong, I think there is scope for a career but it is competitive and even being the best at what you do still puts you in a lottery for regular work. If you do manage to make a regular wage then indeed you are fortunate to be working with great people and in a great industry. I think most people in the industry have film/TV/corporate as a profession, ie they are consummate professionals with outstanding talent and love of the game, but do other work to pay the bills at one time or anther. Don't forget to look at short film / indie work as that is a growing segment that does not have a lot of the pressure of "must not fail" attached to it as the feature/tv market seems to. As a result the cast and crew seem to be happier, try harder and really push the envelope as well as the most important part, they have a great deal of fun doing what is their passion. So good luck to you, it can be a hard road, but in this industry its the journey that has all the adventure not the destination. Noel __________________ Thanks Noel www.indiefilmsupplies.com.au

November 28th, 2005, 04:06 PM	#21
Ron Kofler New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11	Bloody Victorians? NSW cochroaches? Go the Mexicans. As I am 90% actor and 10% filmmaker, when I made my first comments to this thread regarding the Australian Film industry, I was looking from an actors perspective. As an actor the quality of acting in Australia is not great. We have the talent, but they are more than often overlooked. Also the quality of our scripts is lacking. For every one great script, our industry overlooks so many quality scripts. A friend (ex professional actor and director) recently added that too often films look like a first draft. From a technical perspective - it is obvious that Australia has talent to spare from the quality of the filming and the fact that on so many occassions we seem to be the leaders in the industry with new technologies. The beauty of being in the industry behind the camera is that you are not judged by a photo. You can create a CV that people will read. As an actor it is disheartning to know that how you look in a 6x4 glossy can determine whether or not you get a chance to show what you are capable of. I believe that Australia has so much opportunity to be the best in this industry in the world. Unfortunately it is not open to wholesale changes that would send it forward and away from the stagnation it lives in at present. It's run but people who need to embrace a challenge, and take greater risks. This is a great, it's getting me more motivated to complete my script. __________________ The 4th wall is as real as your imagination

January 8th, 2006, 11:12 PM	#28
Quito Washington Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Darwin, Australia Posts: 34	Anyone else out there in Darwin, Australia? gasp Am I the only one??? Q __________________ http://www.quitofilms.com brash raw and fully independent

November 25th, 2005, 10:16 PM	#16
Josef Heks Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 74	Hey chris, You might be ineterested in this...Have you seen Midnight Oils video clip to Power and the Passion? Well the mural they are playing in front of for most of the clip, (the one which says "A land of corporate gains") was painted by my mum!

November 27th, 2005, 10:25 PM	#19
Ben Gurvich Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 329	WHos your cousin Charles? Josef. If your regional its good. Im actually in Albury, on the New South Wales/Victoria border currently working for a regional Network. They have good opportunities to get in the bizz. Melbourne has too many people wanting in, with too little jobs.

November 28th, 2005, 11:43 PM	#22
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	There are some great films made down there, the Matrix trilogy, one of my favorite SciFi series Farscape that had mostly OZ talent. I heard they are making the new Superman movie down there. Do the unions have a negative effect on trying to make changes? (I'm not anti Union, just wondering). btw, I met some really great OZs last August at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. They were all volunteers helping out at just about everything. (As a near life long trek fan, that was the first one I ever went to, and I didn't wear a costume, I promise).

November 29th, 2005, 02:14 AM	#23
Josef Heks Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 74	Yeah they do seem to like Australia for the big Hollywood films. I think Fox in Sydney was used a lot for the new Star Wars movies. And Stealth was shot here...of all places in the world, they came to the tiny rural valley (population of <200) of Megalong - where I live!! It was a treat for me, an avid film fan, to be able to stand on the biggest set of a 100-million dollar blockbuster. Pity it was a terrible film, but it was so much fun for me - plus I got to know the location manager who was a great guy. I also got to meet Dean Semlar who was DOP, which was an honor.

November 29th, 2005, 07:06 PM	#25
Josef Heks Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 74	no, but she was the main actor on the set at that time. I was standing about 2 metres from her for ages, but she was really busy getting made-up, and reading stuff. In fact, no one was talking to her! It was pretty surreal...and yes, she was lookin' good!

December 18th, 2005, 03:26 AM	#27
Josef Heks Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 74	yeah he was really really nice. I didnt talk to him for long, but when I was introduced to him he actually was genuinely interested and very down to earth (a genuine aussie!) Actually nearly evryone I met on the set seemed really nice. Specially the fx guys.

January 9th, 2006, 09:23 AM	#29
James Darren Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 235	I would almost certainly say yes......

January 9th, 2006, 03:25 PM	#30
Quito Washington Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Darwin, Australia Posts: 34	clarification okay, right, yeah, there ARE other people in Darwin, Australia....(aren't you clever!) I was referring to are there any other members of this forum, in Darwin, Australia.....the Great Northern Expanse, the Gateway to Asia, the Fabulous NT! __________________ http://www.quitofilms.com brash raw and fully independent