Facon gets special mention at Flickerfest and is included in Flickerfest National Tour!

Two updates from the festival front! Facon got a special mention at the Flickerfest Green Flicks section. Joshua Dang, Barbara Ings and I were thrilled to hear it, since there were really really good films in the section. Greenflicks was judged by Costa Georgiadis, Gregory Miller and Kate Harris. The judges praised Facon for its sense of humour dealing with environmental issues.

We’re also really happy about how well the film played at all the screenings. The Short Laughs Comedy sessions were sold out and it was great to be alongside such hilarious company!

Shaun Colnan, who starred as Travis, makes a short speech after Facon receives an honourable mention at the closing night awards ceremony. 

The other great news is that Facon has been chosen to tour nationally. The full tour dates can be seen here.

Me (Writer / Producer), Barbara Ings (Producer), Jane Watt (Tia), Costa Georgiadis (Greenflicks Judge), Shaun Colnan (Travis) and Kate Harris (Greenflicks Judge) at the Flickerfest Closing Night. Facon director Joshua Dang was sadly unable to attend.

Shaun Colnan (Travis), Barbara Ings (Producer), Me (Writer / Producer) and Jane Watt (Tia) at the Flickerfest Closing Night. Director Joshua Dang was sadly unable to attend.

March Opportunities

There are lots of opportunities for emerging writers and theatre makers at the moment. Playwriting Australia has made a callout for Dramaturgy Interns. These interns will recieve ‘access to training and mentoring by industry professionals, and get to develop their practical skills in script assessment and explore the process of giving dramaturgical feedback.’

The internship is available to Sydney and Melbourne based playwrights, directors or dramaturgs. Applications close Monday the 24th of March, 5pm.

Additionally, there has been a call out for applications for the Monash Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing. The award is open to emerging writers enrolled in either an undergraduate or honours degree. For the first year ever, the award is open to both students from Australia and New Zealand.

First prize is $4000. The highest placed student from Monash University will receive $1000. Both winners will be published in Verge, Monash University’s student publication. Entries have to be 1500–3000 words. Applications close Thursday the 17th of April.

ATYP Fresh Ink National Studio

How’s the serenity?

Three weeks ago I went away to the ATYP National Studio. I met talented people, took in beautiful scenery and churned out some writing I’m pretty stoked about. I could have not generated the work that I did without the unique environment that the National Studio provided.

I want to say a huge thank you for Australian Theatre for Young People for having programs like this. It was an incredible learning experience.

If you are a young writer I encourage you to apply for the National Studio. I think the call-out will be next year but you can be sure to know by liking/following/stalking Fresh Ink on facebook, twitter and checking the website.

If you are a philanthropist who is wanting to donate to something artsy, I definitely encourage you to support the Fresh Ink program.

Great things have come out of the program such as The Language of Love: a film by young writer Kim Ho. It has reached 489,634 views (at the time of writing) and attracted global attention.

Spirit of Youth Awards

The Spirit of Youth Awards is a competition held by Qantas that helps emerging artists in 11 key creative disciplines including interactive gaming, music, writing, film making, architecture and more. The competition has been held for over eight years and has helped many talents develop. The winner of each category receives a mentorship and $5000 of air travel to follow their creative dreams.

This is my second year entering the written word category and I find myself sitting amongst some pretty amazing entries. Included is the work of Alli Sebastion Wolf, Patrick Lenton, Angela Meyer, Tom Hogan, Ava Karuso and Jess Messenger. The competition is a great opportunity to see the portfolios of many rising stars of the literature world. Below is my own entry which I would love you to comment on and like.

http://www.soya.com.au/entrant/felicity-pickering/

Opportunities for Actors

It seems you always find what you’re not looking for. While rummaging around the internet for new writing opportunities I have stumbled across a bundle of acting gigs. Rather than casting them aside, I though I might write up a little list for the actors out there.

AT NEW THEATRE:

AUDITION NOTICE
The Knowledge By John Donnelly

pantsguys Productions are seeking actors for their production of THE KNOWLEDGE, directed by Rebecca Martin, as part of the New Theatre’s The Spare Room season.

Auditions will be held on:

Tues 14 August 3pm-9pm
Wed 15 August 10am-9pm

Character Breakdown:

Zoe –Female, Late 20s/Early 30s, white
Maz – Male, Early-mid/30s, Asian/Indian
Harry – Male, Early 60s, white
Mickey – Male, 15, white
Daniel – Male, 15, black
Karris – Female, 15, white
Sal – Female, 15, Asian/Indian

Send your CV and headshot to: theknowledge12@gmail.com with the role you are interested in auditioning for.

You will receive sides for the character – you certainly don’t have to learn them, but familiarity with the script is desirable. Be open and prepared to improvise.

If you have any further questions, or can’t make the above auditions times, please don’t hesitate to contact theknowledge12@gmail.com

For the facebook page click here.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE:

A View From Moving Windows is a new multi-playwright project headed by director Augusta Supple (Brand Spanking New, Stories from the 428, Write Here Write Now) which contains scenes, fragments and playlets by some of Australia’s best loved playwrights. Created specifically for Riverside Theatre’s True West Season, this is a unique portrait of Parramatta, like you’ve never seen it before.

The show is to be written and developed from late July through to August 2012.

Information for actors:
It hasn’t been written yet… so I can’t tell you of how many roles there are on offer. I can tell you nothing.

But if you are keen to audition/be approached/ read a role (once its been written), please email me at augusta@augustasupple.com with your head shot, a CV and a brief note (up to 200 words) of why you are attracted to this project.

Auditions will take place available 23rd, 25th, 30th August and 1st September at The Arts Platform and The Riverside theatres (exact times/dates/locations to be confirmed.)

Rehearsals: (part time) 24th September- 13th October.
Production Dates:
Bump in: 15th October 2012
Tech: 16th October 2012
Dress: 17th October 2012
Preview: 18th October 2012
Opening Performance: 19th October 2012
Performances: 20th, 24, 25, 26, 27th October 2012

FOR DISNEY:

Disney is auditioning Dancers & Character Look-alikes for Tokyo in Melb and Syd. 1 year contracts from Feb/Mar 2013

For more details check it out here.

I’ll keep you updated if I find more.