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I’m very proud to announce that at the sold-out screening for my short film “Be Careful…” (and others) where I ran a scriptwriting workshop and was the key note speaker, my film won the Best Director category of the self-funded section at the Magma Short Film Festival in Rotorua, New Zealand.

I had a great weekend there and extend heartfelt gratitude to the fabulous organisers! Here’s the link

Alan Brash giving seminar on writing a short film script

Check out the Magma Short Film Festival website

I’m delighted to not only have had my film invited to this great up-and-coming Kiwi short film festival, but I’ve also been invited to run a three hour workshop on writing successful short films. (I’ll mainly be speaking from my observations of other people’s award-winning shorts; not implying that I discovered all the answers with my humble effort!) I’ll also be speaking at the screening on Saturday night (April 30th, 2011) which includes my film, “Be Careful…”

For any readers from outside of Aotearoa/New Zealand, Rotorua is pretty much the cultural capital of the country as far as tourists seeking to get a glimpse of New Zealand’s pre-European indigenous culture. It’s a tourist Mecca, famous for its boiling mud pools, gysers, and other geothermal wonders. It’s been years since I’ve made the short road trip from Auckland and I can’t wait!)

Be Careful… makes its World Premiere Next Month in Auckland

We’re hugely excited to be accepted into New Zealand’s premiere short film festival. Now in its 5th year, Show Me Shorts showcases the best Kiwi and Aussie shorts every year. We’re delighted that Be Careful… has been honoured by being selected as the opening film of the “Noir Motive” compilation.

Be Careful... opens "Noir Motive" compilation

 

It will screen in Auckland at The Academy cinema – home of independent cinema in Auckland (and where we had our cast/crew/friends/industry screening of Be Careful… earlier this year – see this post) on the first Saturday night of the festival (8.15pm), as well as the following Tuesday afternoon (4.30) and Friday night (8.15)

During this time, it will also screen in Devonport on the North Shore, in the historic and recently refurbished Victoria Picture Palace as well as on Waiheke Island, before touring to:

Wellington (Paramount)

Christchurch

Dunedin and

Tauranga, before finishing up in

Whitianga in January 2011.

Other Kiwi films selected include Cannes favourite The Six Dollar Fifty Man (Mark Albiston), darling of Sundance This Is Her (Katie Wolfe) and international festival favourites Choice Night , Day Trip, Brave Donkey and Va Tapuia.

Clearly being amongst such illustrious competition means that winning any prizes will be an uphill battle! :)

 


Show Me Shorts Progamme

 

But for me it’s enough that our film is being shown and that local audiences will have a chance to see it. So if you’re a local, check out the Show Me Shorts website to see when the screenings are coming to a theatre near you. (There’s some info up there now, with the full programme on its way.)

And a big shout-out too to Patricia Phelan and Lucy Zhou, Unitec graduates (and former students of mine!) who respectively directed and researched/wrote the fun short doco A Furry Tale about people with a fetish for dressing up as cartoon animals! This also made it into the festival, and is screening as part of the “Kissing Games” compilation.

 

Show Me Shorts Auckland Dates

 

While rejections from film festivals are always something of a kick in the guts, it’s gratifying to continue to get awesome feedback on the quality of the film.

This, a handwritten note from Kyle McKinnon, Lead Programmer for the Alabama Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival:

“This is a strong film with a very clever twist ending. Thank you for sending it our way.”

And remember: Keep an eye on the blog next week for an exciting film festival announcement… :)

This is a belated shout-out to my leading lady, Lisa Chappell, who took away the prize for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Qantas Film & TV Awards for her excellent work on the prime-time TV drama, The Cult.

WELL DONE LISA!

And keep an eye out next week for an exciting announcement about a film festival accepting our short film “Be Careful…”

Stay tuned…

Lisa Chappell a finalist for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 Qantas Film & TV Awards

Exciting news today that the lead actress in our short film, Be Careful… has reached the finals of the 2010 New Zealand Qantas Film & TV Awards for her great work on the prime-time drama series, The Cult, made for TVNZ.

We wish Lisa all the best, and have our fingers crossed that she’ll also reach the finals (announced tomorrow) for Best Actress in a Short Film for her role in Be Careful…

At Auckland Uni’s Centre for Continuing Education

If you’re interested in getting an introduction to screenwriting from a working writer and lecturer  – i.e: me (I teach in Unitec’s Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts) – then enrol for this two day intensive workshop on May 28th 29th, 2011. (NOTE NEW DATES.)

The good people at Auckland University’s Centre for Continuing Education are running it, and I promise it’ll be as entertaining as it is educational! It’ll take place in Auckland central (Short Street, near Anzac Ave).

All the details are here.

It’s the second year I’ve run this course which comes off the back of other very successful screenwriting workshops I’ve run over the last few years at Unitec, in conjunction with the V48 Hours Furious Film-making competition, and Auckland Museum’s Outrageous Fortune exhibition. I’m looking forward to running another course where I’ll be able to go deeper into both the machinations of the NZ film & TV industry (and beyond), and how the screenwriter fits into it – as well as delving deeper into the “secrets” of writing great scripts.

It’s limited to 16 people, so get in quick!

If you have any questions, either email me here: info@shootfirst-production.com

Or contact Auckland Uni CCE directly. Their details are:

Phone
0800 UNICONTED (0800 864 266)
+64 9 373 7599 ext 87831/87832 for telephone receptionists, or
+64 9 373 7599 and the appropriate extension

Email
conted@auckland.ac.nz

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