Post Digital Series Film Club Showcase

With a turnout of 100 people to the Film Club Showcase 2012 held in Fairfield, 18 films were screened during the night. The following films were shown:

1. Face Slap, Short Excerpt, Directed by Timothy Ly
2. Out For Drinks, Short Drama, Written and directed by Peter Yu
3. Fool For You, Music Video, Directed by Jason Tran
4. Handy, Short Mockumentary, Directed by Vinh Nguyen
5. Domestic Affair, Short Film, Directed by Saber Baluch 
6. Nona’s Bakehouse, Short Film, Directed by Joe Carbone
7. Defiance, Short Film, Directed by David Di Munroe
8. The List, Short Film, Directed by Thuy Ng 
9. Project Purple, Short Film, Directed by David Minh Tam Nguyen
10. Ninja Ascension, Short Teaser, Directed by Alan La
11. Only Dreams Have Eyes, Experimental Short, Directed by Ali Kadhim  
12. It’s About Survival, Short Drama, Directed by Mike Kang
13. Inner Ninja, Short Film, Produced by Andy Minh Trieu
14. Policeman Ghosthunter, Short Excerpt, Produced by Oras Al-Khamisi & David Roberts
15. Hidden Peaks, Webisode Teaser, Directed Adrian Castro
16. Will Travel For Life, Webisode Teaser, Directed by Roxie Vuong

In addition, we had two out of competition screenings of: 
17. Marco, Short Documentary, Directed by Guido Gonzales
18. Fighting For Air, Short Drama, Directed by Fatima Mawas 

In between the two sessions, we had Hong Kong action film director, Antony Szeto retold his journey into becoming a director; from developing his passions for martial arts at an early age, becoming accredited and getting his stunt licence, his early ventures into acting and then fine tuning his focus into directing. 

Szeto revealed what it was like to having faced certain racial tensions in the Australian film industry back in the 80s, a point which, many of the filmmakers related to as they have still experienced it today. 

Finally, Szeto spoke about his current projects with the father of B-grade movies, Roger Corman and what was it like to pursue projects down, not taking no as an answer, and also his “doctor” in directing projects across the region. 

Now, Szeto is possibly the only Australian born director with authentic martial arts fight choreography skills and having worked with some of the finest in Asian cinema such as Jackie Chan, Samo Hung and China’s top wushu martial artists. He still is interested in coming back home to Sydney and seeing if there are potential projects that he can direct in future. 

Also, Congratulations to:
Thuy Ng and her film The List for winning the People’ Choice Award
Mike Kang and his film Its About Survival winning the Creative Development Judge’s Award

Many thanks to the additional judging panel; Tiffany Lee Shoy & Amadeo Maquez Perez for being part of the feedback process.

Film Club Showcase 2012 also wraps up the year-long Digital Series Initiative as supported by Fairfield City Council, Community First Step and Powerhouse Youth Theatre. 

Hong Kong director Antony Szeto in Fairfield

David Minh Tam Nguyen  presents "Project Purple"

Vinh Nguyen presents "Handy"

Maria Tran & Quan Tran

Saber Baluch presents "Domestic Affair"

Antony Szeto talks about fight choreography

Jason Tran presents "Fool For You"

Q&A with Antony Szeto

The panelist

Mike Kang, winner of the Creative Development Judges Award

Adrian Castro presents "Hidden Peaks" and also does the techie work

Andy Minh Trieu presents "Inner Ninja"

Maria Tran with winner of the People's Choice Award, Thuy Ng with  The List

Ali Kadhim presents Dream With Open Eyes.

Benjamin Cao with Antony Szeto

Alan La presented "Ninja Ascension"

Oras Al-Khamisi & David Roberts presented "Policeman Ghosthunter"

Roxie Vuong presented "Will Travel For Life"

The panelist

David Di Munro presented "Defiance"

Peter Yu presented "Out for Drinks"

Digital Series presents FILM CLUB Showcase

Celebrating Digital Creatives

After its tremendous turn out at last year’s initial launch, Digital Series presents Film Club Showcase, returns again and is calling all actors, writers, filmmakers or digital content creator to step up and share their works.

Western Sydney, the hub of cultural diversity and digital empowerment has been cultivating of digital content makers, where for the big screen or the tube, west is the best place to get connected.

Digital Series is continues to be a web of media creatives people, ideas and resources that enable young people from culturally dives to creative projects, host a series of workshops and meetings in the Western Sydney Area, which would serve to both motivate and to inspire.

Launching on the 4 August, 6pm at Fairfield School of Arts, 19 Harris St, Fairfield, the highlight of the night features a selection of 10 locally made short films being screened and a wrap up of a year-long initiative.

This year, the event will feature Antony Szeto (director of Jackie Chan produced film “Wushu”, producer of world’s first CGI martial arts film “Dragonblade”) who will share with us his updates of his international film production as well as give the filmmakers feedback on their working-in-progress.

Guests will also hear first hand from the makers of these films, their experiences and upcoming local and international productions.

Digital Series will be held at Fairfield School of Arts, 19 Harris St, Fairfield on Saturday, 4 August at 6pm. Spaces for this event is strictly limited so to be sure not to miss out, please register here: http://tiny.cc/iyvxhw

Digital Series has been proudly supported by Community First Step (CFS), Fairfield City Council and Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT).

Call for FILM Submissions: Digital Series | Film Club Showcase | 4 Aug

The Digital Series Film Club Showcase, which will be held on Saturday August 4 at Fairfield School of Arts, Fairfield, is currently seeking film and video submissions.
Submissions need to be under 5 mins and can be a trailer, teaser, test footage or short film or any genre (documentary, drama, animation, experimental etc.,).


Check out last years epic event! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBiOjTC5PQM


Hints: We will be having special guest Antony Szeto, director of Jackie Chan produced film "Wushu"  attend and give feedback on the films so this will definitely be a maxed out event. 

Empire of Silver – Advance Screening with Director Christina Yao By Thuy Nguyen

Written by : Thuy Ng
Last Thursday I got a chance to go to the advanced screening of the Chinese film,  Empire of Silver directed by Christina Yao. Being a big fan of historical period Chinese films, this was a must see for me.  It was interesting to note that the Empire of Silver focused solely on drama rather than action. Director Christina Yao sought to produce a film focused on the drama and the intricate family relationships rather than produced a kung fu action film.

Set in China during the time of the Boxer rebellion, the story follows the scandals and the inevitable spiralling downfall of one of the most powerful families in the banking capital province of the time, Shanxi. Made on a budget of 10 million, financed by investors interested in promoting tourism in China, Director Yao was allowed complete artistic freedom.  The film had quite high production values featuring one of the four heavenly kings, Aaron Kwok and also featuring many locations. Although there were a few continuity errors in the film and some odd title graphics, the film was a good watch, however a little too long and stretched out for someone of my short attention span.

During the Q&A sessions, I questioned her on the difficulties she encountered as a female director in China. Surprisingly Director Yao believed that she did not encounter obstacles because she was a female, she pointed out that she was more likely to encounter obstacles as a minority in the film industry rather than as a female. Her advice was that in this film industry, you got to know what you’re doing and know your stuff, otherwise if you don’t you’re pretty much doomed.

Meeting Director Yao, reminded me why I was in this industry, it reminded me of my original passion, goals and dreams that first pushed me to walk down this creative career path those few years ago. Her humbleness and down to earth personality inspired me, being one of the few females in this industry setting the standards for the rest of us.

Director Christina Yao & Thuy Ng