tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86357483713059464882024-03-13T21:58:12.482+11:00Someone to Write Withlittle_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-22383344191462098172011-07-12T11:00:00.000+10:002011-07-12T11:00:01.528+10:00How I discovered the Centre for Youth Literature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a <a href="http://someonetowritewith.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-am-2011-inky-awards-judge-part-2.html">recent blog entry</a> when I was giving a brief description of how I became a judge, I rather flippantly said that “I’m not anything really”. So who am I? Existential angst aside, I work in what is broadly called the financial industry. How I came across the Centre for Youth Literature is no little story and one of my most serendipitous discoveries. It needs its own post, rather than hijacking the previous posts about the Inky Awards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As long as I can remember, I have loved reading. Even now though, I wouldn’t call myself a great reader. There are so many gaps, nay chasms, in my reading that I want to fill. As I’ve grown older, I have never seen the need or had the desire to stop reading children’s and young adult literature. My parents might say that it’s a sign that I’ve never really grown up! These are the books that I loved first, so why should I ever stop reading them? Of course, I read books for adults too, but children’s and young adult literature are and (most likely) always will be a large part of my reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_502074648"><img border="0" src="http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/Images/Authors/0_NieuwenhuizenAgnes1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/Images/Authors/0_NieuwenhuizenAgnes1.jpg">Agnes Nieuwenhuizen</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Working outside the book/library industry, and not having any particular connections to it, apart from reading, I wasn’t otherwise all that well informed about what was going on in the children/young adult literature world. In late 2007, I came across, perhaps while reading the newspaper, a mention of <a href="http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=311&author=255">Agnes Nieuwenhuizen’s</a> book <a href="http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=397&book=9781741148831">Right Book, Right Time</a>. It was a comprehensive guide to the great books of young adult literature – just the thing I was after. Agnes is one of the great driving forces behind youth literature in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and was paramount in establishing the Centre for Youth Literature. While I was googling for some reviews on Agnes’s book I came across the <a href="http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/126882/20110511-1244/www2.slv.vic.gov.au/services/education/youthlit/readalert/index.php/2007/10/05/right-book-right-time/index.html">following link</a>. Exploring the Read Alert blog further, I saw <a href="http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/126882/20110511-1244/www2.slv.vic.gov.au/services/education/youthlit/readalert/index.php/2007/10/22/heres-harry/index.html">this event</a> advertised: a discussion on fantasy books following the end of the Harry Potter series. I emailed the Centre for Youth Literature for details, and <a href="http://whatswerves.blogspot.com/">Mike Shuttleworth</a>, the then Program Co-ordinator replied.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=397&book=9781741148831"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267729264l/3040154.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next week, I attended the event, had a ball, met Mike Shuttleworth, and heard some marvellous authors such as <a href="http://www.carolewilkinson.com.au/news">Carole Wilkinson</a>, <a href="http://eglantinescake.blogspot.com/">Penni Russon</a> and <a href="http://www.michaelpryor.com.au/">Michael Pryor</a> speak. Over the next few years, I regularly attended the Centre for Youth Literature events and attended their <a href="http://news.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/2011/05/03/stellar-line-up-for-reading-matters-conference/">Reading Matters</a> conferences. To put it mildly, I’m not a natural networker or extrovert, so when I attended first these events I was just happy to be there learning about books, and taking as much in as I could. Although I wasn’t involved in the industry and knew nobody at the start, throughout my time, I’ve been made to feel welcome at the CYL events by the great staff over the years. These include Mike Shuttleworth, <a href="http://liliwilkinson.com.au/">Lili Wilkinson</a>, Paula Kelly, Susan McLaine, Erin Ritchie, Cordelia Rice, Pam Saunders and Adele Walsh (apologies if I’ve missed anyone). As well as the CYL staff, the various attendees at CYL events have also made me feel at home. Saying thank you doesn’t begin to describe the gratitude I feel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_156367197"><img border="0" src="http://wheelercentre.com/static/files/assets/ad4422a8/Shuttleworth_Size4.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wheelercentre.com/static/files/assets/ad4422a8/Shuttleworth_Size4.jpg">Mike Shuttleworth</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a result, the range and variety of my reading improved immensely. I got to meet librarians and authors at CYL events, I went to book launches and talks by authors, and I started following blogs on children’s and young adult literature. Of the latter, one of the many I read was <a href="http://www.persnicketysnark.com/">Adele Walsh’s blog</a>. Before she became Program Co-ordinator, she was known as a prolific and highly regarded reviewer and writer on YA literature. However, in a <a href="http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2010/12/big-adele-news.html">matter of weeks</a>, she went from being a teacher/blogger/review to running the CYL. So after reading so many of her thoughts on YA literature, I was able to meet her when she started at the CYL this year. Most recently she asked me to be an Inky Awards judge, which forms the latest chapter in how the CYL has enriched my reading life beyond measure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_156367208"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oMYIa2YvDyE/S0VKoyC_2EI/AAAAAAAAB9M/g9Z5dxHOtKc/s1600/Adele.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oMYIa2YvDyE/S0VKoyC_2EI/AAAAAAAAB9M/g9Z5dxHOtKc/s1600/Adele.jpg">Adele Walsh</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Borges once wrote something along the lines that “the crystallisation of a ruby will change the course of a river”. For me, the ruby was spawned by a Google search – on such small incidents life can change. To be less fanciful though, I probably would have discovered the CYL at some later stage: they are not an obscure organisation, and my love of reading was likely to have led me to them. But the ruby (the CYL) crystallised in my life at that moment, and the course of my river irrevocably changed.</span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-68702034570327626732011-07-09T02:54:00.001+10:002011-07-09T02:55:10.330+10:00The Inky Awards Creative Reading Prize 2011 is now open<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of short updates:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Friday, the details of the <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/inkys-creative-reading-prize-2011">Creative Reading Prize</a> for the Inky Awards were released. That post says all you need to know, but I'd like to emphasise that it can be on any book (not just the Inky Award longlist books), in any format, and for any age, although only those under 20 can win the Grand Prize (a Sony Reader Touch).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ebookreadersshop.info/images/sony_reader_touch_prs_600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ebookreadersshop.info/images/sony_reader_touch_prs_600.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Throughout the week, the profiles of all the judges, who will also judge the Creative Reading Prize have been put on the <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/Blog/201107">Inside a Dog blog</a>. I have also updated one of my previous posts to include links to all the judges' profiles (including my own).</span><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-88673690228744602482011-07-05T13:34:00.002+10:002011-07-11T08:39:31.513+10:00I am a 2011 Inky Awards Judge! (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who are the Inky Award judges?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://someonetowritewith.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-am-2011-inky-awards-judge-part-1.html">Yesterday</a>, I gave some information on the Inky Awards. Today, I will talk about the judging. There are six judges. One member is always the previous year’s Gold Inky winner, who is currently <a href="http://www.lucychristopher.com/">Lucy Christopher</a>. There are four teenage judges, <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/meet-2011-inky-judges-stacey">Stacey</a>, <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/meet-2011-inky-judges-iain">Iain</a>, <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/meet-2011-inky-judges-stefanie">Stefanie</a> and <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/meet-2011-inky-judges-jack">Jack</a> selected by the <a href="http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/learn/centre-youth-literature">Centre for Youth Literature</a>. You can see the excited reactions of <a href="http://bookgryffin.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/07/06/a-proud-moment/">Tye Cattanach</a>, Iain's teacher-librarian and at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmgslibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Finky-2011-judge-jack-styles%2F&h=MAQC4QDQl">Mentone Grammar</a> (Jack's school). </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, there is one other adult judge, also selected by the Centre for Youth Literature, and is someone who has an interest in young adult literature. This year, that judge is me! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can see I went for what might be politely described as a “corporate look” <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/meet-2011-inky-judges-kevin-lee">in my profile photo</a> – I need lots of help just to be halfway photogenic! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previous such judges included Ryan Paine in 2007, an editor of <a href="http://express-media.tumblr.com/voiceworks">Voiceworks magazine</a>, <a href="http://surprisingpun.blogspot.com/">Andrew Finegan</a> (2008), <a href="http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2009/07/call-me-judge-snarkseriously.html">Adele Walsh</a> (2009), and <a href="http://www.andrewmcdonald.net.au/">Andrew McDonald</a> (2010). </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three weeks ago, when I received the email invitation from <a href="http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2009/07/call-me-judge-snarkseriously.html">Adele Walsh</a>, the Program Co-ordinator at the Centre for Youth Literature, I couldn't quite believe it. Still can't. I thought about it for all of two seconds. I also did a (metaphorical) mad dance of celebration, then graciously and soberly (my interpretation) accepted the invitation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does being an Inky Award judge involve?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the 20 young adult books on the <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/2011-inky-awards-long-list">Gold and Silver Inky longlists</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decide with my fellow judges which 5 books from each of the longlists will form the shortlist. These are the books that will be voted on by teenagers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decide the winners of the <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/inkys-creative-reading-prize-2011">Creative Reading Prize</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://readalert.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/files/2011/06/inkys_for_web.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://readalert.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/files/2011/06/inkys_for_web.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you become an Inky Awards judge?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The surest way to become an Inky Awards judge is to win the Gold Inky. You will then be guaranteed a spot on next year’s judging panel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If that sounds too much like hard work, don’t despair. The second way is to be an Australian teenager (which is not all that easy either!), and love reading (which is very easy). There are four spots on the judging panel for teenagers, as the Inky Awards are voted on by teenagers, and so if you are really interested, you should keep an eye out on the Inside a Dog website for when applications open next year (usually around May-June). See <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/inky-award-judges-wanted">this year’s call out</a> for judges as an example. Basically, you should impress the CYL staff with your enthusiasm for reading. Having your school librarian to recommend you wouldn’t hurt your chances either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, if you are no longer a teenager, and are not in contention for a Gold Inky, then it gets a bit tricky. There is one position for an adult and there is no application process. Since I was appointed without any inkling (ahem) of what was going to happen, it’s a bit hard for me to give tips, but I’ll try.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You must love reading young adult literature (obvious).<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attend the activities of the Centre for Youth Literature (it's one way for them to know who you are).<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be extremely nice to the folk at the Centre for Youth Literature. A sum of money or a donation of many books wouldn’t go astray.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drop subtle hints that you might want to be an Inky Awards judge.</span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I only did the first two, and I did the second one not because I had some grand schemes of becoming a judge, but because it was fun (what a cunning move!). The last two are of dubious morality, and the Centre for Youth Literature staff have most incorruptible characters. So my tips are utterly useless. Sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lij5G87i1JI/S4m-JFekNUI/AAAAAAAAE30/xjbtP0uUaDw/s320/judge+a+book+by+its+cover.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lij5G87i1JI/S4m-JFekNUI/AAAAAAAAE30/xjbtP0uUaDw/s320/judge+a+book+by+its+cover.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So how did <i>I</i> get to be a judge?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The stars aligned and fortune smiled upon me. Oh and I like reading young adult literature too. I have no special qualifications: I have never been an author, publisher, bookseller, teacher, librarian, teacher-librarian, book reviewer etc. I’m not anything really! Truthfully, it wasn’t an “in my wildest dreams, I might be an Inky Awards judge” scenario; it never crossed my mind as a possibility. If I hadn’t been asked, I’d be doing my usual preparation for the Inky Awards i.e. read as much of the longlist as possible and attend the awards ceremony. Now I’m in the thick of it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The short version is that I’ve attended the Centre for Youth Literature events for some years and I really enjoy it. Also, since my occupation is not anything related to typical attendees at these events, I suppose I am a bit of a novelty. When I get asked the usual question so what library/school do you work for, I then reply "well actually, I work in...etc.". The longer version of how I encountered the Centre for Youth Literature will be told, but because I want to focus on the Inky Awards in this post, then “that’s another story to be told another time” (as it goes in The Neverending Story).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRE4s9HXj791wCy0mKF5AKI5LzBSyiXqFXsHA_ruMfoZeAXmj6k&t=1"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRE4s9HXj791wCy0mKF5AKI5LzBSyiXqFXsHA_ruMfoZeAXmj6k&t=1" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How else can I get involved in the Inky Awards?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a judge is not the be all and end all. It’s not predominantly about judging; it’s about the authors, their books, and the readers. The Inky Awards are nothing without them. So how can you get involved?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are between the ages of 12 to 20, vote for your choice of the Gold and Silver Inky once the two shortlists are announced on 1 September.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Participate in the Creative <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city> Prize. It’s open to anyone (with the exception of the Grand Prize) and can be about any book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have the opportunity to interact with young readers in any way (work, parent, friends), raise awareness of these awards, and the Inside a Dog website, and encourage them to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the books. The books on the lists invariably are of a high quality, and will give you great pleasure – and isn’t enjoyment of reading what it’s all about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attend the Inky Awards announcement on 25 October. See details <a href="http://readalert.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/2011/06/23/cyl-events-for-semester-2-2011/">here</a>.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s it on the 2011 Inky Awards for now. I won’t publicly review any of the books on the longlist before the awards are over, so as not to prejudice or pre-empt the outcome. Also, I won’t be saying anything about the content of the discussions with the other judges. However, it is my hope that after the awards are over, I will have time to discuss my views of some of the longlist books.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-42466422843395831572011-07-04T15:32:00.002+10:002011-07-09T02:28:04.418+10:00I am a 2011 Inky Awards Judge! (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As announced in <a href="http://readalert.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/2011/07/01/154/">this</a> Read Alert blog post, I have been appointed a 2011 Inky Awards judge. As you might imagine, I’m very chuffed – I get to read stacks of young adult books and talk shop about YA literature with other enthusiastic judges. For the uninitiated, I’ll provide a little background on the Inky Awards.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are the Inky Awards?</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/">Inside a Dog website</a> says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Inkys are international awards for teenage literature that are voted for online by the readers of insideadog.com.au. It recognises the fantastic home grown writing talent from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place> with the Gold Inky and also titles that come from across the ocean with the Silver Inky.”</i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1196865956"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://www.insideadog.com.au/sites/all/themes/insideadog/images/logo/insideadog-large.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The award was first given in 2007, and this is the fifth annual award. It is run by the <a href="http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/learn/centre-youth-literature">Centre for Youth Literature</a> (who run the Inside a Dog website), at the <a href="http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/">State of Library of Victoria</a>. You can view the past winners in the sidebar of <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/page/inkys">this page</a>. More detailed <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/page/guidelines">award guidelines</a> are provided are also provided on the website.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to the prizes for books, there’s a <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/inkys-creative-reading-prize-2011">Creative Reading Prize.</a> It is open to anyone and it is a creative response in any format for any book that you love (it doesn’t have to be an Inky Awards longlist book). Note, however, that the Grand prize can only be won by someone under the age of 20.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to get an idea how happy the winning authors can be have a look at <a href="http://johngreenbooks.com/">John Green</a> after Looking for Alaska won the 2007 Silver Inky:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZFidB0V5VuU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or see this lovely one by <a href="http://www.lucychristopher.com/">Lucy Christopher</a>, the author of 2010 Gold Inky winner Stolen, and who will be one of my fellow judges for the 2011 Inky Awards:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SPzaN6yYr7s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p style="font-size: x-large;"> </o:p>What is happening with the 2011 Inky Awards?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Now:</u> The Centre for Youth Literature staff have just selected the 20 books for the <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/2011-inky-awards-long-list">2011 Inky Awards longlist</a>. The longlist consists of 10 books by Australian writers (for the Gold Inky) and 10 books by non-Australian writers (for the Silver Inky) that fit the award guidelines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span lang="EN-US">1 September 2011:</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> The shortlist is announced. Five books from each of the Gold and Silver Inky longlists are selected by the judging panel, and they form the shortlist. From the announcement of the shortlist, voting is open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 20. Voting will close on 18 October.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span lang="EN-US">25 October 2011:</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> The Inky Award winners and the winners of the Creative Reading Prize will be announced during a day of activities called “Inkyfest”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that’s a background on the Inky Awards. Later, I will talk about the judging panel and their role.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-21299413488995123672011-06-29T09:00:00.013+10:002011-07-09T23:10:00.142+10:00Little Big Shots 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After posting about the festival’s background, the 2011 launch and the jury screening it is finally time to talk about the 2011 festival itself!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The festival is always centred around the Queen’s Birthday weekend. This year it commenced on Thursday, 9 June and finished on Monday, 13 June. The programming is structured to be family friendly and also school-friendly. The screenings on Thursday and Friday are during school hours. All screenings are during the daytime, with none finishing after 6pm, and sessions generally commencing around 9:30-10:00am. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:city></st1:place> program for 2011 can be found <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/melbourne">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were over 80 short films in this year’s festival. Films are put into various packages of around an hour each. There are 10 film packages, including one that consists <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/films-made-aussie-kids">entirely of Australian child-made films</a>. Each package contains at least one Australian film and one child-made film, and the packages are designed to accommodate children of various ages. There are film packages for children as young as 2 or as old as 15, or if you’re an adult who hasn’t really grown up like me, then I suppose there’s no real age limit!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alongside the film program, there were a couple of workshops: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/workshop/kaleidoscope">Kaleidoscope</a>, which allowed children to make a short documentary about <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>’s multiculturalism and the <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/workshop/splash">Splash!</a> Animation workshop, which let children star in animation. You can see the results of this year’s Splash! workshops on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/artplaymelbourne">Youtube</a>. I’ve also embedded one of the videos below. Also, there is the Little Big Shots Festival Club, which is down in The Cube on ACMI's ground floor level.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7idZhyHsAgY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Films Made by Aussie Kids</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I attended sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The highlight is always the package of <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/films-made-aussie-kids">films made by Australian kids</a>. I’ve already <a href="http://someonetowritewith.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-if-i-was-giving-prizes-little-big.html">discussed at length</a> about what I thought were the best films in this package. After this package is shown, any children in the audience involved in making one of the films gets to come down and take any questions from the audience or the festival director. In attendance were Reuben Morgan (Searching for Nessie), Asher Karahasan (Wally the Watcher), Lucas Haynes (Nothing More, Nothing Less), some of the Yarraville West Primary School students (A Duck out of Water), and Miranda Rose, Noah Maxwell, Oliverio Perry y Fufori, Lucas Austin and Alexandra Kraus (Wizard Still and the Haunted House). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of my memories of the Q&A session included: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asher Karahasan brought along the bus prop he made for his film. The hardest part to shoot was the bus going over the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Yarraville</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Primary School</st1:placetype></st1:place> students said that several copies of each claymation model had to be made, because they would eventually fall apart after shooting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each frame in the claymation films has to be photographed individually.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucas Haynes spoke most precociously (he’s 13 years old). I can’t remember exactly what he said, but when he starts talking about his next film examining the subconscious etc., you know that you’re not listening to an average 13 year old.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reuben Morgan quite likes working by himself – no siblings involved!<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The youngest child involved in making a film was 5 years old – one of the filmmakers of Wizard Still and the Haunted House.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Festival director Chloe Boulton handled the session with aplomb, especially those awkward silences where a child doesn’t quite know how to respond to a question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40kDc9B5B-E/TgnxcaR_mWI/AAAAAAAAACU/4KNNR6W5rtY/s1600/PICT0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40kDc9B5B-E/TgnxcaR_mWI/AAAAAAAAACU/4KNNR6W5rtY/s320/PICT0087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-screening Q&A with children filmmakers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Packages</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday, I also saw <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/package-3">Package 3</a>. Ormie was an obvious highlight, as described in my <a href="http://someonetowritewith.blogspot.com/2011/06/little-big-shots-2011-launch.html">post on the festival’s launch</a>. However, the true highpoint was <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FThe_Gruffalo_(film)&ei=2eYJTsiUCY7zmAXIi8W3AQ&usg=AFQjCNGdVdpbTsyBpOPL1_UmbLi_zXAgWw">The Gruffalo</a> based on the classic <a href="http://www.gruffalo.com/">eponymous book</a>. It was a delight, and worth the price of the ticket alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_725154163"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheGruffalo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheGruffalo.jpg">The Gruffalo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Sunday, I saw <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/package-8">Package 8</a> first, which consisted of The Lost Thing and Superhuman as its highlights, as discussed in my post on the <a href="http://someonetowritewith.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-if-i-was-giving-prizes-little-big_27.html">children’s jury screening</a>. Also worthy of mention was the German animated film <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/little-boy-and-beast">The Little Boy and the Beast</a>, which uses the transformation of a boy’s parents into beasts as a metaphor for their character transformation after a divorce.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_725154172"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheLittleBoyandtheBeast.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheLittleBoyandtheBeast.jpg">The Little Boy and the Beast</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/package-7">Package 7</a> highlights included Minnie Loves Junior and A Duck Out of Water, already discussed in previous posts. Gorilla from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Finland</st1:place></st1:country-region> – a typical setting of a younger sister wanting to play with her older sister, which in turn leads to an atypical resolution was also worth watching. This package was followed by a Q&A session with Andy Mullins, the co-director of Minnie Loves Junior. He talked about underwater shooting and the universal love theme of the film, and the difficulties in getting the children to spend so much time in the cold sea. As mentioned previously, I found this film most endearing, so I was keen to have a short chat with Andy Mullins afterwards, particularly about how he cast the film, and his future projects. His answers proved most enlightening.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following my chat with Andy, I made myself slightly late for my final package, <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/package-4">Package 4</a>. So I missed out on a couple of films, <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/mobile">Mobile</a> (which was reputed to be a festival highlight), <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/mira">Mira</a>, <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/small-being-s-life">Small Being’s Life</a>, and part of <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/tiger">Tiger</a>. Oh well, I suppose I’ll have to try to catch them when I volunteer at Little Big Shots some time. I saw Ormie again, which I never cease to tire of. Apart from that <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/marcel-shell-shoes">Marcel the Shell with Shoes On</a> which had a very wry and cute sense of humour, while the story of <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/yellow-balloon">The Yellow Balloon</a>, held the audience spellbound, and is a perfect example of how small moments can make for big stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_725154181"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheYellowBalloon.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/TheYellowBalloon.jpg">The Yellow Balloon</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that’s it for Little Big Shots 2011 in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>. Chloe Boulton has finished her fourth and final festival as director, and the reins are now passed onto Ben Laden. Little Big Shots now goes on tour <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/national">nationally</a> and perhaps <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/international">internationally</a> too. Whether you are a filmwatcher, a filmmaker (child or adult), or thinking about volunteering or donating, if my posts on the festival have interested you, please ensure you get involved in Little Big Shots 2012!</span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-86162047445048815482011-06-28T23:39:00.001+10:002011-06-30T10:05:53.878+10:00Today Tonight: Burqa Rage (27 June 2011)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night, on Channel 7’s Today Tonight, a slightly provocatively titled story called Burqa Rage was broadcast. The video can still be seen <a href="http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/9718267/none/burqa-rage">here</a>. I was informed of this broadcast via an email from <a href="http://amrapajalic.com/">Amra Pajalic</a>. Before going further, I should say that I have met Amra Pajalic before and have very favourable views of her novel <a href="http://amrapajalic.com/books/the-good-daughter/">The Good Daughter</a>, but these factors have no bearing on my opinion of Burqa Rage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1283257756"><img border="0" src="http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/110627/burqastreet_tt_110627_170gkbo-170gkbs.jpg?x=197&sig=PQhSWVXfOhLT8WUcmSX2RQ--" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/110627/burqastreet_tt_110627_170gkbo-170gkbs.jpg?x=197&sig=PQhSWVXfOhLT8WUcmSX2RQ--">Three non-Muslim women in burqas</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The premise of the story was to examine non-Muslim Australians’ reactions to Muslim women wearing the burqa. The focus was three non-Muslim women having the experience of wearing the burqa for a day. Although the story was only six minutes long, some light was shed. The women went to various public places such as a shopping strip, a bank, and driving a car. The response was sometimes vocal and hostile, although in the bank, neither security nor the bank staff treated the women in a noticeably different manner, which they found surprising, given that motorcycle helmets, for example, are banned in bank branches.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hard to infer too much in a short story like this. However, the impression I got from those who were vocal in their abuse, wasn’t so much blatant racism, but more the fear of difference. Dare I say it, while I would like to think that I wouldn’t descend to open hostility in an equivalent situation, I have to admit that I have some fears about difference too. Of course, for all I know Today Tonight may have only chosen the most atypical and hostile reactions to the burqa, and perhaps most of the time the three women were treated like anyone else. On the other hand, the three women did say they were distressed by some of the reactions. One even said that she was ashamed that people could be so intolerant, even racist. In turn they hope they will be more respectful of difference in future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://whatamuslimwomanlookslike.com/?page_id=103"><img border="0" src="http://whatamuslimwomanlookslike.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/WMWLL_cover1-195x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story ended with a short studio interview conducted with some of the co-authors of the book <a href="http://whatamuslimwomanlookslike.com/">What a Muslim Woman Looks Like</a>. The book aims to break down stereotypes of what a Muslim woman looks like, through presenting a diverse series of profiles. In the studio interview, they advocated that people need to be less judgemental and see beyond the burqa, and that it is used as an expression of belief and spirituality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having long since switched off from the sensationalist style of tabloid TV current affairs, I was quite impressed at the reasonable even-handedness of the story. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-4480831097344401062011-06-27T11:00:00.004+10:002011-07-05T16:48:24.583+10:00And if I was giving the prizes: Little Big Shots 2011 Jury screening (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following the previous entry on the child-made films, I will discuss how I would have voted for the adult-made films.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 1<sup>st</sup> prize: The Lost Thing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 2<sup>nd</sup> prize: Superhuman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 3<sup>rd</sup> prize: Franswa Sharl<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_814056674"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/files/blog/the-lost-thing.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelostthing.com/">The Lost Thing</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having won the Best Animated Short Film at the <a href="http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html">2011 Oscars</a> I’ll add my voice to the general acclaim for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.thelostthing.com/">The Lost Thing</a>.</i> I first saw it at the <a href="http://miff.com.au/">Melbourne International Film Festival</a> last year where it also won an award. Shaun Tan, who was one of the co-directors, and whose book the film is based on, has gone onto an even higher honour, being the <a href="http://www.alma.se/en/Award-winners/2011-Recipient/">2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award</a> winner, the world’s richest children and young adult literature prize. As for the film, I doubt I can add much more. I’ve been a big fan of Shaun Tan’s work for many years, and this film goes very close to doing justice to his astounding drawings. The story speaks of alienation, and how we tend to ignore the unusual in our lives, even if it’s right in front of us. Yet, the penultimate scene gives hope that lost things can find their place in the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Youtube video of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8MIcNeqVSk">entire film</a> with Russian subtitles. It is also available on <a href="http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/13969/the-lost-thing">DVD</a>, with plenty of special features.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/superhuman">Superhuman</a></span></i><span lang="EN-US"> is a gem. It deals with tragedy with humour, but is neither flippant nor heavy-handed in doing so. Drawing upon a child’s view of the world with precision, it cleverly depicts their outsized imaginations of what their parents are capable, and what happens when their illusions are corrected by reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_814056613"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/Superhuman.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/Superhuman.jpg">Superhuman</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/franswa-sharl">Franswa Sharl</a></span></i><span lang="EN-US"> was hilarious even after having seen it several times. I also first saw this at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It won the 1<sup>st</sup> prize for the adult made film at Little Big Shots, which it can add it to its prestigious awards collection, which includes a Crystal Bear at the <a href="http://www.berlinale.de/en/HomePage.html">Berlin International Film Festival</a>. Callan McAuliffe carries off the cheeky role with ease, and provides a wry voiceover and the supporting actors play their limited roles to perfection. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Youtube clips <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndqYjSoN5b8">here</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFfyQd2yQG8&feature=related">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_814056636"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://www.dff.org.au/images/2011/program/films/minnie-loves-junior-web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dff.org.au/_webapp_834441/Minnie_Loves_Junior">Minnie Loves Junior</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was hard not to put this film in my top three because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/minnie-loves-junior">Minnie Loves Junior</a></i> was the most endearing film in the competition, and the film I enjoyed the most. It won a <a href="http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2011/03_preistrger_2011/03_preistraeger_2011.html">special mention</a> in the Generation Kplus section at the Berlin International Film Festival. This film first came to my attention when I saw it listed as part of the <a href="http://www.giffonifilmfestival.it/en/film-gff-2010">Giffoni Experience 2010</a> in the Generator + 10 short film section. This is such a tender and touching film, yet it has its lighter moments. Languidly paced, it never feels like the story is in a hurry to be told, and with a beautiful ocean backdrop, why not? Yet it still builds to a substantial climax. This a simple story of young love: Minnie is in love with Junior, but Junior pays no notice because he loves the sea. So how can Minnie get Junior’s attention? It’s certainly not with words! Only eight words are uttered – a most commendable economy of dialogue. See this <a href="http://www.screenhub.com.au/news/shownewsarticleG.asp?newsID=36386">article</a> on the background of the filmmakers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_814056650"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://www.ifawards.com/Images/UploadFilmImg/Mandarin-Peel-ST.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.annaemcgrath.com/writer_director/MANDARIN_PEEL.html">Mandarin Peel</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mandarins have never looked so juicy and sticky as in <a href="http://www.annaemcgrath.com/writer_director/HOME.html">Anna McGrath’s</a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/mandarin-peel">Mandarin Peel</a></i>. With no dialogue, it is a poetic vignette of the friendship of two girls, set against the dry Australian landscape. The contrast between the girls, the landscape and the mandarin is remarkable. I first saw one of Anna McGrath’s films, <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/small-change">Small Change</a>, at last year’s Little Big Shots, which focuses, in not quite as concentrated a manner, on the small yet special moments in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDfrhquBfO8&feature=related">Youtube clip</a> of Small Change and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVFMDfe2lM0">short interview with Anna</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-22614636747038936852011-06-26T23:26:00.002+10:002011-07-05T16:48:02.805+10:00And if I was giving the prizes: Little Big Shots 2011 Jury screening (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prize winning films at Little Big Shots are decided entirely by a jury of 10 children. The jury is selected from the film reviewing competition held during and after the previous year’s competition. This year, kids under 15 can review any film at Little Big Shots 2011, and those writing the best ones will win a spot on next year’s jury. Not only do they get to decide the Little Big Shots 2012 winner, they also get a pass to all the films. The competition for the 2012 jury closes on 4 July, so see <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/media/news/review-film-and-win-0">here</a> for details.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_26645506"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/NothingMoreNothingLess.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/nothing-more-nothing-less">Nothing More, Nothing Less </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Sunday 1 May, I had the great privilege of watching all the films in contention for prizes at Little Big Shots 2011. The screening took place at Studio 1 at <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/">ACMI</a>. I was present in a supervisory capacity, along with festival director, Chloe Boulton. I didn’t have any voting rights, but it was interesting not only watching the films, but also watching the children watching the films. While the films were screening, it is quite easy to notice how well the children are engaged with the films. Children have fewer inhibitions about appearing engaged or bored. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two categories of prizes. One for Australian adult-made films, and one for Australian child-made films. The voting process is reasonably simple – each juror is given a sheet with all the shortlisted films and gives each film marks out of 10. The scores are then tallied. This year, 10 child-made films were shortlisted and 13 adult-made films. The 10 child-made films also get their own <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/package/films-made-aussie-kids">standalone film package</a> at the Little Big Shots festival, which for me, is a perennial highlight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249762_10150226137338534_98054613533_7247826_1553133_s.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249762_10150226137338534_98054613533_7247826_1553133_s.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Director Reuben Morgan with<br />
a Searching for Nessie actor</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my previous post, I’ve already listed the jury prize winners. I will give my own views on which films I would have given the prizes to, and begin with the child-made films.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 1<sup>st</sup> Prize: Searching for Nessie<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 2<sup>nd</sup> Prize: A Duck out of Water<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 3<sup>rd</sup> Prize: Shark Pool<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/searching-nessie">Searching for Nessie</a> </span></i><span lang="EN-US">undoubtedly showed the highest level of artistry of all the child-made films. Parental involvement, Chloe Boulton had been assured, was minimal. The music was atmospheric, the sets were beautifully designed and the fog was a fine touch. I did have some slight reservations over the morality of the film – essentially the Scottish teddy bears were running a Loch Ness monster scam, but apart from that it was a clear winner. An article from The Courier-Mail is <a href="http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/young-sebastopol-filmmaker-to-premier-work-to-world/2176644.aspx">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_26645515"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2011/06/09/1226072/604928-big-shots.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/yarraville-west-pupils-a-bunch-of-little-big-shots/story-fn7x8me2-1226072605270">A Duck out of Water filmmakers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/duck-out-water">A Duck out of Water</a> </span></i><span lang="EN-US">was a claymation film made by Grade 5 and 6 students at <a href="http://www.ywps.vic.edu.au/YWPS/Home.html">Yarraville West Primary School</a>. They have a <a href="http://www.ywps.vic.edu.au/YWPS/Claymation.html">great film program</a>, in which all Grade 5 and 6 students get involved. In Little Big Shots 2010, the students made <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/anna-s-doll">Anna’s Doll</a>, a claymation film about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires">2009 Black Saturday Victorian bushfires</a>, which deservedly won first prize. Coincidentally, I work with the mother of one of the children who was involved in this year’s film. I found this out when I was promoting Little Big Shots at my workplace by handing out brochures, and so she was able to tell me what an innovative film program the school has. This year’s effort, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Duck out of Water</i> was a very humorous affair, and the claymation showed some painstaking effort. The swimming race, and its aftermath was a quite a hoot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_26645523"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/film_display/film/SharkPool2_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/shark-pool">Animation sequence from Shark Pool</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/shark-pool">Shark Pool</a></span></i><span lang="EN-US"> was a live-action documentary made by students from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Lithgow</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">High School</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It was a engaging and well-made with some decent shark footage and informative interviews.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of the other films, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/how-not-get-girl">How Not to Get a Girl</a></i> was a close contender for my top three. This was a humorous and well-executed simple idea. The main issue I had was the location – it was shot near a main road, and the passing traffic meant that some of the sound lacked clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.whereilive.com.au/images/uploads/2011/06/14/1ca9896c0f1255b44676deab291c4291_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images.whereilive.com.au/images/uploads/2011/06/14/1ca9896c0f1255b44676deab291c4291_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucas Haynes, director of Nothing More, Nothing Less</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/nothing-more-nothing-less">Nothing More, Nothing Less</a></i>, although not nearly as accomplished as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Searching for Nessie</i>, was the most original of all the child-made films. The first time I saw it, I have to admit I was nonplussed. I grasped the film much better when I saw it a second time at the festival itself. The fault was definitely with me, and not director Lucas Haynes. The premise is moving: a 12 year old boy with dyslexia contemplates whether taking a magic pill to cure him. However, he needs to decide whether to do so will kill his creative abilities in the process. While some of the script is a little simplistic, there are some extraordinary visual sequences, which show a true cinematic mentality. I was particularly struck by the final scene where Lucas makes his fateful decision. This film easily has the greatest emotional impact of the child-made films. There a couple of good news articles on Lucas in a <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/dyslexia-not-such-a-bitter-pill-for-filmmaker-lucas-20110608-1ft3c.html">The Age</a> and also a <a href="http://heidelberg-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/film-explores-self/">local paper</a>. In these articles, Lucas, who is dyslexic, says that he is determined to make his career in film, and in his case there are no other options. Along with Reuben Morgan, these two are definitely filmmakers to watch.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-46523570823788057142011-06-25T22:47:00.002+10:002011-07-05T16:47:40.463+10:00Little Big Shots 2011 Launch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9AE2nQ9_3o/TgXyVEOS-oI/AAAAAAAAACI/aDBnTeur8TY/s1600/PICT0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9AE2nQ9_3o/TgXyVEOS-oI/AAAAAAAAACI/aDBnTeur8TY/s200/PICT0085.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside The Cube at ACMI</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I know that the internet is for up-to-the-minute events, and I should be blogging about things the day they happens - but I like to reflect a bit first. Otherwise, I will write rubbish. At least if I have time to think, it will be slightly higher quality rubbish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-dyVEupwzc/TgXwLrO8BlI/AAAAAAAAAB8/U2Mb4Qh-Oos/s1600/PICT0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-dyVEupwzc/TgXwLrO8BlI/AAAAAAAAAB8/U2Mb4Qh-Oos/s200/PICT0084.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Big Shots launch at The Cube, ACMI</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the unexpected benefits of volunteering for Little Big Shots was getting invited to the 2011 festival launch. So at 11am on Saturday, 4 June I went to the launch at <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/">ACMI</a> in <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Federation Square</st1:address></st1:street>. The launch began in the <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/maps_acmi_venue.htm">Gallery level</a> of ACMI in The Cube. I turned up just after 11, but already there was a crowd of excited children and parents. Plenty of food was to be had, but the colourful cupcakes went in a flash, as you might expect. with so many kids around. You can see plenty of launch photos on the festival's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150222371563534.334681.98054613533">Facebook page</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_511977284"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_Oeb19erBc/TgXxx9vs14I/AAAAAAAAACA/0Eksov9AovE/s1600/Cupcake.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253927_10150222374683534_98054613533_7218663_7077439_s.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Big-Shots-International-Film-Festival-for-Kids/98054613533&usg=__wSJpqBV6bhp6WI64Lsgc56zpRD8=&h=130&w=86&sz=7&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=qC2pg3ULPTtInM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=60&ei=0vAFTtOLDMj4mAXM4fG2DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlittle%2Bbig%2Bshots%2B2011%2Blaunch%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D653%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">A cupcake, shortly before being eaten!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 11:30am we headed upstairs to Cinema 2 for the launch. The Master of Ceremonies was <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/programs/melbourne_saturdays/">Hilary Harper</a> from <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/">774 ABC Melbourne</a>, who hosts the Saturday morning slot. After giving a lively introduction, there was a word from a City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city> councilor and then from Chloe Boulton, the festival’s director. You can see that I took an atrocious photo of her, where she looks like two people. I don’t have steady hands, and my camera is showing its age – it is over seven years old. I’ll excuse myself by saying that Chloe does so much work, that I wouldn’t be surprised if there were really two of her! She also gave me a little mention during her speech when going through her list of thank yous. Since this was Chloe Boulton’s last festival, <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Nick Place</st1:address></st1:street>, the festival’s founder and who is on the festival’s board, gave Chloe some much deserved kudos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaVLbYzPf1o/TgXyXLPhFBI/AAAAAAAAACM/YSl7Pqxn8RA/s1600/PICT0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaVLbYzPf1o/TgXyXLPhFBI/AAAAAAAAACM/YSl7Pqxn8RA/s200/PICT0086.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe Boulton (Little Big Shots Festival Director)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we got to the announcement of the prize winners. Bella Noonan, one of the 2011 Little Big Shots children’s jury got to do the honours. There were two categories for Australian films – one for child-made films, and one for adult-made films.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australian Child-made films<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/how-not-get-girl">How not to Get a Girl</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2<sup>nd</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/searching-nessie">Searching for Nessie</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3<sup>rd</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/duck-out-water">A Duck out of Water</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australian adult-made films<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/franswa-sharl">Franswa Sharl</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2<sup>nd</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/lola-magnificent">Lola the Magnificent</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3<sup>rd</sup> Prize: <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/lost-thing">The Lost Thing</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My memory has failed me, but I think one other film might have finished as an equal place getter in the adult-made films category. That’s probably a good reason</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to blog about these things in a timely manner! I will have more to say about the films themselves, when I do my next post on the Little Big Shots 2011 jury screening.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span> <br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_511977361"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gq5nRBmiuJw/TgXz85MpekI/AAAAAAAAACQ/25SSBBq8rXg/s1600/How+not+to+Get+a+Girl+filmmakers.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247310_10150222374398534_98054613533_7218658_1186950_s.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Big-Shots-International-Film-Festival-for-Kids/98054613533&usg=__-YO21jPeyBLdooDhbcqG-jd2X2A=&h=80&w=130&sz=9&hl=en&start=3&zoom=1&tbnid=LqY6yXYzjJnvxM:&tbnh=56&tbnw=91&ei=0vAFTtOLDMj4mAXM4fG2DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlittle%2Bbig%2Bshots%2B2011%2Blaunch%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D653%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">The filmmakers of How Not to Get a Girl</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the prizes, there was a brief Q&A session conducted by Hilary Harper with the children filmmakers. One of the more insightful comments came from Reuben Morgan, who directed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Searching for Nessie</i>. Apart from his mother making the costumes for the teddy bears, pretty much none of the names in the film credits were real. Naturally, I suspected that some were made up – names like “William Tiddlywinks” and “Jack Rosebud” did cause some raised eyebrows, but it was amazing how much work he’d done. Voices, music, script, shooting were all done by Reuben. He said that he had at least 60 teddy bears, and had chosen them for their likeness to humans! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_511977387"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.jungejournalisten.berlinale.de/2010//imgCont/filme_large/franswa_large.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jungejournalisten.berlinale.de/2010//imgCont/filme_large/franswa_large.jpg">Franswa Sharl</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The launch was rounded off by screening of all three child-made prize winning films as well as the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> prize winners for the adult-made films. I had seen all the films at least once, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lola the Magnificent</i> was a film that I definitely formed a higher opinion about on a second viewing. Finally, a short animated film from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/ormie">Ormie the Pig</a>, </i>was screened. I originally saw it several months before, when I was writing the synopsis for the Office of Film and Literature Classification, whilst volunteering for Little Big Shots. It is absolutely hilarious, and a great way to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On that evening’s ABC news bulletin, there was a brief story on the Little Big Shots launch which included an excerpt from the interview with one of the actors in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How not to Get a Girl</i>. James Mathias, the actor who plays the hapless boy whose advances are repeatedly spurned, said tongue in cheek, I hope, that acting was excellent preparation for being a politician! James is a member of the Young Liberals, and has pre-selection ambitions at the next election. I overheard one of James’s teachers saying to James that since the school’s student council (which James is a member of), had recently incorporated the word “<st1:place w:st="on">Union</st1:place>” in its title, that he had better expunge that from his resume. Using the word “<st1:place w:st="on">Union</st1:place>” is not a good look for a Young Liberal! During the prize ceremony Q&A he also gave some behind the scenes insight into his shirt-ripping scene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little Big Shots also got some good coverage in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theage.com.au%2Fvictoria%2Fdummys-guide-to-girls-wins-prize-for-hapless-romantics-20110604-1fmdi.html&h=2b5f0">The Age</a>, and ABC Radio <a href="http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2011/06/how-not-to-get-a-girl.html">here</a> and <a href="http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2011/06/red-little-big-shot.html">here</a>. You can see the other press coverage <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150222254573534.334641.98054613533">here</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-25030366048520494462011-06-19T02:39:00.002+10:002011-07-05T22:54:43.656+10:00Little Big Shots: International Film Festival for Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/">Little Big Shots</a> is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s only major film festival that exclusively screens children’s films. Beginning in 2005, it is now in its seventh year. It specialises in </span>screening short films, and every year it includes a significant selection of films made my children. Another unique feature is that the prizes are decided by a jury entirely made up of children. The festival occurs in the days up to and including the Queen’s Birthday weekend i.e. early-mid June. It operates out of an office based in Richmond, Melbourne.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAU0Y1BOOFQ/TfzPHdV0jmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/_XpLZMWegyg/s1600/Little+Big+Shots_NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAU0Y1BOOFQ/TfzPHdV0jmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/_XpLZMWegyg/s320/Little+Big+Shots_NEW.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Although non-profit, Little Big Shots of course must remain commercially viable, which it is doing a very good job of according to</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/a-little-shot-that-went-big-20090619-cpy8.html">this article</a>, Since 2007, the festival would have continued to grow stronger if I am any judge. To see how far it’s come just take a look at</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/Film/Films-for-kids/2005/06/09/1118123951038.html">this article</a></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">from the festival’s first year where 21 films were screened (now the total is around 80). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The current director is Chloe Boulton, who just finished running her fourth festival (the first three were run by Marcella Bidinost). The new festival director is Ben Laden, who was being shown the ropes at this year’s festival. The title “director” doesn’t really do justice to the work involved. The director is the sole paid employee of the festival, and has to do nearly everything. It is a stupendous amount of work involving artistic judgement, budget management, high levels of organisation, public speaking, sponsorship and grant management, venue management and not least of all, dealing with children. Just see <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/media/news/want-work-little-big-shots">this description</a> when the job was advertised earlier this year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">If I manage to keep this blog going, it will become obvious to whatever readers there are that I love film, and have a particular interest in children’s cinema. I have attending Little Big Shots since 2008, and last year I decided to do a little volunteering for the festival. It should be clear from the foregoing that Little Big Shots can always <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/about-us/volunteers">do with some extra help</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. I’m proof that no special skills are required – I don’t work in a film or even an arts related occupation. All you need is enthusiasm and interest in the aims of Little Big Shots.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bgcmerced.org/Images/Images/volunteer_clip_art_v3bi.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.bgcmerced.org/main.asp%3Fid%3D3&usg=__-xZDIQSnSUbv-pB6wn5SMPoCK30=&h=496&w=974&sz=140&hl=en&start=3&zoom=1&tbnid=fGxdYX8WjV_SRM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=149&ei=J9T8TdCYIYSOvQONqc2uDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvolunteer%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D653%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With full-time employment, I am limited to helping out on whatever annual leave days I can spare. Since I only get 20 annual leave days per year, then I have been able to volunteer once every 1-2 months, which is not as much as I would like, but I’m still glad to help out when I can. At various times I’ve done tasks such as: helping to upload the archive of previous years’ festival programs onto the website, sending out letters and emails, writing film synopses to submit for the film classification authorities, uploading film images onto the website, researching children’s films at other festivals that might be potentially screened at Little Big Shots, giving my opinion on various films submitted by filmmakers etc. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In return, I get a few benefits. Firstly there is the intrinsic benefit of volunteering. Secondly, I get some insight as to how a non-profit film festival operates and the challenges involved in putting together a film festival. Plus, I get to watch plenty of children’s films! I see some of the films that will be included in the festival or films under consideration for screening, and when I get time I like to dig through the video archive of <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/past-programs">previous years’ film festivals</a>. There’s some top films there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.berlinale.de/external/appendix/20111774_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2011/02_programm_2011/02_Filmdatenblatt_2011_20111774.php&usg=__nzd_CNWqYlgoUApgna9TvKd_BnU=&h=301&w=200&sz=66&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=zHxXito3sl_ynM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=77&ei=98r8TeHcLouOvQO6pYCsAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dminnie%2Bloves%2Bjunior%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D653%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minnie Loves Junior - One of the Little Big Shots 2011 films</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I am one of the more regular volunteers, I got a couple of other unexpected benefits from the nice folk at Little Big Shots. This year I got invited to the launch and got a free pass to the festival itself! I will blog about the launch and the festival in a future post.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although the festival has just finished in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city> for 2011, it does tour <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/national">nationally</a> and even <a href="http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/program/international">internationally</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do try to see it and please give consideration to volunteering. You will have great fun!</span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-32153301706439667902011-05-08T20:51:00.003+10:002011-07-05T16:46:53.128+10:00Visit Jay's blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><script type="text/javascript">
My friend and My as<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</script><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">My friend Jay Chakravarty has just started up his <a href="http://www.jaychakravarty.com/">own blog</a> on Photography, Computer Vision and Robotics. Please take a look. He has a PhD on the collaboration between a robot and fixed cameras, so he knows what he’s talking about.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrtHFES5IU8/TcZ1esrrPvI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Cpe0FUwyXLo/s1600/main_header_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrtHFES5IU8/TcZ1esrrPvI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Cpe0FUwyXLo/s320/main_header_image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Header from Jay's blog</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Jay’s good on the topic of collaboration. He also collaborated with me extensively in the latter part of the project to edit a film soundtrack to accompany The Passion of Joan of Arc, so I owe him heaps. This will become apparent as I continue to tell the story of how the project was brought to fruition.</span></div><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8635748371305946488.post-89558617885936455232011-05-03T02:56:00.006+10:002011-07-04T13:42:30.218+10:00The Passion of Joan of Arc soundtrack project: Prelude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><script type="text/javascript">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</script></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.weekendnotes.com/images/161916404223827556478650n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.weekendnotes.com/images/161916404223827556478650n.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Welcome to my blog!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">With the help of a friend, I have recently brought a long cherished project to fruition. Briefly, the project was to edit a film soundtrack comprised entirely of the music of Anton Bruckner with the great silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer in 1928. How and why I did this is the story I will be telling over the next few blog entries. I hope you enjoy the story.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I am an occasional attendee at the <a href="http://www.melbournecinematheque.org/index.html">Melbourne Cinematheque</a> and on the evening of Wednesday, 7 June 2006 I had my most powerful cinematic experience. Even before attending I was looking forward to the evening’s program, although more for the first feature film than the second. The first film was <a href="http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/tarkovsky/">Andrei Tarkovsky’s</a> <i>The Mirror</i>, which was close to the last of Tarkovsky’s films that I hadn’t yet seen. The second film was <a href="http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/dreyer/">Carl Theodor Dreyer’s</a> <a href="http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/00/5/passion.html"><i>The Passion of Joan of Arc</i></a>. I hadn’t seen any of Dreyer’s films before.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.camerinkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/spegeln-bild1-712996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://www.camerinkelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/spegeln-bild1-712996.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mirror</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I attended the program with a couple of friends, who also were a little more interested in seeing Tarkovksy than Dreyer. I was highly impressed with <i>The Mirror</i> – it was extraordinary, really. The lack of obvious narrative structure was disorientating, and it is as close as anything I know to being a cinematic stream of consciousness. Having since seen all Tarkovsky’s films, it is <i>The Mirror</i> along with <i>Andrei Rublev</i>, that have made the strongest impression on me.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">For those familiar with the Melbourne Cinematheque’s screening times, you’ll probably know what I mean when I say that I sometimes find it a stretch. Programs (often consisting of two feature films) generally start on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, and can go for 4 hours or more. For those who have to work during the week, it can be quite unforgiving. Not only does it follow a full day of work, it also means a late night and tiredness for the next work day. Often, I only feel up to attending the first film of the evening, so that I can get home at a reasonable hour, and I would only stay for the second film if it was something I was very keen to see. This is not a criticism of the Melbourne Cinematheque – I can hardly praise them enough for screening such a quantity and variety of great cinema every week. The enrichment I have gained is beyond measure. I suppose all I can do is wish that it was at a time which had less impact on work. Or perhaps I could look to retire from work early! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7S8nov8sF8/Tb7h551ZqoI/AAAAAAAAABw/qzhhemxfOjA/s1600/The+Passion+of+Joan+of+Arc+-+DVD+menu+background+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7S8nov8sF8/Tb7h551ZqoI/AAAAAAAAABw/qzhhemxfOjA/s200/The+Passion+of+Joan+of+Arc+-+DVD+menu+background+image.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Passion of Joan of Arc</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Going back to the evening under discussion, when <i>The Mirror</i> finished<i>, </i>it was just after nine o’clock. My friends, although somewhat interested in seeing <i>The Passion of Joan of Arc</i> had had enough for the evening. I’m not quite sure why I hung around – perhaps work hadn’t been too bad that day, plus I did know that Dreyer had a great reputation, and that I wanted to see one of his films. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I should mention that true to the Cinematheque’s habit of filling up the program, there was a short film interlude. It was rather unmemorable and about trains. I could detect audience restlessness and a desire to move onto the main film. In fact, after the short film was over, a couple of people yawned very ostentatiously, and I remember one of the Melbourne Cinematheque committee members wearing a rather annoyed look at this rudeness. For now it will suffice to say that what followed was going to dwarf anything that happened in this little episode.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Coming up: My extraordinary experience watching The Passion of Joan of Arc </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script> <script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4777293-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script></div></div>little_strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940798482789935538noreply@blogger.com0