Past Event

Calling Cards

May 4, 2024 1:00 pm — Tickets FREE
8 Victoria Rd Parramatta

Calling Cards: Emerging filmmakers in Western Sydney make their mark!

 

Are you keen to show off your filmmaking skills but not sure how to break through? ACE and Made in the West Creative have partnered on Calling Cards, a new initiative for storytellers and filmmakers in Western Sydney from underrepresented communities.

This 8-week workshop program aims to help early career screen content producers demonstrate their talent through cost-effective production models with wide audience reach. Participants will produce a short-form narrative, documentary or film essay using DIY equipment and a DSLR Camera or smartphone.

Learn from award-winning local filmmakers as they share their advice to help you script an attention-grabbing short and build your creative networks! Supported by the artistic programming team from Made in the West Film Festival, this rockstar line-up of local filmmakers will help you take your filmmaking to the next level.

 

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?

This program would suit filmmakers with basic to intermediate skills who are looking to take their filmmaking impact to the next level. This course is not designed for beginners.

 

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE?

  • DSLR Camera or HD smartphone.
  • Basic video production and editing skills.
  • Availability on Saturdays from 1-5pm, on the following dates
    • May 4
    • May 11
    • May 18
    • Jun 1
    • Jun 15
    • Jun 22

 

BONUS MATERIALS

  • Have you made a film before? Great! Share it with us so we can see your creative flair.
  • Got a story idea? Great! Let us know what genre or type of film you think might be your ‘calling card’ so we can support the process.
  • Do you have a laptop or additional equipment you can use? Great! We’ll help to set you up for success.

 

WHAT DOES IT COST?

This program is FREE but places are strictly limited. Applications close 5pm Friday 19 April 2024.

Apply via the link below.

Apply Now!

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM

 

5 x 4-hour practical sessions over 8 weeks, plus a launch event (online and in person). Workshops commence on Saturday 4 May 2024.
Participants must be available to attend practical sessions in-person at ACE in Parramatta, where you will learn and create alongside a small group of local filmmakers. Over two months, we will guide you through designing, producing and sharing your unique calling card. Here’s a sneak peek into what’s involved in each session:

 

Session 1: Find Your Creative Voice
  • Explore micro-storytelling techniques to craft compelling narratives.
  • Identify suitable platforms, devices, and promotional channels for distributing your work effectively.
  • Tailor a short script or story that showcases your unique strengths and creative vision.

 

Session 2: Boost Your Skills
  • Delve into the technical aspects of filmmaking, including data management and equipment operation.
  • Engage in hands-on workshops with cameras and gear to refine your cinematography skills.
  • Develop essential production documents such as storyboards and shot lists to streamline your filmmaking process.

 

Session 3: Bring Your Vision to Life
  • Enhance your editing prowess through practical workshops focusing on both linear and non-linear editing techniques.
  • Learn how to assemble footage, create seamless transitions, and refine the pacing of your film.

 

Session 4: Refine Your Work
  • Fine-tune the sound and visual elements of your film to ensure a captivating viewing experience.
  • Explore advanced techniques such as ADR and foley to enhance audio quality.
  • Receive guidance on achieving the desired aesthetic and mood through meticulous editing.

 

Session 5: Navigating Self-Promotion
  • Develop a comprehensive distribution plan tailored to your film’s target audience and objectives.
  • Collaborate with fellow filmmakers to brainstorm promotional strategies and maximize outreach.
  • Explore innovative approaches to self-promotion, including social media marketing and networking opportunities.

 

Session 6 (Screening): Celebrate Your Success
  • Gather with peers and supporters for a celebratory film screening event showcasing your collective achievements.
  • Showcase your film alongside fellow filmmakers and combine your promotional powers.
  • Network with industry professionals, paving the way for future collaborations and opportunities.

 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to refine your filmmaking skills, connect with like-minded creatives, and take your cinematic vision to the next level. Join us for an immersive workshop experience designed to empower young filmmakers and unleash their creative potential.
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to improve your filmmaking practice, connect with industry experts, find new collaborators, and put your best foot forward when you share your unique ‘calling card’.

 

WORKSHOP HOSTS & GUEST SPEAKERS

 

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer and director based in Western Sydney. She is an experienced writers’ room facilitator and keen contributor to collaborative storytelling programs. She was selected for Screen NSW’s Emerging Producer Placement and Screen Producers Australia ‘Ones to Watch’. Jo has produced two Screen Australia financed digital series, No Ordinary Love and Shippers, and created the award-winning web series Sydney Sleuthers. The web series she directed, Roadmap… Next Turn Adulthood, is now streaming on Amazon Prime. She produced the Screen NSW Screenability funded short film Magnetic, which premiered at Sydney Film Festival and streamed on ABC iview. Jo also wrote and directed the award-winning short film The Takedown Of Melanie Sprottle, inspired by her time as a competitive horse rider.

 

Vincent Tay is a filmmaker with 30 years’ experience working across all formats. Primarily a cinematographer and editor, he works regularly on TV productions as camera operator and has operated production company Filigree Films since 2000. He enjoys teaching the next generation of filmmakers, sparking the joy of life-long learning and inspiring students to develop their potential to the fullest. He has taught film production for the last 20 years in university-level Screen Media programs, and in addition he has also taught at Certificate IV (adult education) and high school HSC levels. He is experienced in all aspects of production, having worked on motion film, broadcast tape and many current digital formats and codecs. He is also experienced in all aspects of post-production including motion graphics, colour grading, sound post, mastering, as well as graphic design.

 

Ryan Cauchi is an AACTA Award-nominated filmmaker based in Western Sydney. The proud son of Maltese immigrants, his filmmaking practice is informed by his early career in advertising, which culminated in 2014, when he was nominated by the Australian Screen Editors (ASE) for “Best Editing in a Commercial” for the 15-second spot Steadfast Brisbane Roar. Since then, he has written, directed and produced a small series of micro-movies, films between 15-seconds and 5-minutes, with a heavy emphasis on horror and dark fantasy themes. The most acclaimed of these include the tech horror Cut Off (2018) and WW2-era fantasy Golem (2020).

 

Recently, he expanded his creative output to TikTok and was nominated for the 2022 AACTA Award for “Best Digital Short Video” for Tales from the Dark Web: Moira Hill (2022), which was also one of three finalists in the “Got a Minute?” initiative by TikTok, Screen Australia and Screen Producers Australia (SPA). He received an Honourable Mention the previous year for Midnight Stories: Morgan. He was also the proud recipient of the “Michael Ajakwe Award for Innovation” at Sydney Web Fest 2022. His latest project is Greystanes, a 15 x1 minute Maltese-Australian horror drama series for TikTok currently in post-production and funded by Screen Australia, NZ On Air and TikTok via the “Every Voice” initiative.

 

Matthew C. Vella is an international award-winning filmmaker and comedian born in Blacktown, Western Sydney, to Maltese immigrant parents. Since 2016, he has been taking the film festival circuit by storm winning awards such as Best Comedy at Melbourne Indie Film Festival (2020), Best International Director at Austin Comedy Short Film Festival (2019) and Women’s Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta (2019), and the Audience Choice Award at Made in the West Film Festival (2018), among others. Matt hosts Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout – a popular networking group for Western Sydney filmmakers, with over 1.5K members. The group also hosts regular and free networking events, and has partnered with organisations such as Screen Australia, Arts and Cultural Exchange and Made in the West Film Festival. As a comedian, Matt has performed at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival, and has three degrees relating to film, including a Masters of Media Arts and Production from University of Technology, Sydney.

 

Ross Page is a highly skilled post-production and sound editor hailing from Western Sydney. With an exceptional talent for ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) and Foley, his meticulous approach to his craft makes him an invaluable asset to local filmmakers. Throughout his career, Ross has lent his expertise to a diverse range of productions, including the web series Roller Coasters (2022), short films Faceless (2019), Night Owls (2018), Three Feet Deep (2018), and Pushing the Envelope (2013). With each project he undertakes, Ross seeks to weave an immersive auditory experience that complements and enhances the on-screen narrative, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

 

In addition to his contributions as a post-production and sound editor, Ross is also the founder of Made in the West Film Festival. This annual event serves as a dedicated platform for showcasing the exceptional talents of film artists from Western Sydney. Through this festival, Ross aims to promote and celebrate the rich pool of talent in the region, fostering a vibrant community of filmmakers and artists. His creative contributions to the film industry and his commitment to supporting emerging filmmakers through the Made in the West Film Festival make him a cherished figure in the Western Sydney film community.

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A project of ACE in partnership with Made in the West Creative, supported by Screen NSW

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