Bridget Jones Diary 2

Saw Bridget Jones Diary 2 last night. It was a fun movie. Very corny.
W: http://www.bridgetjonestheedgeofreason.co.uk/

Australian Surf Movie Festival – Take 3

11 December 2004 – 25 January 2005

"The Quiksilver Australian Surf Movie Festival presented by Tracks is heading into its third major season. Premiering in Tahiti on Saturday 4 December, Australian’s first screening is on Saturday 11 December at the Harbord Diggers in Sydney, and the Festival then tours the country.

Event director Tim Bonython has organised a record number of shows, with 40 screenings in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales in December 2004 and January 2005.

This year’s festival presents Tim’s eagerly anticipated new surfing documentary, BLACKWATER – The story of a place called Teahupo’o. Two years in the making, Blackwater is Tim’s second full-blown documentary since Biggest Wednesday. Over 50 interviews, unbelievable footage from 28 different cameramen and a story of the scariest, challenging surf location in the world called Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

As well as Blackwater, ASMF will be screening Layne Beachley’s behind-the-scenes flick, LIFE IN THE FAST LAYNE, as well as a story on one of the world’s hottest new surfers RY CRAIKE.

We will also look at a unique new event staged at the beautiful island of Tavarua in Fiji called the KELLY SLATER INVITATIONAL.

The festival line up also includes THE MENTAWAIS EXPERIMENT, a story of one of the world’s most playful surfing locations - the beautiful Mentawais Islands, Indonesia. It features Luke Munro, Ry Craike, Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds. Audiences will also see a short trailer of big wave madman Ross Clarke Jones’ life story, THE SIXTH ELEMENT.

Budding surf film producers are being given the chance to have their work seen. ASMF and Tracks have created a competition for amateur producers to submit five to 10 minutes of footage, with the producer asked to include a dog and a garden gnome as signature items in a short film. Not only will the winning entry have their short film included in this year’s festival, they will also win a great prize pack from Bose, Sanyo and Quiksilver."

Tickets: full $15.00 and concessions $10.00
Tickets on sale now online from www.volatile.com.au and at selected outlets.

Check http://www.volatile.com.au or email filmfestival@volatile.com.au for further information.

Georgian eyes - exhibition on until Sunday 28th November

Photographs of colonial australian architecture by adrian boddy and christina gaudruno-freeman, virginia russell and rodney jensen (curator)

exhibition: 16-28 november 2004
gallery hours: tuesday to sunday 9am – 4pm
711 darling street rozelle nsw 2039

W: http://www.washhousegallery.com.au

Digital Media Festival and seminars - 6-8 December

Motion Graphics - Video Editing - DVD authoring - High definition-Location audio
Where: Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Seminars info: http://www.dmw.com.au/html/dvfest.htm
Exhibition: http://www.dmw.com.au/html/Exhibition.htm

Vodafone SLAM Beach Volleyball Competition Tour

"Vodafone SLAM Beach Volleyball, now in it’s 5th year, has rocked Palm Beach in NSW every Summer to the tune of 1,200 participants and thousands of spectators. SLAM attracts everyone from amateurs to volleyball enthusiasts, crazy costumed teams, sexy bikini girls, spunky bronzed boys and lunatic beach lovers everywhere. And now for the first time, Vodafone SLAM is travelling around Australia and everyone’s invited!

Vodafone SLAM Beach Volleyball Competition Tour Dates, 10am-6pm:

Saturday November 20th Port Beach, WA
Saturday December 11th Manly, NSW
Saturday December 18th St Kilda, VIC
Saturday January 15th Surfers Paradise, QLD
Saturday February 19th Coogee, NSW

Entry fee is $30 per person for a team of 6 – and everyone who enters receives a free pair of Havaianas, Vodafone SLAM Visor & BONDS underwear. Teams commence the day in a round robin with the best in each round going through to play on to the final or be knocked out, whichever comes first!

Highlights of the day include celebrity appearances, the BONDS Fashion on the Beach search for the spunkiest and best dressed of the crowd, The Havaianas Hurl, Ella Bache sunscreen guys & girls and Corona Fiesta after-parties in each state."

W: http://www.slamvolleyball.com

Annette Russell - Time Suspended - 17 November to 5 December 2004

"Continuing with my interest in the potential of the everyday. I have used cloth and my drawings of cloth as source material and a slow exposure camera as my paintbrush. Exploring ideas of the real and the abstract and the point at which they meet

The early images in the series are still very connected to the form of the shirts they came from. The final group has become something entirely of their own –suggesting landscape, moving closer to abstraction.

A painter who takes photographs, I am concerned with the formal elements of a painting – spatial relationships, composition, and colour. The boundary between what is a drawing, a photograph, painting and how they feed each other in my process.

Pinhole Photography continues to fascinate me with its “accidents” of time. Under or over exposure to the graduations of white to black in charcoal has produced a surprising range of colour. The images are strangely harmonious and almost old fashioned in their palette. Intuitively where I point my camera, the time of day, which compositions are saved from the cutting room floor, combined with the unpredictability of the tools I use, mean these elements are equal partners in my work.

As Degas said “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” "

W: http://www.groundfloorgallery.com/

Warwick Orme - Floranova 3 photographic exhibition on until Sun 28th Nov

Floranova 3: Recent photographic works by Warwick Orme
Shapiro Gallery
162 Queen St, Woollahra
Wed to Fri 10am-6pm
Sat and Sun 11am-6pm

W: http://www.floranova.com.au

Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Brisbane April 9-10, 2005

"ANDY SERKIS, the man behind the stunning realisation of Tolkien’s tormented soul, SMEAGOL and his alter-ego GOLLUM, for the big screen, is coming to Brisbane in April. The actor caught the world by its heartstrings in THE TWO TOWERS and was the undisputed star of that film. In fact director Peter Jackson loved his work so much he hired Mr. Serkis to also portray the big Kahuna himself, KING KONG, in next year’s most-anticipated epic.

Details: April 9 & 10, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane.
W: http://www.supanova.com.au

Elements of Earth art exhibition

26 November 2004 to 8 January 2005

'ELEMENTS OF EARTH' features new contemporary work incorporating rudimentary earth themes in a range of media. Included in the exhibition is 'DIRT LINES', an exciting new series of warm abstract landscapes by contemporary artist Candyss Crosby, a selection of unique wood carvings and wall sculptures by Andy Schmidt & Tom Goldschmidt, ceramics by Byron Bay artist Suvira McDonald, abstracts by Karen Langman and John Scott, and illustrations by Philippe Moreau. 7.20pm Special guest performance by percussionist Mike Almond & The Feel Rhythm Band.

Details:
the artRoom Upstairs
Level 1, 106a The Corso, Manly NSW 2095
11.00am - 6.00pm Sat - Wed, Thursday & Friday by appointment
P: 02 9976 5226

W: http://www.artsconnect.com.au/artroom

Rebel Billionaire show

Richard Branson's Rebel Billionaire show will start airing on Channel 7 at 9.30pm starting on Monday night on Oz tv. Fox have aired 4 episodes so far. By some media accounts, it doesn't seem to be doing as well as Trump's The Apprentice. I had a look at the episode guides to see what the show is about. Branson's challenges also have a physical element to them. The physical bits reads a bit like The Amazing Race. So it would seem he wants his chosen one to be a bit of a daredevil like himself, rather than focussing purely on the business side of things.

W: http://www.fox.com/rebelbillionaire/

Australians work longest hours in the developed world

"New research by the Australia Institute shows we now outrank all other developed nations in terms of hours on the job. In fact, we spend an average 1855 hours at work each year - that's a good 200 hours more than employees in other countries."

Clive Hamilton attributes long hours to workers feeling job insecurity and higher lifestyle, material expectations to the increase in work hours.

W: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1247577.htm

RESFEST 2004 Digital Film Festival

3-7 December, Melbourne, 9-12 December, Sydney
Tix now on sale: http://www.resfest.com

Design is Kinky & Semi-Permanent are proud to support the upcoming RESFEST event which is soon to hit Australia. http://www.designiskinky.com

"Welcome to the Eighth Annual RESFEST Digital Film Festival! Get ready to enjoy our biggest festival yet, with programs that include short films, music videos, motion design, live music, guest speakers and much more. In the next four months, the festival will take place in 33 cities in 13 countries on six continents. It is the largest festival of its kind.

Each year we travel the globe and watch thousands of films in search of outstanding works to program. In reviewing this year's 1,500 submissions, we found many works that reflect our strange and uncertain times. In light of that, we've put together a special shorts program, Bushwhacked!, highlighting filmmakers' responses to the political climate in advance of this year's US presidential election."

Resfest website: http://www.resfest.com/

Japanese Film Festival in Brisbane and in Sydney

"The 8th Japanese Film Festival will run from Wednesday 24 November until Friday 26 November at the South Bank 5 Cinemas in Brisbane.

It then moves to Sydney, running from Monday 29 November to Friday 3 December at Dendy Opera Quays Cinemas.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW from South Bank 5 Cinemas and Dendy Opera Quays Box offices, and are only $7 for daytime sessions and $10 for evening sessions.

The Festival presents a showcase of contemporary Japanese films, from the heart-felt family drama QUILL to the animated adventure TOKYO GODFATHERS.

The multi-award winning samurai drama WHEN THE LAST SWORD IS DRAWN won Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the 2003 Japanese Academy Awards. The film is set during the Meiji Period in the late 1800s, and tells the story of a common samurai in turbulent times. Yoshimura leaves his loved ones and the hardships of his poor clan, to seek his fortune in the big city, in a renowned samurai faction. This poignant drama unfolds amidst a fascinating and chaotic period in Japan's history.

The enchanting TOKYO GODFATHERS takes us to the snowy streets of Tokyo, where a runaway, a drunk and an ex-drag queen will be thrown into adventure after stumbling across an abandoned baby.

The Festival also features feel-good dramas and jet-setting love stories, traversing the gamut of human emotions, which may leave you laughing or crying, or both!

QUILL is based on a true story about a Œseeing-eye¹ Labrador puppy and director Sai Yoichi moves audiences with his remarkable story of the life of a seeing-eye dog and the visually impaired. QUILL was the highest grossing film of 2003 for the legendary Japanese production company Shochiku.

The Festival features three other Shochiku films, LOVE COLLAGE, HEAVEN'S BOOKSTORE and FIREFLIES: THE RIVER OF LIGHT.

Screening times are listed below. For detailed film synopses please visit www.sapff.com.au or www.jpf.org.au

Due to Festival Exemption Classification, all films except QUILL and SILENT BIG MAN (both family dramas rated PG), are rated 18+

BRISBANE

Wednesday November 24
6.30pm - QUILL (PG)
8.45pm - WHEN THE LAST SWORD IS DRAWN

Thursday November 25
10.30am - QUILL (PG)
6.30pm - FIREFLIES: RIVER OF LIGHT
8.45pm - LOVE COLLAGE

Friday November 26
10.30am - QUILL (PG)
6.30pm - HEAVEN'S BOOKSTORE
8.45pm - TOKYO GODFATHERS

SYDNEY

Monday 29 December
Opening Gala - Invitation Only
WHEN THE LAST SWORD IS DRAWN

Tuesday 30 November
11.00am SILENT BIG MAN
6.30pm WHEN THE LAST SWORD IS DRAWN
8.45pm TOKYO GODFATHERS

Wednesday 1 December
11.00am QUILL
6.30pm FIREFLIES:RIVER OF LIGHT (with director Sugawara Hiroshi)
8.45pm LOVE COLLAGE

Thursday 2 December
11.00am SILENT BIG MAN
6.30pm QUILL
8.45pm HEAVEN'S BOOKSTORE

Friday 3 December
11.00am QUILL
1.00pm Panel with visiting Japanese filmmakers, at The Japan Foundation, Chifley Plaza 6.30pm SILENT BIG MAN 8.45pm GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (SOLD OUT)

The 8th Japanese Film Festival is sponsored by JAL, NYK Logistics, Madman, Ambience, JALpak. It is presented by the Japan Foundation Sydney, and the Consulates-General of Japan in Sydney and Brisbane, and supported by the Kinokuniya Bookshop, Dendy Cinemas and South Bank 5 Cinemas. The Festival¹s presenting partners are the Sydney Asian Pacific Film Festival (SAPFF) and ImagineAsia, promoting the best of Asian film in Australia."

Source: Paul de Carvalho, MD of ImagineAsia, E: paul@imagineasia.com.au

Roughcut - a FREE event hosted by Sony - Dec 11

"On Saturday December 11, Sony will host Roughcut, a FREE event to aid budding filmmakers planning on entering Sony Tropfest 2005.

Who should attend?
Roughcut is an event for filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers looking for a better grasp on some of the technical aspects of filmmaking such as cinematography, camera operation, editing and sound. You should consider attending if you are:

» A first time Tropfest entrant or film director
» A previous entrant looking to hone some of your technical filmmaking skills
» Aspiring Director of Photography or Cinematographer

What You'll Learn
Roughcut will include invaluable sessions on a range of filmmaking topics set to arm you for the toughest film competition in Australia.

Special guest and renowned Australian Director Of Photography Pieter de Vries ACS will provide key insights and tips including how to use focus, depth of field and lighting for maximum dramatic impact.

Attendees will also be able to pick the brains of Sony's digital video gurus, who will be on hand to cover issues such as equipment selection and use and digital formats, including the mind blowing new HDV.

Sony Tropfest Project Director, Serena Paull will highlight some of the major pitfalls, tricks and common mistakes for entrants and take you through the judging process. Finally, three- time finalist and past winner, Tim Bullock will discuss his filmmaking experiences, culminating in winning Sony Tropfest in 2003.

If you're planning on entering Sony Tropfest 2005, you'd be mad to miss Roughcut!

Date: Saturday, 11 DecemberTime: 10.30am - 5.30pm
Where: NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art), Randwick, Sydney

Securing your Place
For your chance to be one of just 350 lucky attendees* at Roughcut, register your details now! Hurry - registrations close 29th November!"

W: http://www.sony.com.au/Objects/other/RoughcutregoForm.html

The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition: 26 December 2004 - 31 March 2005

"Enter the fantastic world of Middle-earth when the international blockbuster The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy – The Exhibition arrives at the Powerhouse Museum.
Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes of the hugely successful film trilogy and see props, costumes, artefacts and film footage, as well as discover the secrets behind the trilogy’s award-winning special effects.

Experience the film trilogy’s cutting-edge technology, extraordinary array of costumes and exclusive interviews with the cast, crew and director Peter Jackson. The exhibition culminates in an atmospheric encounter with The One Ring.

The Powerhouse is the only Australian venue for this extraordinary exhibition which has attracted record-breaking crowds on its international tour.

For more info and to buy tickets, go to: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/lotr/

Australia from Space: NASA Astronaut Story Musgrave -28 November

"One of NASA's most distinguished astronauts, Dr Story Musgrave, will be speaking at the Powerhouse Museum on Sunday November 28. Dr Musgrave, who made 6 flights on the Space Shuttle, will present a performance called “Australia From Space”, in which he will share spectacular views of our continent taken from on-board the Space Shuttle. Afterwards, he will be signing copies of his book of images by the same name, as well as his new biography, Story: the Way of Water."

When and where: 28 November, 12.30pm, Coles Theatre

This talk is free with entry to the museum. This is an unbooked event and seating is limited so be sure to arrive early!

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/whatson/index.aspposted 12.20am

d factory - Thu 25 November - free event

6pm – 7pm
Drinks and music from DJ Sleepy Robot in the Café

7pm - 8pm
Join host Nell Schofield for a chat with Cameron Tonkinwise of the University of Technology, Michael Alvisse of Schamburg + Alvisse and Peter Stutchbury of Stutchbury and Pape. This month our speakers will discuss how new ideas, technology and innovative design solutions are helping create a more sustainable future. Whether designing products or built environments, designers are re-thinking materials and challenging traditional values and attitudes about design.

8pm – 9pm
More music from DJ Sleepy Robot

WHEN: Thursday 25 November, 6.00pm – 9.00pm
WHERE: Powerhouse Museum, Courtyard Café – enter via Macarthur Street

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/dfactory

Protect your Design - 30 November

"Have you ever wondered how you can better protect and profit from your creativity? Get the facts and make sure your work is properly protected.

Learn how the Designs Act 2003 can help you Find out how to protect and commercialise your designs Gain understanding of the difference between trade marks, designs and copyrights Listen and talk with experts about your design protection issues IP Australia, the Federal Government agency responsible for granting rights in patents, trade marks and designs, is holding a free information session on the new Designs Act 2003.

Sydney
When: 7:45am - 9am
Tuesday 30 November 2004
Venue: Novotel Century, Sydney

After each session the speakers will be available to answer your specific questions. Light refreshments will be served.

Register online at http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au.

For further enquiries contact IP Australia on 6283 2394."

Source: AGDA website http://www.agda.com.au/eventsnews/nsw/events/2004/Protec.html

Last few days

Caught up with a friend from high school on Friday night. We did the karaoke thing at a place on Pitt St, close to Liverpool St. Haven't done this in years. They had a security person at the door who looked through our bags and waved a sensor type device close to the body from head to toe. I guess it was supposed to beep if it sensed something. We were then let through.

We just selected letters of the alphabet at random and just selected any song we recognised. Lots of golden oldies. Didn't see any really new ones - but it probably takes a while before they turn new songs into karaoke releases.

Went to the Cube bar/cafe on George St afterwards for some coffee and cake.

Had a quietish weekend - did some repotting of some plants that were leaning over, did some cleaning, washing, admin type things, cooking etc.

Had a nice teriyaki chicken dinner box at Asakuse - costs approx $20 for two people. Tasty food. Great value. Followed up with a hot chocolate at Cinque, King St, Newtown last night.

Had dinner at the Drummoyne Rowing Club tonight with the folks. It's nice food with water views. Pretty reasonably priced too. Had the grilled seafood plate and a passionfruit creme brulee with ice-cream. Would recommend both dishes. The friend I caught up with on Friday night and I keep a mental list of places that serve creme brulee. So will add this place to the list.

Sushi train - Newtown

Felt like some Japanese food on Tuesday night. Walked past the Sushi train place at 316A King St, Newtown. Looked really good so tried it out. There was lots of variety and the food was very fresh and yummy! The decor is very nice too - contemporary, brown tones, wood, flat tv screens, brown cube stools, metal lights.

Didn't realise they are from the same group as the Sushi train place in the Hoyts cinema in the city which I have gone to numerous times.

W: http://www.sushitrain.com.au

CSIRO Solve Issue 1

"SOLVE is designed to provide a “heads up” to business and industry of the emerging science and technology that is coming through the pipeline from CSIRO.

SOLVE will inform industry of CSIRO’s current research activity –

SOLVE will be produced and inserted quarterly (November, February, May, August) in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) on a Monday"

The first issue is available can be read online or downloaded in pdf format at: http://www.solve.csiro.au/1104/index.htm

There's an article in this issue titled: WATER: Solving our water headache
Australia is short of water and the situation is getting worse. What is needed is a whole new approach to how we think.

W: http://www.solve.csiro.au/1104/article8.htm

Spanish Quarter Fiesta photos

Photos taken on Sunday November 7 at Liverpool and Kent Sts, Sydney

Last couple of weeks

Went to the Sydney Open Day organised by the Historic Houses Trust last Sunday Nov 7. Did lots of walking. Great day. Started at World Tower. Louise Cox happened to be stationed at the lifts. Absolutely fantastic views! The place that was open for viewing is a place that you can rent for a short stay - like a hotel. There are also apartments available to buy. You can get a studio (no parking) from $365K which is approx 50 sqm. A 1 bdrm from $403K, 65sqm etc up to over $1m.

Also saw the new refurbished Mint on Macquarie St. It's a very beautiful space. They've stripped back a lot of the building to expose it in it's original state. Apparently there have been so many layers of history that you could keep stripping it back and restoring it back to a former period.

Saw the new Utzon room in the Sydney Opera House.

Went to Harry Seidler's building - Australia Square and had access to the L6 - the ninemsn offices. Very open plan offices. All the workstations seem to have heaps of toys displayed on the monitors, on the desks etc. Just did a quick walk around.

Saw the Wintergarden area of the Minter Ellison - law offices in Aurora Place.

Will post some up when I get a chance.

Saw a few other places as well. Was pretty hungry by 5pm. So got some sushi train plates at the George St cinemas - which is always packed and has yummy dishes, then went back to the car and then went to Eastwood for a Chinese dinner with family.

Walked by Liverpool St and saw the Spanish Festival was on in full swing. Lots of Spanish restaurants had food stalls in the street. There was also flamenco dancing, live bands, and all sorts of entertainment happening. Very lively.

Got a few DVDs out over the last week or so including: About a Boy - funny, great feel good movie, great place Hugh's character's got, Bulletproof Monk - fun action movie - v.cliched, caricatured plotline and characters for the 'baddies' and some imitation Matrix movies but still fun, All I want - has Elijah Wood, Franke Ponte and Mandy Moore in it, ok, fun movie, American Splendour - great, great movie! really loved it!

Project Greenlight Australia

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are bringing their reality TV series called Project Greenlight to Australia. It'll give local filmmakers an opportunity to win a $1 million production budget and theatrical release for their film.

Pay TV channel Movie Network will run the Australian contest. The series follows a group of directors as they make an independent film where a winner will be selected.

Entries can be submitted from Nov 10.

SMH article: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Film/Project-Greenlight-Australia/2004/11/09/1099781394233.html

Project Greenlight's website: http://www.projectgreenlightaustralia.tv/