filmmaking production support
Raw Nerve Overview
2002 - 2008
| Title, Year, Duration, Synopsis | Creative Team | Career Pathways |
| THE MORNING AFTER 2002/2003 7.00 The morning after a wild party, a couple search for their missing video camera for different reasons. |
PRODUCERS: Andrew Brinsmead Justine Spicer DIRECTOR/WRITER: Andrew Brinsmead |
Andrew Brinsmead went on to set up his own Entertainment Media company - Machine Media. He found the RAW NERVE experience highly worthwhile and now produces and edits many documentaries, corporate videos, music videos and produces a current cable television series. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING ACMI 2003, Love Your Work 2003 |
| SURFACING 2002/2003 5.00 A film about feelings, isolation and infatuation. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/WRITER: Rebecca Gallager |
AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING ACMI 2003 |
| THE JUNCTION 2002/2003 7.00 Three people have come to a turning point in their lives. At a train station their lives collide. |
PRODUCER: Claire Sawyer DIRECTOR/WRITER: Marie Hatzoudis |
AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING ACMI 2003 |
| STATIS 2002/2003 3.00 Investigates the role of science in our human quest for knowledge. |
PRODUCER: Liz Burke DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ronald Aveling |
Ronald says: "The RAW NERVE program was a great opportunity for me. I really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot; although I have not stayed within film specifically, I have a log of experience from RAW NERVE that has assisted me to get where I am now. Thanks!" Ronald has made several interactive installations, and worked with a number of music projects. Here's some of the links: www.corpuseclectica.net/intimate_skin.html www.leftsensorybypass.com Ronald now works in San Francisco, California at a science museum in media for the web. Some examples: icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/?p=193 icestories.exploration.edu/dispatches/?p=285 icestories.explortorium.edu/dispatches/?p=343 AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Screened at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2003 |
| THE THIRD DATE 2003/2004 11.00 In the modern world of dating all things should be equal. But some things are more equal than others. Under the watchful eye of the bar staff, Adam and Astrid conduct their third date. All goes well until money rears its ugly head. Actors: Brett Climo, Deb Robertson |
PRODUCER: Carmel McAloon DIRECTOR/WRITER: Carol Cumming |
Carol Cumming works on many film and television projects as a director. Following RAW NERVE Carol worked on Saddle Club for Crawford Productions. Other short Films: Still Life & 3 Weeks in Koh Samui (Director). Television: Last Man Standing (Writer), The Secret Life of Us (Sound Recordist). Producer Carmel McAloon formed the production company Endangered Pictures in 2004 and subsequently produced short drama for Film Victoria and the former AFC, and long-form documentary for SBS. She is currently producing a one hour documentary Westall 1966: A Suburban UFO Mystery for Screen Australia. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Won 2004 Panavision Award (Audience choice), Producers & Directors Guild Vic, Selected to screen film at Victorian Women's Filmmakers Showcase 2005. |
| HANDBALL 2003/2004 5.00 A gritty, streetwise, realistic film which centres around Amanaki as she watches how adults deal with their problems in her world. She is forced into the role of an adult, looking after the neighbourhood kids who need care, as well as herself. Children are handballed from house to house when parents find life too difficult. She is a watcher and learner with an understanding and wisdom which is way beyond her years. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Sue Broberg |
Sue Broberg is currently pursuing an acting career in London. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Screened at FRAMED 2007 - part of OC / AFTRS short film screening |
| THE AUDIENCE 2003/2004 8.00 An investigation of human interactions in a public space. |
PRODUCER: Carmel McAloon DIRECTOR/WRITER: Nick Batterham |
Nick says: "Since RAW NERVE I have been working mostly in film sound and music. Last year I was composer/sound designer on the feature film THE INDEPENDENT, and this year - sound designer on the feature doco LIONEL. I've gone onto do a bunch of shorts - BLUE TONGUE, SNOW, as well as HAWKER which have all been featured in Cannes. I do a lot of sound recording on TVCs. I also work in the music industry as a record producer. The RAW NERVE experience was so worthwhile." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Dendy Awards Finalist (Experimental Category) at 2005 Sydney Film Festival. |
| PAUL'S BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE 2003/2004 7.00 A documentary about the producer coming to terms with "unusual" brother. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Glenda Tobias |
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| CAMOUFLAGE 2003/2004 10.00 Life is choice, but who is really flipping the coin? |
PRODUCER: Phillipa Campey DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ben Harding |
Ben Harding - Producer Credits: Dear Bert, Omelette - A Multicultural Love Story; Director / Writer Credits: Camouflage, Love Transactions, Signage. Philippa Campey established her independent production company in Melbourne in 2004. Since then Film Camp has produced Clara, an animated short film by Van Sowerwine that was awarded a Special Mention by the Jury at Cannes 2005, the Gold Hugo at Chicago in 2005, and which competed at Sundance in 2006; and Iraq, My Country, a television documentary for SBS TV about filmmaker Hadi Mahood returning home at the start of the Iraq war. Words from the City is Film Camp’s first feature documentary. Other feature docs include Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Ben Lee: Catch My Disease, and Bastardy about Aboriginal elder, cat burglar and actor Jack Charles. Philippa is also co-producing the television documentary The Fibros and the Silvertails, about football, class & politics in 1978 with Paul Oliver. In addition to her Film Camp work, Phiilippa has produced a number of documentaries and series for John Hughes' company Early Works, including his award-winning feature documentary The Archive Project, about the realist film movement in the cold war, and two TV art series with Betty Churcher The Art of War, and Hidden Treasures about the National Gallery's rarely seen collection. She won the 2007 Atlab IF Award for Rising Talent. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Won Wide Screen Festival 2004 |
| ALMOST READY 2004/2005 9.59 Explores that terrifyingly nauseating, but exciting moment when we think we are ready to become sexually active. |
PRODUCER: Jannine Barnes DIRECTOR/WRITER: Grant Scicluna |
Grant says: "The RAW NERVE film got me moving as a director, and qualified me with the AFC to invest in my next film FAST LANE, which played MIFF, St Kilda, Portable Shorts, and is available for download from Bigpond Movies. I'm now completing work on my third short film, NEON SKIN. I have continued working with my RAW NERVE producer Jannine Barnes (Almost Ready was our first film together), and she is now co-producing my feature with Trevor Blainey (NOISE)." Grant has gone on to produce a vast body of work but of note, perhaps, is the director's internship he just completed with Bruce Beresford on MAO'S LAST DANCER (also AFC funded) and his feature script, SCRATCH THE SURFACE, which he is writing for director Tony Ayres (the HOME SONG STORIES). AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Blue Dandenongs Youth Film Festival |
| STALLED 2004/2005 8.45 Young Rob's day hasn't started on the right note. It was to be his first armed robbery, but everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Stars Simon Lyndon. |
PRODUCER: Scott Alexander DIRECTOR/WRITER: Stuart Moulds |
Stuart set up Aquafruzzl Films which comprises the writer, producer, director team of Scott Alexander and Stuart Moulds. The duo first worked together in 2005 on Stuart’s first film as director STALLED, with Scott on production duties. STALLED starred Simon Lyndon and went on to receive numerous awards including best director and best editor at the 2007 St. Kilda Film Festival. 2007 saw the successful funding of Scott’s directorial debut LAPSE, this time produced by Stuart. LAPSE stars Val Lehman and was officially selected for the 2008 St. Kilda Film Festival and most recently Palm Springs International Shortfest. In 2008 Scott and Stuart have received funding for two new projects, HUNTED a 20 minute drama currently in post-production and THE LAST ANDY, an animated pilot which is in pre-production. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Won Best Director & Best Editor at St Kilda Film Festival 2007 - went on to do a National Tour. |
| MY GREEN FRIDAY 2004/2005 9.42 Turquoise sneezes, buttery laughs, mango sherbet trumpets & green Friday - welcome to the colourful world of Synaesthesia. My Green Friday is a short documentary about enriched perception, blended senses, and seeing the world in another way. |
PRODUCER: Marianne Wallace-Crabbe DIRECTOR/WRITER: Kirrilly Brentnall |
Since 2006, Kirrilly Brentnall has worked with a number of documentary production companies including: 360 Degree Films, Cornerbox & Artemis Films. Kirrilly has worked on the following recent television productions: Seedhunter (ABC), Menzies and Churchill at War (ABC), Surf Patrol(Seven Network), The Zoo (Seven Network),and Who do you think you are? (SBS). Kirrilly is currently directing and co-producing the documentary Eric Smith - Not finished yet! - about three times Archibald prize winner Eric Smith. Marianne co-directed and produced MILLION DOLLAR BABES, a documentary with animation, which was completed in February 2007. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Awards: IFCT 2007 Nominations for Best Documentary, Best Director of a Documentary, Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary Festivals & Screenings: Propeller TV – Sky Channel 195, UK, 2008, Festival International du Film documentaire Océanien, Tahiti 2008, International Festival of Cinema and Technology Tour 2006-07, REAL Life on Film Festiva, 2006, Hot Docs Side Screening Toronto, 2006 |
| TEENAGE LUST 2004/2005 8.43 An experimetal narrative exploring the deepest thoughts and feelings locked inside one man's psyche. Stars Damien Walshe-Howling ('Underbelly'). |
PRODUCERS: John Osky & Kate McCarthy DIRECTOR/WRITER: Fiona Tuomy |
Fiona Tuomy's latest short film FIVE NEW THINGS received post production funding from Screen Australia. Currently Fiona is a recipient of a Creative Fellowship from State Library of Victoria to research and write a documentary feature film with Producer Liz Burke. Kate has gone on to work in Visual Effects for "The Pacific" (2009), Australia (2008) (digital effects producer), Charlotte's Web (2006) (visual effects production manager: Digital Pictures Iloura) to name a few. John Osky, credits: Strangers on a Sushi Train (2009) (co-producer), Five New Things (2009) (producer). |
| THE FAVOUR 2004/2005 13.35 A dark tale of Christmas misery, but with a magical twist which proves that one good turn deserves another. |
PRODUCER: Ann Gertos-Dionysus DIRECTOR/WRITER: Donna McRae |
Donna says: "THE FAVOUR was very successful for me in terms of professional development. I am now doing a PhD (with a scholarship) at Monash Uni looking at the ghost in cinema. I intend to make a long film as the studio outcome. After making THE FAVOUR I ended up including it in my MFA exegesis as part of a trilogy PRIVATE THOUGHTS IN PUBLIC PLACES - the outcome of my MFA was a three screen video installation ARCADIA that has been shown in Melbourne and Barcelona. Through working with Liz Burke (Open Channel Supervising Producer RAW NERVE 2005), I approached her for a Film Victoria mentorship for a documentary LE CHIEN QUI FUME - A SMOKEY LIFE. That was successful in the AFC driven MeetMarket at AIDC, followed by a round of development funding from AFC. The RAW NERVE opportunity was really successful for me. I could take my ideas and push them through into production without any restrictions. The Composer for THE FAVOUR - Johanna Craven then went to UCLA and did a postgraduate in film composing and is doing really well." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING 2007 St Kilda Film Festival, 2008 Mini retrospective of Donna's short films as part of the St Kilda On Screen - at the Dog's Bar. |
| THE LONGEST JOURNEY 2005/2006 7.00 Some stroll, some sprint. Whatever the path we choose to travel, the real journey is inside. |
PRODUCER: Anne-Louise Allen DIRECTOR/WRITER: Niki Johnson |
Niki says: "Professional advancement following RAW NERVE has not been in the area of directing. I now am an independent editor and animator and my work comes purely by referral (Niki worked on the feature Where The Wild Things Are). However, I am about to direct a documentary that has a link via Lou Bennett who wrote the music around which THE LONGEST JOURNEY was based." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Invited to screen at Big Sur in the US, Screened at Popcorn Taxi - Greater Union. |
| WISHFUL THINKING 2005/2006 5.00 A man is held under ASIO's new anti terror laws, but when he thinks this means release, his hopes are dashed. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Natalie Faulkner |
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| THE VISITOR 2005/2006 5.00 From old rags a widow makes herself a man and magically, grotesquely, he comes to life. |
PRODUCERS: Sacha Rodriguez & Miranda Edmonds DIRECTOR: Paul Andersen WRITER: Rachel Bowen |
Paul Andersen is an award-winning film and TV commercials director. His short film The Visitor was funded by Screen Australia and produced through Open Channel as part of the Raw Nerve initiative. The film was selected to screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2007 where Paul was chosen as a participant in the sought-after Accelerator lab for emerging directors. The Visitor has since been selected for numerous international festivals. The film was a finalist at Moondance, won Best Silent Film at Coney Island in New York, and Best Art Film in Eugene International Film Festival in Oregon. Paul was chosen to direct a short film for Diet Coke called Happy Accident, which maxed the online ratings and premiered to wide acclaim at Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. His first ever TV commercial, This is what we Australi-ARE (made for GetUp!) took out a national award. He is currently living in New York City where he has recently directed two more comedy shorts, now in post-production. He still calls Melbourne home. www.filmdirector.com.au AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Best Silent Film at Coney Island FF, Best Art Film at Eugene Intnl FF, Screened at MIFF 2007, Screened at Popcorn Taxi - Greater Union 2006 |
| TWENTY-FIVE CENTS 2005/2006 8.45 A woman recounts the story of her life to strangers who are too busy to lend too much of an ear. |
PRODUCER: Natasha Burns DIRECTOR/WRITER: Anthony Noak |
AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Screened at St Kilda Film Festival 2007. Screened at Popcorn Taxi - Greater Union 2006. |
| A WOMAN'S WORK 2005/2006 10.36 A day in the life of Shirley Woods, an outreach worker for women in prostitution. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Alice Daly |
Alice is currently working on a longer form, follow-up film "Who Is She?" |
| LAPSE 2006/2007 12.00 An on-call cleaning lady, becomes trapped in a labyrinthine facility after losing her scan card and keys. Things go from bad to worse when she is unable to prove her identity to an overzealous Security Guard and a dim-witted nurse. |
PRODUCER: Stuart Moulds DIRECTOR/WRITER: Scott Alexander |
LAPSE stars Val Lehman and was officially selected for the 2008 St. Kilda Film Festival and most recently Palm Springs International Shortfest. In 2008 Scott received funding for two new projects, HUNTED and THE LAST ANDY. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Premiere screening Melbourne's Cinema Nova - November 2007, Selected for screening at the 2008 St Kilda Film Festival, accepted into competition at the 2008 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. |
| PLAY 2006/2007 5.06 When the pressures of being a working Mum have Anne ready to collapse, the last thing she needs is to be surrounded by people actually enjoying themselves. |
PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Brett Stanning |
Brett says: "Since directing PLAY, I have script edited two of the four successful RAW NERVE 2008 films; Mikael Brain's LIFEBOAT and Holly Alexander's IN PASSING. I was producer for RAW NERVE 2008 film LIFEBOAT. I line produced the self funded short DESTINATION DAY directed and produced by Chris Lassig. I have been commissioned to adapt a play into a feature screenplay for a New York based, Australian ex-pat, director Paul Andersen (also RAW NERVE alumni). I am putting together a 15 minute film called MILK FOR FREE and seeking Screen Australia funding to shoot it later in the year; utilizing many of the same crew members as PLAY. I am about to shoot two music videos, one for Melbourne rockers "The Readies" TOUCH ME, I'M GOLDEN, followed by Melbourne groove-driven Unclechunk's ARMY OF COLOUR AND SOUND." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Screened at St. Kilda Film Festival. |
| BOUNCE 2006/2007 11.00 A half brother and sister meet for the first time. Stella never met her mother. She was stolen when she was a baby and taken to the States. When the mother died Jeff contacted Stella under instruction from his mother. Today, Stella and Jeff meet, speak very few words, but share much. They have met family. |
PRODUCERS: Romy Loor, Matthew Lockitt, & Chris Curran DIRECTOR: Matthew Lockitt WRITER: Chris Curran |
AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Entering Film Festivals currently |
| COOBER: A DESERT SPEEDWAY STORY 2006/2007 10.00 Speed, dust and heartbreak in the middle of the Australian desert: this is speedway racing Coober-style. |
PRODUCER: Bridget Callow DIRECTORS / WRITERS: Caro McDonald & Tanya Curnow |
Caro says: "I've gone onto making films for Native Title purposes and also developing a longer length documentary project. Tanya Curnow - Co Writer/Producer/Director of COOBER is currently working on a feature with a film production company in Germany as well as developing a longer length film. Tanya and I certainly had an excellent experience with this funding round and were very appreciative of the opportunity to work on our first funded project with the fabulous support of Open Channel." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Selected for screening at Flickerfest in January 2009 |
| IN PASSING 2007/2008 9.30 At a funeral, Jen and Audrey discover they have something in common. |
PRODUCERS: Holly Alexander, Sally Storey, & Linda Wall DIRECTOR/WRITER: Holly Alexander |
Holly says: In terms of my personal development, RAW NERVE has had a more tangible influence; as the producing experience it's given me, means that I'm now eligible to apply to Propeller Shorts (Film Victoria) which I will be doing this September with another project. I will be collaborating with another RAW NERVE alumni on that project. I'm also writing another short script and am hoping to complete that in the next few months and then go to Screen Australia for funding for that one next year. I would like to underscore the fact the RAW NERVE has given me both the confidence and the tangible (and funding-body-recognised) experience to pursue other projects, which I will be doing over the next 12 months. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING Entering Film Festivals currently. Producer has been offered international distribution but prefers to allow the film a festival run before selling television and digital rights. |
| LESSONS FROM THE NIGHT 2007/2008 8.00 As dusk approaches and workers stream out of the city, MARIA is about to begin her day. She reflects on life, work and toilet bowls as we follow her nightly cleaning round through the corridors of corporate power. |
PRODUCER: Melanie Brunt DIRECTOR/WRITER: Adrian Francis |
Melanie says: "I believe the RAW NERVE funding initiative to be an excellent opportunity and extremely worthwhile initiative for emerging filmmakers. It fills an important gap between the production of film school/no budget films and Screen Australia/Film Victoria funded projects. This was Adrian Francis' first film after completing the post graduate documentary course at the VCA School of Film & TV. LESSONS FROM THE NIGHT was the first documentary film that I have produced and I was grateful for the opportunity." Melanie has started her own company FEATHER FILMS and produced Erin White's 18 minute short film DUGONG which premiered at Aspen Shortsfest in 2007. DUGONG was nominated for 2 AFI Awards, plus Best Short Fiction Film and Best Screenplay in a Short Film. It screened at Sundance and Flickerfest where it won Best Original Australian Screenplay. AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING World premiere at the Sundance Film Festival January 2009. |
| LIFEBOAT 2007/2008 9.50 A mysteriously dishevelled old man stumbles across a tiny derelict rowboat in the middle of a forest. He packs that vessel with his life inventory and charges it with finding him true happiness. |
PRODUCERS: Mikael Brain & Brett Stanning DIRECTOR/WRITER: Mikael Brain |
Mikael says: "Making LIFEBOAT under the RAW NERVE Initiative was extremely beneficial for me as a serious film practitioner. The funding available along with the resources at our disposal made some parts of the process similar to that of a fully funded short. Since completing LIFEBOAT, I have recently wrapped production on the pilot episode of THE LIFE TUTORIALS OF ALEX FISCHER, a comedy series of 50 three minute episodes. The series will be submitted to Film Victoria for Digital Media Prototype funding, in the hope that we will be able to make another 6 episodes." AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING LIFEBOAT Submitted to the Pusan International Film Festival, the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France & Sundance Film Festival. Producer has been offered international distribution but prefers to allow the film a festival run before selling television and digital rights. |
| STEAK 2007/2008 8.38 A young woman is having trouble accepting that her ex-girlfriend has dumped her - for a man. This long weekend, consumed by her memories of their relationship, Gillian lovingly prepares the perfect steak and sets out to present it to her Ex. |
PRODUCER: Jeff Goldfinch DIRECTOR/WRITER: Kathryn Goldie |
AWARDS & SELECTIONS FOR SCREENING STEAK submitted to London & Cork Film Festivals. Canberra and Adelaide Short Film Festivals. Producer has been offered a distribution agreement with US Distributors Frameline. Producer has been offered international distribution but prefers to allow the film a festival run before selling television and digital rights. Selected for screening at the 2009 Melbourne Queer Film Festival on 21 & 28 March 09 as part of OZ Shorts. |
