film, video & TV training | professional development

If you would like a workshop run in your area, please register your interest shortcourses@openchannel.org.au

Express your interest now for 2013 for Documentary Filmmaking & Young Filmmakers Holiday Workshop
in Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo & Shepparton.

View our full range of short courses that can be offered in Regional Victoria.

Media Coverage:
Learn tips for 'guerilla' filmmaking

Giving a Voice to the Community!

Open Channel's Regional Training programs aim to service communities with relevant training outcomes. Regional Training is designed to provide people in remote areas access to film and television training/ equipment and give regional communities a voice to tell their stories.

As a Registered Training Organisation with a 40-year history of providing quality training, Open Channel draws on its extensive resources to deliver training to Victoria's regional communities.

Training in Regional Victoria can be provided in the following ways:

• Short workshops in introductory or intermediate filmmaking, directing, editing, writing, and producing. Such workshops already exist as part of Open Channel's short course program and individual course outlines are available upon request. All workshops are taught by industry professionals so that current industry practice is reflected. Class sizes are kept small and relaxed to maximise students' learning opportunities and interaction with the tutors.
• Project Development Training that focuses on skills development necessary for participants to make short films of their own, and could be either generalist or specialist in their approach. This may be more appropriate for very small groups such as Project Managers, established groups with a common goal, and those wishing to develop on-going working methodologies in teams.
• Part-time courses (delivered over several weekends) that have documentary projects as an outcome. The documentary projects would address regional issues and be screened as part of local arts/ film festivals and become a marketing tool for the future participants.

Regional Training can be delivered to Victorian residents in their local region or at Open Channel's Docklands premises. For all courses where equipment is not readily available in the community, professional equipment can be provided by Open Channel. We provide training resources including professional production and editing equipment, access to post-production software, handbooks, information handouts, DV and DVD media stock, and where applicable, copies of projects produced during the training are duplicated for all participants.

All Open Channel tutors are experts in their field and are actively working in the film, television and multimedia industries.

Previous clients include Shire of Wellington, Yarriambiack Shire Council, Daylesford Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre and Central Highlands Wimmera Region – Re@ct Student Film Festival.

Testimonials

Digital Filmmaking Introduction, Sale, Vic

"The course was a wonderful experience that covered a broad range of areas helping me in both my personal interests in photography & drama as well as supporting me to gather ideas for my teaching my own students in a rural primary school setting. Ian Dixon our presenter was flexible in his approach, giving all the participants (from our broad age and knowledge background) great support to help guide us through the skills required.

"At the end of the program we also had a great feeling of success and achievement in producing our own DVD of the Gangster movie. The best part was that despite all of our age differences (I am 50 and the others ranged from 14 to 18) we had a lot of fun in the whole program."
Ken Jeanes

Documentary Filmmaking for Young People, Yarriambiack Shire and Murtoa Progress Association

“Thank you so much for running the course for the young people of Murtoa. It will be something they will remember for a long time. [The Tutor’s] patience was exceptional! Many thanks for making the long journey... and thank you to Open Channel for all the preliminary organising.”
Paula

For further information or a free quote contact the Regional Short Courses Coordinator
Lucinda Gamble
Phone: 03 8610 9300
Email: shortcourses@openchannel.org.au

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Yarnin Indigenous documentaries premiere at SURVIVAL DAY celebrations in Warrnambool

Yarnin Pictures in association with Open Channel presented the first films of the series: Yarnin - A History of Land Rights in Victoria. at Gunditjmara Survival Day, 26 January 2013 in Warrnambool.

Yarnin was conceived by Bobby Nicholls, Rebecca McLean and John Harding and is produced in conjunction with Open Channel.

A mobile training program, Yarnin travels throughout Victoria working with local Aboriginal communities to record their history of Land Rights from an insider’s perspective. The program records detailed interviews from which short documentaries are produced and screened online, and on other platforms.

Supported by Film Victoria, the Australian Government through the Office of the Arts and the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, the aim of Yarnin is to record audio-visual history whilst training a new generation of Indigenous filmmakers and journalists. This is the first time Aboriginal Land Rights in Victoria has been fully explored in a concise and detailed media project.

The Tarerer Gunditj Survival Day Concert and cultural festival event was officially launched with a WELCOME TO COUNTRY, followed by the launch of the Yarnin documentaries by Aboriginal activists Bobby Nicholls and John Harding, and Producer Rebecca McLean. Local bands performed well into the night.

Open Channel Executive Director Marc Gracie comments, “Open Channel is proud to be a part of the Yarnin Project - a significant film project which serves to both preserve our important Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations, and also to train the next generation of Indigenous filmmakers here in Victoria.”

 

BRIGALONG FILMMAKING TRAINING & FILM FESTIVAL A SUCCESS!

Last year the Victorian town of Brigalong (population 1,075) hosted its first ever film festival. In the weeks prior Open Channel delivered Filmmaker Training to a group of emerging filmmakers in the Brigalong region to generate local content for the Film Festival.

After a tumultuous week of flooding, locals braved the cold then a power blackout, to attend the premiere screening of the films made during the festival's Fast Filmmaking Challenge.

Presented by the National Film and Sound Archive (a division of Film Victoria) and supported by Open Channel, there were eight films showcased in the festival lineup that were created in the Open Channel workshops the week before; The Silent Filmmaking Workshop on the Saturday in which beginner participants created a story out of images and put them to music, and The Short Documentary Workshop on Sunday, in which advanced participants shot and edited an interview with a town character, finding twenty cutaways that added value to the story.

The festival drew together an eclectic bunch of filmmakers, mainly from Briagolong, but some had travelled from as far as Port Welshpool and Lake Narracan; amongst the mix were nine year-olds, university students, and retirees, filming on a wide range of devices from mobile phones through to video cameras. All filmmakers had to plan, prepare and shoot their films in a day, during which they encountered some rather unpredictable rain events and dramas such as included last minute interviewee changes. The results were fantastic - captivating the audience with a showcase of local scenery and characters.

Check out the website for more information and check out the showreel for festival highlights!

 

 

SHEPPARTON UPSKILLING WORKSHOP

Open Channel recently loaded up the mobile training unit with lights, cameras, reflector boards, sandbags, and all other crucial filmmaking kit, and headed out to Shepparton for a day-long Upskilling Workshop. Housed in the creative comfort of a studio space at the Shepparton Art Gallery, the workshop drew together a diverse group of locals, from teenagers through to professionals all of whom were there with the specific goal of polishing up their filmmaking skills.

Open Channel Professional Development Manager Lucinda Gamble, and filmmaker Olivia Peniston-Bird joined forces to share their knowledge of filmmaking with the group - giving advice to the participants regarding specific projects and sharing personal experiences to explore ways to 'find your story', improve camera and lighting skills, master 'the art of the interview' and structure post-production work-flow, amongst other topics.

A great day was had by all, with energetic and creative conversations shared throughout the day. By 5pm the workshop drew to an end, the gear was back in the OC mobile training unit and the tutors set off back to Melbourne, as the sun set on the town of Shepparton. Another day, another filmmaking workshop in the can!

Media Coverage:

Shepparton Hosts: SHORT & SHARP PITCHING COMPETITION

Last year Open Channel, in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council presented the region's inaugural Short and Sharp Pitching Competition.

A team of professional filmmakers were joined by four local filmmakers who battled it out to make their pitch win the attention of the judges.

The panel comprised of:

SEPH McKENNA - Head of Australian Production, Roadshow Films. Seph works closely with Australian producers and implemented development work on features films including Wolf Creek 2 and the smash hit Red Dog Prior to his position at Roadshow Seph worked for Warner Bros in Los Angeles.

TIM FERGUSON - one of Australia’s most well-known and talented writer/comedians. He was part of the ground-breaking musical comedy trio the Doug Anthony All Stars, Tim has written extensively for television and his credits include Big Brother Insider (Network 10), Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush (Channel 9), DAAS Love (BBC UK). Tim’s live show Carry a Big Stick was a huge hit at the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

MARC GRACIE - has been working in the entertainment industry for over 15 years, in that time he has created more than 100 hours of film and television. Marc’s credits include You and Your Stupid Mate, Take-Away, The Tumbler, box office hit The Craic and TV series Full Frontal and The Adventures of Lano & Woodley.

JENNIE HUGHES - Jennie Executive Produced Award-winning films Gettin’ Square starring David Wenham and Sam Worthington, Dirty Deeds starring Toni Collette, Bryan Brown, Sam Worthington, and financed Mick Molloy’s Box Office hit Crackerjack and The Nugget starring Eric Bana.

After an entertaining and engaging evening of story and industry discussion, the winning pitch was awarded to David Frizzell - who then continued his winning streak at the 2012 Melbourne Short and Sharp pitching contest, with his adaptation of Changi Brownlow. David won the opportunity to develop his project through one-to-one meetings with a leading production company plus $2,000 worth of equipment hire including the Sony PMW F3 camera.

Open Channel Short and Sharp Pitching Competition was proudly supported by Film Victoria. Open Channel also acknowledges the financial assistance of Screen Australia.

   

Shepparton's 'Emerging Voices' Festival screens Yarnin films

Open Channel and YARNIN Pictures were proud to be part of SheppARTon 'Emerging Voices' Festival on March 10th 2013 – a perfect platform for the Shepparton launch of the indigenous 'YARNIN' web series.

Yarnin is a mobile training program travelling throughout Victoria working with local Aboriginal communities to record their history of Land Rights from an insider's perspective. The program records detailed interviews from which short documentaries are produced and screened online, and on other platforms.

Yarnin was conceived by Bobby Nicholls, Rebecca McLean and John Harding and is produced in conjunction with Victorian screen organisation Open Channel.

Supported by Film Victoria, the Australian Government Office of the Arts, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, the aim of Yarnin is to record audio-visual history whilst training a new generation of Indigenous filmmakers and journalists. This is the first time Aboriginal Land Rights in Victoria has been fully explored in a concise and detailed media project.

Open Channel Executive Director Marc Gracie comments, "Open Channel is proud to be a part of the Yarnin Project - a significant film project which serves to both preserve our important Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations, and also to train the next generation of Aboriginal filmmakers here in Victoria."

Yarnin program faciliators Rebecca Harding, Bobby Nicholls, and Johnny Harding, along with the young filmmakers, launched the Yarnin' website in Shepparton on Sunday March 10 along with Open Channel Executive Director Marc Gracie.

The Yarnin films won prizes for Best Local Film and Best Festival Theme in the Shepparton Shorts Film Festival.

Festival info: www.sheppARTonfestival.org.au

 

Shepparton Festival Film Forum: "Making films people want to watch"

Audience members at this short forum, led by a panel of experienced filmmakers, watched a selection of film and television excerpts and analyzed what it was that made them 'entertaining'. Filmmakers learned about some of the pitfalls of making early career productions, and improved their skills in story telling for the screen.

The forum was followed by a 'Filmmakers Lunch' where filmmakers were treated to further screenings and networked with the panel, and other local filmmakers.