Come and be the first to see House of Blue, a new feature documentary by Perth filmmakers Jamie Lim and Kenta McGrath (Three Hams in a Can).
Almost five years in the making, House of Blue is an intimate and challenging observational documentary that follows the last four days in the life of a Chinese student before he must leave Australia for good.

Leroy is a Chinese university student who has been living in Perth, Australia for six years. An eccentric and erratic character, he treats those around him with equal doses of charm and obnoxiousness. Living far from home and family in a neglected, dirty rental house, he seems nevertheless happy with his life and has a group of close friends who keep him company. In four days however, Leroy will have to leave the country and will never be able to return. As the clock counts down, a story of a complex individual in a complex situation slowly emerges.

SCREENING DETAILS:
Thursday 29th July Film & Television Institute – 92 Adelaide Street Fremantle Doors open 6:30pm, film starts 7:30pm Pre-sale tickets available online at www.houseofbluemovie.com ($12) or at the door on the night if available ($10)

The world’s largest short film label arrives in Australia with a red carpet launch in Perth on Saturday 19th of June at Fly By Night. This is fresh cinema, Future Shorts.

Future Shorts is one of the leading and most innovative short film labels. Since 2003, Future Shorts has created a rapidly expanding network that allows filmmakers the opportunity to have their work seen on the largest theatrical platform worldwide. Passionately believing in getting short films seen and creating a culture around the medium, Future Shorts is recognised by filmmakers, the industry and press alike as the cutting-edge short film label.

On Saturday June 19th, audience members will be greeted by the electronic pop revelry of local Perth act Brash and Sassy, whilst engaging with roaming interactive performance artists. Kicking off the festival will be the world premier of It’s Just Gary, the latest work by Perth’s own award-winning Perrella & Osborn of This is Perth fame. The Future Shorts program for June will then follow direct from London and featuring the finest the world of short film has to offer. Entitled Colours, the program will take audience members on a tour around the globe with an eclectic mix of films from China to South Africa.

For more information: www.futureshorts.com
Tickets: www.flybynight.org

Burleigh Smith:

Screenplay reading last Wednesday evening went well. Some seventy or eighty people showed. All ages, from early teens to late seventies. Actors did a good job, audience responded well, I was happy. Only a couple of walkouts, including a new film student of mine. Looks like I have the task ahead of me to teach him good taste! And maybe some manners.

Feedback pages were quite positive. Some wanted more violence, others wanted less violence. Some wanted more profanity, others wanted less profanity. A local filmmaker took great delight in tearing the screenplay apart. His criticisms were largely trivial or poorly-considered. I suppose he didn’t appreciate my criticisms of his screenplay, which was read at an earlier Script Lab. Only difference was that my criticisms were tactfully-worded and well-thought out.

I could see some people were unsettled by the descriptions of the bullying. I imagine bullying is something that has affected most. One forty-nine-year-old gave a detailed account on the feedback form of his horrifying experiences at school. Not sure how to feel about this.

I really appreciate the opportunities these PAC Script Labs offer local writers. It’s the chance to get your writing in front of an audience before the trouble and expense of making the film. A big thank you to Annie Murtagh-Monks.

Burleigh Smith.

FTI are hosting a night of genre flicks and fundraising this week. Check out the line up.

The Dead Wastes – Directed by Wade K. Savage
Love that Zombie – Directed by Wade K. Savage
Bootleg – Directed by Johnny Ma
Trespass – Directed by Damien Giglietta

It’s this Friday at the FTI. Tix on the door. Here is the FB page ——-> A night of inspiring Films, food and drinks.

From the FB page…..

Come join us to celebrate the people and films that are inspiring the next set of film buffs. This event is a fundraiser by film makers for film makers, come along and support your friends and local talent. Mingle and enjoy free food, raffle prizes and donation-drinks.

Organized by “kinetic motivators” Ivan Borgnino and Amy Broadfoot, Kintetic Carnival looks like it will be a right laff. Opening night is a free event down at the Northbridge Piazza, so you’ll need a pretty good excuse to click not attending on the facebook invite. The group is here. From the press release….

A fresh and energetic film event exploding onto Perth’s screen culture calendar with
innovative works and new screening concepts utilising unique spaces in the city.
Kinetic Carnival highlights local, interstate and international filmmakers, aficionados,
archivists and practitioners, most of whom are premiering their unique works.