Henry V video recovered

A colleague came across a video of the very first GSC performance ever - Henry V. This rare, parent-photographed copy was meant to be returned to the student but ended up lost in files and boxes until now. It is about 85% of the show (cuts during scene changes with some clipped dialogue) but is the visually the best copy of the show (the others are shot from a single p.o.v in wide shot as I couldn't video and run the music at the same time - with another copy blurry because of no autofocus). I have made a digital copy with a view to eventually creating a DVD with an audio commentary track. Stills and other info in the future. Couldn't help but whip up a speculative DVD cover, which is the illustration (left). I get to use my favorite photo of all time!

Widescreen Action Network Channel finalist at Short Fuse 2005

Widescreen Action Network Channel (aka the Paddle Pop stick movie) is a finalist at the Short Fuse Film Festival this year.

An action-filled, thrill-a-minute spectacle as the paddle-pop stick races along the gutter, overcoming obstacles galore.

Hear Peter Morrison and me call this exciting sporting event at the Short Fuse Film Festival, Dumaresq St Cinema, Campbelltown on September 6 from 6:00 pm (show starts at 7).

Bob in the City has concluded its run at the Liverpool Museum. I hope all that got to see it enjoyed it! (It will now be archived for posterity)

Webs has now screened in both Sydney and Melbourne at Tropfest Best of the Rest. There may be other screenings this year in the next couple of months.

(from Maggie Maggot and Julius Caesar) who came across the site one day and sent me a very complimentary email. I have a script to send him which I must do soon!

Early Macbeth Re-Edit Art

Playing around at the moment with a 3D program called Vue with a view (no pun intended) to creating animations for the Macbeth re-edit. This a a rough copy if what will become "Dunsinane", which was "played" by the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in the original. Actually, almost all of the shots of the Powerhouse in the original were a model made from MDF. The remains of the model are still in the garage.

Compare with the final version - 7/6/07

Webs to Screen at Tropfest Best of the Rest

Webs will screen on April 6, the second night of the two-night Tropfest Best of the Rest screening at the Valhalla Cinema.

The program features all of the shortlisted films across the two evenings. The screenings are in alphabetical order - so you will have to stay to the very end to see our movie!

The Valhalla Cinema is located at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

Screening begin at 7:30 pm and entry is $15.00 or $13.00 with concession.

More information can be obtained here.

Webs Shortlisted for Tropfest!

Though not a finalist, Webs was one of the shortlisted film for Tropfest this year. That means that is should be a part of the "Best of the Rest" program screening around Australia later this year.

Plans are already underway to edit the alternate version (shot at the same time) to explore other outlets. Stay tuned for more information later.   

Webs arrives at Tropfest (with a friend)

Finally after many weeks of filming and days of editing (and lots more days just rendering), Webs is at the Tropfest offices - me having gone there today and dropped them off personally!

It travelled there with a surprise companion, Widescreen Action Network Channel - a film shot and edited in a week (including 34 hours of rendering!!).

Watch out for the Webs page coming up this week (hopefully) and news about the progress of the films through the selection process.

An alternate version has been shot (but not edited) to make new version of the film for other festivals.

Also ran into Tanya Milosavljevic (Julius Caesar, Maggie Maggot's Time Machine - ten years ago this year!!) today who has been doing some acting work in a recent mini-series - though she normally works as a Stock Market analyst! Maybe there'll be some GSC roles for her in upcoming projects!

Webs Photography Wraps

Shooting wrapped on Webs last night with photography along some drains and dry creeks for the opening scene. I had been hoping for some "wet" creek beds for a story point, but nature had other ideas. Back to the computer to try and work some "magic".

The night before we finished the boathouse scenes, and Michael was once again with us for some very interesting shots that should look good on screen when finally processed.

Wonderful trooper in Danielle, our lead actor, who has been battling morning sickness but who finished her scenes with traditional "show must go on" professionalism. Partner Simon proved to be a trooper too, playing a trooper with ease and dedication.

Thanks to Lyndal, we also had the services of Scamp the dog!

Now back to the computer to wrap it all up!

Soon to come: lots of production photos!

All Summer in a Day Video Complete at last!

After a year, I have finally edited our production of All Summer in a Day from 2003! This is the performance we undertook at the NSW State Schools Drama Festival, playbuilt from a story by Ray Bradbury (performed with permission). We shot the video to archive our performance, but other projects such as Hippies Save the Trees, April's Locket, The Boy... etc have kept All Summer from completion. Now it's done, recording this remarkable production forever!

Macbeth "Special Edition" DVD Underway

The first stages of the Macbeth "Special Edition" DVD are underway with the long process of transferring all the original master footage (the "camera negative" so to speak) to digital. This will be a real-time process, so just copying the tapes is going to take at least 20 hours.

From that a completely new version will be edited from scratch, including all the FX that I imagined for the original but did have the know-how to do.

The DVD will include a selection of out-takes, audio commentary, and a huge slide-show.

It was always my intention to release a Special Edition ten years after the original: I anticipated that by that time I'd have access to whiz-bang equipment that could do all the things I wanted - and lo and behold, that's exactly what's happened!

The Glenwood Shakespeare Company specialises in student and amateur film and theatrical productions involving current and former students and staff of a south-western Sydney primary school

Our Shakespeare productions are the best-acted primary school Shakespeare works ever staged - or filmed. You will find texts, DVDs and resources for Shakespeare and other works from Kindergarten to Year 6 and beyond, and award-winning productions for study or enjoyment for all ages. There is also a detailed history/reminiscence of each production.