Velodrome Results Are Coming In

I wrote the other week of filming inside the Northcote Velodrome, well I'm happy to say the results are starting to come in.
1st cab of the rank is the final year film that I was helping out on.
It's called White Wheels and the trailer is now complete, which was the aim of the exercise for Brendan and Prasad.
A neat little effort that teases out a story of loss and determination.

It's about a lad who lost his champion cyclist brother in a road accident and how the family's post trauma, fear and grief prevent him from living his dream of hitting the pedals and fly like the wind.
All he wants to do is ride in honour of his best buddy bro and make his parents proud!

They have made good use of the footage and this is the result

Up Close and Personal!

Prasad & Brendan collecting sight & sound

See Sea Gypsys or Bajau's on Film

Coincidence or something greater?
They say things happen in threes, well then I'm waiting for the third because these are the two so far that I know of

Thy Womb by Brillante Mendoza (Filipino) and The Mirror Never Lies by Kamila Andini (Indonesian)

The common factor?

A Bajo Village

Both these films are stories involving the Bajo (Bajau), an ethnic minority that live on the ocean. Their houses are built on stilts and their transport is by boat and they live off the sea.

after which is where the two films probably depart.

Thy Womb premiered at Venice this year where although it didn't take out the biggies did collect three awards and it has also been to Toronto & Busan. Not a bad year!
I am yet to see this one and wish I could be in Brisbane for BIFF 2012 because they are showing it on the Mon 19th and Sun 25th November. Its headlining actress is Nora Aunor (Pinoy superstar) who plays an infertile midwife. Her husband wants a child of his own and thus she seeks out a fertile woman for him played by Lovi Poe.
And of course Mercedes Cabral is in it too.

The Mirror Never Lies I have seen and it is a beautiful tale of a young girl coming to terms with her fathers disappearance at sea. She swears that he will return but he never does. It features a lovely ensemble of children as the main cast and the amazing part is that they all are native Bajo and have never acted before. This achievement is totally reflective of the director Kamila who has made documentaries up until this film and has fostered relationships with these people over a number of years. I caught this film at MIFF this year and was lucky enough to meet Kamila and hear her speak after the film. Fascinating Stuff!

It, like Thy Womb has traveled and been to Busan and Edinburgh and a swag of other festivals and also scooped its fair share of awards. It was part of BIFF's Cine Sparks (The International Film Festival For Young People) in October of this year. So I hope you saw it then Brissy?

Pakis is hoping to catch the shadow of her father through using the mirror

What I am now waiting for is the third Bajo film to make its appearance...
...and this anticipation is quite exciting!

You can catch Brillante Mendoza at BIFF in a free industry talk on Mon 19th Nov at 4.30pm
Thy Womb is also up for Best Director and Best Actress, I think Nora may win.

Park My Bike, Pimp My Ride!

There's a lot of videos around showcasing some amazing cycling skills but personally I look forward to the future if this is an indication of the new generation rider

over and over and over again. Confidence and Handling, Precision and Pride.

Hit Girls: Kung Fu Sydney Way

This is the final push for HIT GIRLS - a girl on girl action kung fu film staring Hong Kong celebrity JuJu Chan and Sydney mover and shaker Maria Tran. Less than 48hrs to jump onboard and support.
After a glitch in the system (Indigogo & PayPal) the campaign has been granted an extension.
4 days to go as of the 13th Nov. Go Go Go!

  "This fast turnover project (written in late Sept, production in Oct-Nov, editing in Nov and launch in Dec) is solely supported via community donations from as little as $10 is still in need of further support to reach it’s $4,000 target mark." http://www.indiegogo.com/hitgirls?c=home

And that kinda sums up Maria Tran, she is a fast turn around, go getter, doer, with a slight tongue in check sense of humour? She first came to my attention with her Quest for Jacki Chan but that's a whole other story. There's also a mocumentary Hot Bread Shop and some fun with Super Vlogger Natalie Tran from the community channel.
Check out some more of her vids on the youtube and especially
Enter the Dojo - test shoot (below)
This is just scratching the surface but the point being
             TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO HELP  HIT GIRLS

If you like the fight then get on over to Indigogo and support this project

Videos that are a Gas #10

This is such a feel good song in the vein of Edward Sharp & the Magnetic Zeros Home but check the animation too! Simplicity cuts so deep sometimes, is it the epic trek of the Journeymen? or is it the archetypal mythical beasts they encounter? or is the benevolence of an all loving guardian angel?
Oh well the combination does it for me....enjoy!

Filipino Forte or the day I want to go to Newyork

The International Film Festival Manhattan IFFM 2012.
Here's a festival that's kicking off in the Big Apple mid November and amongst its line up is a good selection of Pinoy Indie Films. I'm starting to get a bit jealous of these fests that have a bundle of  films that I have read about, watched trailers for, sometimes chatted to their makers but as yet have not seen them.
Anyway for you all in New York you have the chance and this is what you can see.

Ganap Na Babae/Garden of Eve - Fri. Nov.  9, 2012 at 5:10 PM
Directed by: Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos, Sarah Roxas (HUBO)

Movie Poster for the MHP Award Winner

A film shot in three parts and directed by three women, certainly one that would pass the The Bechdel Test for Women in Movies with flying colours! and Yes that's Mercedes Cabral and no this is not the first post of mine she has appeared in (Pinoy Pride & I Wanna Go to Busan) but look who else is on the bill. Sue Prado is also in it and she is also very prolific 
(Bahay Bata/Baby Factory by Eduardo W Roy Jr. and Cuchera by Joseph Isreal Laban are two fairly recent ones)
I think you could safely say she was all over Cinemalaya in 2011.

She also appears in Aswang/Vampire by Jerold Tarog - Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 9:30 PM 
Jerold is a very interesting filmmaker who has made some great shorts but caught my attention with Senior Year released in 2010. Aswang is a horror and looks great.

Sue Prado, champion of independent cinema

HUBO has another in the line up, this one directed by Will Fredo or from 'the psyche of Will Fredo' (also known for his Butoh 舞踏 performances)
The Caregiver - Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 7:20PM
Looks like another great production from a very solid and consistent team.
But back to the Butoh, check this wild performance out

 

KARNE: The Birth and Killing of the Flesh from blindwill

 

Some of the other films from the Philippines include:
Haruo (Springtime Man) by Adolfo Alix Jr - Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 5:00 PM
staring Jacky Woo & Cherry Pie Picache from the man who bought you ISDA/Fable of the Fish 

Thelma by Paul Soriano  - Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 3 PM 
this also has Sue Prado in it 

Busong by Auraeus Solito - Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM  

Oh and I want to mention a short film being shown called 
Alibi by Perry Escano - Mon. Nov. 12, 2012 at 1PM
A cautionary tale centered on two actor friends who perpetually search for urban adventure and cosmopolitan excitement. A look into what happens between scenes during production.

And there are others too, check out the program, even a few Aussie ones. 
I reckon I'd be a pig in shit at this festival 

Pinoy Showcase at the IFFM 2012

 

DISC - Inside the Velodrome

So I was lucky enough to have the Brunswick Cycling Club let me in to film their Tuesday Track Evening at the Northcote Velodrome. For me it was killing two birds with one stone. Adding to the cycle culture doco and also helping out some students who needed velodrome racing for their final year project.
We took down the AF100, the 7D, a 60D and two GoPro onboards.
We filmed the racing for a couple of hours and then got some onboard footage and camera buzzes.
Great footage, great night!

I think you get rather tired pumping the Velodrome. Dave post Disc!