Below, is a link to the notes from the Australian Directors Guild sponsored Masterclass with Steven Soderbergh on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at AFTRS in Sydney (courtesy of Ben Grant of Goalpost Pictures).

Notes from Steven Soderbergh >

Best Actor and Women in Cinema Award at Tropfest

Congratulations to Clarke Richards and Katie May Johnson who won Best Actor and the Women in Film award respectively at Tropfest. Their film, Happenstance, written by Katie May and directed by John Marsh, played to a 60,000 strong crowd at Tropfest, the largest short film festival in the world. Elijah Wood was a judge this year, along with actress Toni Collette, Animal Kingdom director David Michod, and Peter and Michael Spierig, who made Daybreakers.

Happenstance
Director: John Marsh
Writer: Katie May Johnson
Actors: Clarke Richards, Katie May Johnson & Dustin Clare

Tropfest Crowd

The Patricks Identity

What better way to spend the holidays than shooting an abduction scene involving helicopters, motorcycles and hairdressers?

That was our philosophy, when we came up with a snappy concept for a TVC for Patricks for Men that goes with their new campaign… The Patricks Identity.

We think Patricks for Men is the best men’s hair salon in Australia. But we’re not the only ones. They’ve been spruiked by GQ, Men’s Health, The Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and more… and chances are, if you like the haircut of the guy in front of you at Fitness First, one of the gorgeous sirens at Patricks was responsible. For those of you who can’t handle the drive out to Bondi Junction, they’re opening up a new store in the city in 2010, which means they’ll have to buy a new Ducati (there’s one in their Bondi Junction store) an espresso maker, a fridge full of cold ones, and a half dozen big screen TVs.

Honestly though, Patricks is worth the drive. Their website probably says it best… “You’ll come out half an hour later feeling relaxed with a great haircut that hasn’t cost you your masculinity”

So, be on the lookout for the new TVC sometime in late February… it will be the one with helicopters, Ducatis, a Holden Monaro with the Patricks decal on the side… oh, and Underbelly star Wayne Bradley.

Check out their website here: www.patricksformen.com

THE PATRICKS IDENTITY
Producer: Behren Schulz
Creative: Jim Lounsbury
Director: Jim Lounsbury
DP: Anthony Jennings

Early Checkout has just earned a Special Mention, and won the Audience Choice Award at the Clare Valley Film Festival in South Australia.

Clare Valley Film Festival showcases a number of Australian and international independent films, as well as informing and inspiring a new generation of filmmakers through the Clewers 24 Hour Film Challenge.

EARLY CHECKOUT
Producer: Dustin Clare, Clarke Richards
Director: Jim Lounsbury
Writer: Clarke Richards and Dustin Clare
DP: Andrew McLeod

read more at >>> www.clarevalleyfilmfestival.com