Future filmmaking stars of the Sunshine Coast are zooming in on the chance to speak with an Australian industry giant this month as he shares insights into his experience.
Madman Entertainment CEO Paul Wiegard is special guest of the Sunshine Coast Film Festival, screening in cinemas across the region, and will host round-table discussions with local industry talents.
Wiegard co-founded Madman in 1996, and the leading independent distribution and rights management company for film and television now has offices in Melbourne, Auckland and Berlin.
As one of the biggest names in the Australian film industry, he has made his mark on popular box-office movies including Animal Kingdom, Searching for Sugar Man, Kenny, Parasite, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Hunt For The Wilderpeople.
The Madman Entertainment states its mission on its website to “focus on remarkable stories”.
“We are proud to share films with audiences in Australia and New Zealand that transcend the screen; starting conversations, encouraging reflection and empowering change. From documentaries that reflect on our national identity, to bold dramas that push the boundaries of cinema, or animated content at the bleeding edge of creativity, Madman represents content that connects with audiences well beyond the cinema or lounge room.”
Sunshine Coast Film Festival founder Murray Power said the initial round-table discussion had to be expanded to two sessions because it was over-subscribed.
Among the grateful Coast participants are Kenny Waterson and Lucia Santiago.
Waterson, who describes himself as a video content creator and storyteller, is especially interested in uncovering ways of financing his projects.
“The discussions with Paul will be a great opportunity to connect and learn from someone with vast experience working as a producer in Australia,” the Moffat Beach resident said.
“To gain any insight on processes that Paul or Madman use to finance films they want to make will be extremely beneficial to me starting out in my career.
“While the budgets for their films are much larger and complex, there will be things they do that I can apply when it comes to fund my own films.
“It would be great to hear about his journey to becoming a producer and key turning points throughout his career in producing independent cinema, as well as case studies of particular films he and Madman struggled to finance but paid off in the long run.”
Waterson already has a completed documentary to his name: Pure Imagination, to be shown during the festival on October 25 at 7pm in Caloundra.
The 15-minute short film follows a local character named Brad Houston as he tries to launch his dream business, Flicks4Good, and make an impact in the world.
It will be the curtain-raiser to the Australian documentary Fire Front on the 2019 Black Summer bushfires, including our own Peregian Beach.
“I had a lot of fun making that one (Pure Imagination), so I am in the midst of producing another (Unsung Heroes),” he said.
“This time I’m documenting three stalwart volunteers at a local community sports club which will be finished early next year, if all goes to plan.
“Thanks to the Regional Arts Development Fund, I have also been able to contract a small crew of emerging camera operators and editors which I’m extremely grateful for.
“My goal at this point in my career is to produce as many films that I can.
“Building my portfolio and credibility in this domain of storytelling which I am so passionate about while honing my skills along the way. We’ll see what dream job comes from that.”
Spanish-born Santiago never could have dreamed how a pandemic would turn her life around.
“As a surfer, I grew up seeing Aussie beach breaks in my favourite magazines and surf films and it was my dream to come here one day,” the visual storyteller said.
“So when I finished my degree, I decided to come over, experience the lifestyle, and improve my English.
“It may have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life, since now I have no choice but to live on the other side of the globe, far away from all my family and friends.
“But I am passionate about the environment and surfing, so living in Noosa is an absolute privilege.”
The environmental advocate and experienced traveller, for whom English is a second language, expresses her creativity through motion film, stills and mixed media to inspire others to connect with nature and promote the urgency to protect the wilderness.
She is grateful for the festival round-table discussion with Wiegard, which she sees as “a great opportunity to learn from one of the most successful professionals in Australia”.
“I believe we can’t protect what we don’t see or understand and my vision as a storyteller is to give people accessibility to connect with the beautiful planet we live in,” Santiago said.
“I believe in the power of imagery to plant seeds and to understand the urgency and the little time we have to act if we want to keep having a liveable planet.
“Locally, I am filming and editing a short film to showcase the success story of how Sunshine Coast locals mobilised to achieve the Climate Emergency Declaration in the council last year.
“Additionally, I am also working as an editor for a female surf and conservation film about the Great Ocean Road (Victoria).
“And finally, my personal project, Women Flow, where I am the founder of an NFT (an assortment of digital assets released by an artist or group containing a limited number of individual non-fungible tokens), where we are aiming to produce a feature documentary film about the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
“I would like to pitch to him my new project, www.womenflow.io, and ask him for advice on how to approach marketing and distribution once the feature documentary film is produced.”
The Wiegard section of the program will be held from 10am on Tuesday, October 11, at Sub Tropic Studio in Caloundra.
Any interested filmmakers should contact the festival on 0448 127 275.
