Diet Coke is excited to support the gifted emerging filmmakers discovered in the Diet Coke Short Film Competition. Inspired by the idea of taking a break with diet Coke, these films represent the new wave of Australian filmmaking talent. Twenty finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts and their impressive films will be featured here soon.
Below is information on these talented new directors.
My work is the by-product of a life involving comics, playground stunts and martial arts flicks. I direct, produce, perform and edit most of my films and I'm also the leader of film and performance team '9 Lives'. Our next film production will combine breakdance, martial arts and parkour. I wanted people to enjoy the world of parkour and see how our surroundings can be used to create amazing movement.
Film:Asphalt Assassins
Ben has always had a passion for visual storytelling. He is 21 years old and grew up in Wollongong, Australia. He is currently employed as a sales consultant at a car dealership however; he dreams of pursuing a career in professional filmmaking. Tiger 1 is his latest short film and was made with the help of a rabble crew of friends with indistinct production roles but lots of enthusiasm.
Film:Tiger 1
I've been making short films for about 12 years and I can't imagine a more rewarding hobby. The inspiration for "Hush!" came soon after my daughter was born and again when my son came along. I think it is something familiar to many new parents. Both kids were too old to be in the film, but they managed to wreak havoc on set, after all, it was shot in their bedroom. C'est la vie!
Film:Hush!
Brent and Scott are currently studying at the University of Canberra. Scott has always had a fabulous love of soft drink. When he was in primary school he would attend birthday parties of children he didn't like in the anticipation of receiving free soft drink. When Brent told Scott about the Diet Coke film festival he was energized at the opportunity of fusing his two greatest passions. The result is "The Astronaut", a short comedy/drama about the importance of believing in yourself.
Film:The Astronaut
I am a 26 year old youth worker from Sydney. A friend of mine told me about the diet Coke short film competition just before I was supposed to leave for Europe so time was against us. In a moment of inspiration I decided to enter immediately. All in the space of just 24 hours, we secured equipment, a location and actors. We got the final shot in the can at 2:15pm that afternoon at which point I raced home and uploaded the footage to my laptop. From there it was 7 hours of editing and we had a finished film!
Film:Going Places
Hi my name's Cameron Zayec, I'm a young Aussie (part Austrian & Ukrainian) battler studying film & TV production at RMIT. I ride a motorbike, love a good comedy, am a self-confessed man crier in the right movie and believe everyone should follow their passion and enjoy life ('cause your dead for a long time) I also direct/co edit a mocu-drama on Channel 31 "OUR MELBOURNE" and my cat's name is Schnitzel. Make film not war!
Film:In To It
Chris Grew has not studied film or television, in fact he was lucky to finish year 12. He has never won anything in his life, not even a meat tray. "Making Zombie Rekillers was just a fun thing to do", Chris saw a great opportunity in the Diet Coke short film competition to get some mates together and have a laugh. With a loose script, one light, a handycam and a few buddies – Zombie Rekillers was born.
Film:Zombie Rekillers
I am a Melbourne born & based lover of all things to do with the Australian and International film industry. For me filming is a childhood dream that is slowly becoming a reality. This competition was a chance to have my work seen and recognised. Nothing is better then filming a short film, live around the busy streets of Melbourne.
Film:Without a Cent
Dallas has been acting for 6 years and making films for 2. He has featured in almost 40 productions including short films, music videos, TVC's, corporate videos and feature films. He is currently acting in a feature film (with the Lady in Red in Tunnel Vision) called 'Dark Souls'. Dallas was inspired by the theme of 'energy' and hopes viewers feel he captured this, and leaves them in high spirits!
Film:Tunnel Vision
Graham is a mature aged Canberra based actor and filmmaker. Awarded 'Best Senior Film' in the ACT 'Lights Canberra Action' short film festival in 2007, he was inspired by the 'energy' theme to feature his son's drumming and daughter's dancing. Notice the opening dolly shot that Graham filmed from a wheel chair pushed by his wife with worried neighbours looking on! Vote to support 'boomer' films!
Film:Hum Drum
John English and Matt Dickie are two brothers from Brisbane that grew up together in the bayside district. John got Matt a job as a kitchenhand at his kitchen so they could scheme up ideas as they work. The two have always been close and have made films together since they were kids, most of them comedies. The Diet Coke Film reinforced, for them, the fact that they work really well together and they are currently working on two more short films, a western and a horror movie respectively.
Film:The Diet Coke Film
Josef Heks is 19 years old, with a passion for film, music, and writing short bios about himself. As a kid he knew he wanted to be a filmmaker – but it wasn't until the age of 18 that he finally picked up a camera and made his first short film, teaching him to never use his parents as actors again. Boom-Badda-Boom – his Diet Coke entry – features his younger brother rockin' the drums, and has given him an opportunity to combine film and music, an avenue he hopes to pursue in the future. Thanks!
Film:Boom Badda Boom
Directing is my passion and I have been fortunate enough to direct 5 quality short films in the last year. Steve and I were shopping at Coles when we developed the concept. It just felt like the perfect choice right from the start. I hope our film wins People Choice. When you watch it you can't help but smile, everyone in it is so happy it is contagious. By the end you just laugh because you saw the twist coming, he didn't and that's what makes it so funny.
Film:Diet Coke Rugby
Justin, Joe and Thady, three young men from Goulburn, NSW. After going their separate ways after high school to study, their creative passion reunited them and they set to work on this project. Justin has had an interest in all things on the screen since a young age and applied his hobby to his HSC major artwork. He created a short film for a Metroscreen competition, that went on to become a finalist. Thady studied a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Sound,Composition, Music and Production at the University of Wollongong. Joe Manning has appeared in one of Justin's previous films and is currently studying graphic design in Sydney. Thady and Joe have many years involvement in community theatre with the Goulburn Lieder Theatre. Three creative young minds, two weeks from conception to being submitted, Not Your Average Afternoon.
After completing a degree in Film and Animation, Kate moved to Sydney to pursue directing. Her third project since arriving; this film was inspired by an evocative composition which allowed her to explore the theme of 'reflections of youth'. The team shot entirely on blue screen in order to create imaginative new environments and use cutting edge CG techniques. They had great fun making it and hope audiences find it equally as enjoyable to watch.
Mark studies acting at Flinders Uni. Making short films is merely a thinly veiled attempt to ensure there might be at least one director who will hire him as an actor, himself. Aside from script and talent problems, Mark credits the freshness of this production to the lack of an experienced dog wrangler. A vote for this film is a vote for progress!
Film:Creative Man
For a no-budget uni student, catching sunsets mid-winter can be a challenge, but we found an amazing oasis of sunshine. Armed with nothing but a camera, tripod and passion for film and storytelling, my brother Jonnie (our great actor) and I aimed to take the viewer on an emotional and symbolic journey. I'd like to couple my itchy feet with my love for film and make great travel documentaries.
Film:Enjoy
I am inspired to make things that I feel God places on my heart. I made this after talking with friends about how we all feel God in different ways & realising he is in everything we love & do."God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."-c.s lewis. This is our heart, for him.
Film:Heart & You
Nick started out wanting to do a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds", but found shopping trolleys were a lot easier to wrangle. Earlier this year Nick, along with fellow crew members Andrew Sampford and Chris Walker, won the best film award at the Newcastle Shootout and the Tripod Idioclip award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Currently Nick is studying editing at AFTRS.
Film:Late Night Shopping
I'm a movie addict. I started watching hundreds of them after I finished school and as a result I now work at a video store to fuel my addiction. During this time I decided to start making my own and a couple of short films later, you have Sugar Rush! I'm currently in my 2nd year at the College of Fine Arts studying Digital Media. It has been a fun experience working on this short film, but buying women's makeup for the zombies… even more! Please vote for me, I re-really ne-need to make more movies!"
Film:Sugar Rush
FILM COMPETITION WINNERS
The diet Coke Short Film Competition is now closed and the winners have been announced. Thanks for voting! Find out who the winners are.
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