SA eNews Feb 2017 - from the Pres - Profile Tess O'Flaherty - ASSF entries open

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From the Pres....

The 2017 ACS National Awards for Cinematography are coming up soon. They will be held in Sydney on May 6 in the Strangers Dining Room at the NSW Parliament House so maybe start to look for some good fares if you are thinking of attending.

Also our own awards are coming up with Awards Entry Opening August 7 and closing September 8 with the 37th Annual SA & WA Awards for Cinematography back in Adelaide on Saturday October 28.

Your committee is working on arranging screenings and Q&A's, educational and other trade nights for the upcoming year so if you have any ideas of what you would like to happen please forward your suggestions to me. erniefilms@gmail.com

If you haven't already, please pick up your 2016 ACS award entries or uncollected winners plaques from Anifex during office hours as we only have limited storage space there.

Click for more about ACS Accreditation »

Tess O'Flaherty Profile

Hi Tess, thanks for allowing us to profile you.

Thank you for asking me to share my story.

What are your favorite films and TV shows?

My favorite films are Dirty Dancing, Patch Adams and basically all of Goldie Hawn and Robin Williams films.
Favorite TV series currently are Younger & Black Mirror. When I was growing up: Charmed, Zena, Friends, McLeods Daughters and way back was Wonder Woman.

When did you first become interested in the industry and what was your first job/project/film?

Back to the very beginning when I was a very shy 9 year old my mum enrolled me in a local theatre company and after my first time on stage was bitten by the bug and I knew that I LOVED Performing. This also resulted in my very first paid acting job, which was Awesome!

From there, over more than 30 years, I have been involved in TV, Theatre, Film and more, often being on many different sets and locations, I became very interested in what the crew were doing and wanted to help and learn more about what their job entailed.

I have met many amazingly talented and kind people on my journey and consider them my entertainment Family.

In 2010 the lovely Malcolm Ludgate ACS and gorgeous Mylene Ludgate encouraged me to make my first film that Mal photographed and Mylene was our sound recordist. They also gave me heaps of advice and support. To my surprise, I found I was a natural Producer, super organized, loved budgets and already had so many industry connections of both cast and crew who were happy to help me on my journey.

Filming A Fly On The Wall on Digi-Beta in 2010. That's Tess in the blue dress.

What did you do when you decide to further your career...?

In 2011 I attended MAPS Film School and earned a Diploma of Screen and Media. Producing was my major and Audio my minor. (I was very familiar with MAPS and other film schools, as I had helped out by performing in many student films over the years.)

Through Mylenes encouragement I have been a proud supporter of the ACS for 10 years now. When I first started going to the ACS Awards nights in 2007, I knew nothing about cameras and felt out of place but over the years and through courses, I have learnt so much about the technical side of being a Cinematographer. I know many of the camera models and lenses, about lighting, movement, angles and so much more. (Nothing compared to the Pros though!)

Tess at her first ACS Awards 2007 night filled with great memories including catching up with Stephen Curry, who she met and worked with, on Thunderstruck in 2003.

I have a massive respect for the role of a cinematographer, not only as crew members but also as an important part in the vision of the film.

Another wonderful opportunity, Tess working as Marilyn Monroe at the 2011 ACS Awards night with Mandahla Rose, PJ Oaten & Erik Thompson.

Your reputation for expertise is well known, where do you think your future lies?

I have previously produced about 11 short films, one of which just won the Best Comedy award at the SASA's. Most recently I won Best Emerging Producer at the 2016 SASA's. So I guess Im doing something right and being involved in bigger productions in the near future looks very likely.

I am also extremely fortunate enough to work regularly as an actor and lucky to have two very different careers in the entertainment industry, which keep me very busy indeed.

Keeping the balance with my job variety and my family life is very important to me.

Tess receives Best Emerging Producer Award 2016 SA Screen Awards night.

Whats your next project Tess?

Currently Im producing a short film called 'The Protectors' through the SAFCs Aboriginal Short Film Fund with Stinga T. We hope to have it screening in film festivals very soon. Keep an eye out.

Please tell us something about yourself that not many people know.

I have a few mottos that I like to live by:
Live Life, dont just exist,
Scare yourself a little each day and
Try everything once, if you like it, do it again.

Some of the more adventurous things I have done include SUCBA diving with sharks, Sky Diving, Bungee jumping (only once, as I didnt like it so much), and in my 20s rode my motor bike to Uluru by myself (well not completely by myself as I had my Ferret, Set, with me) and stayed at Mt Connor Cattle station for a week, looking for the answer to What is the meaning of life?

Thanks for sharing your journey with us Tess and behalf of all SA branch ACS members can I say thank you for all the help you have given to our branch. (Although Tess is not on the committee she is a tireless contributor to our branch and one of the first to volunteer or cheerfully ask "is there anything I can do to help?")

Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017

The seventh Aesthetica Short Film Festival is open for entries. ASFF provides a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work to a wider audience, and is looking for practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of short film forward.

Jury members for 2017 include Jane Roscoe (Director, The London Film School), Matimba Kabalika (Talent Development Manager, BFI NET.WORK), Philip Ilson (Director, London Short Film Festival), Robbie Gibbon (Editor, The Trip, The Casual Vacancy and Doctor Who) amongst many others (www.asff.co.uk/jury-2017).

ASFF Prizes include:
· Screenings at ASFF 2017 (8-12 November in York)

· Awards for Festival Winner (£1,000), Best Film in each category, and Peoples Choice

· The Northern Film School Award for Best Screenplay (£1,000)

· Opportunities for further exposure through Aesthetica and its online channels

ASFF accepts all genres: advertising, animation, artists film, comedy, dance, documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video and thriller. Running times up to 30 minutes.

To enter: www.asff.co.uk/submit
Deadline 31 May 2017.