St Kilda Film Festival: Don't Underestimate the Shorts!

Presented by the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Film Festival is well underway and I am loving it. 

The highly accredited festival offers a range of free talks, workshops, and panels for budding filmmakers as well as showcasing short films by emerging Australian artists and accomplished industry professionals. The event is held in the beautiful St Kilda Town Hall and maintains an air of exclusivity and wine-sipping class. Before each screening the viewers are asked not to 'underestimate the shorts' and you soon learn that the beauty of short film is that within a brief time period you are exposed to so many different ideas, themes and viewpoints from various narrators. 

Some highlights from the two sessions I attended last weekend are:

Milk and Cookies
Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Director: Matthew Macknamara
Producer: Damian Cavenagh
Running Time: 6 mins

Even though this appeared in the 'Laugh Out Loud' session, it won my people's choice vote for how heartwarming the storyline was and how cleverly it portrayed unification of family after a tragic event. The Christmas tale was definitely still giggle worthy and I found it a refreshing and realistic take on death, dying, and belief in a higher power - Santa Claus.


The Fragments
Genre: Drama
Director: Jim Lounsbury
Producer: Jim Lounsbury

Running Time: 12 mins

This was another one that I am not sure belonged in the comedy screening but was so glad I got to see. After the protagonist accidentally gets butt dialled by his wife and hears her talking to another man, his imagination gets the better of him. I adored the use of dialogue and silence in this film and its simple use of metaphor that so beautifully conveyed the relationship between two lovers and how delicate relationships can be.

Some honourable mentions:

Florence has left the Building
Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Director: Mirrah Foulkes
Producer: Alex White
Running Time: 13 mins

The Eagle
Genre: Documentary
Director: Gus Berger
Producer: Gus Berger
Running Time: 10 mins

Thylacine
Genre: Drama
Director: Tymon Langford
Producer: John Way
Running Time: 12 mins

The St Kilda Film Festival continues for only two more days and I have my eye on the 'Docos to Feed the Mind' and 'Relationships' sessions... Tickets can be bought on their website or at the door.

-Beth

*Mosaik does not take credit for any oh the photographs used in this article

No + No = Peru.

I have always been the type of daughter never wanted to disappoint her parents. They never really had strict rules for me, but I always made sure I did well in school, came home by my curfew (mostly) and was polite and charming wherever we went. 

When I told my parents that I wanted to go overseas to Europe with my friends, the list of reasons why not to was never ending; "You’ve already been." "You’re wasting your money." "You are a group of girls..." You’ve heard the spiel. With my uni course starting earlier than most, and not wanting to disappoint my parents, I listened to them and didn’t go.

Semester 2 really got me down in the dumps; I was unmotivated and I needed to have something to look forward to. So what did I do? I decided I wanted to book a 3 and a half week volunteer trip to a place that is considered to be more dangerous than Europe - Peru (with a short stop over in LA, of course). 

But this did not come easy, oh no! There were tears, lots of tears and screaming matches too. Every time I brought it up, it was like World War 3 was about to begin. It took me until 2 months before the trip to actually book it. When I told my parents the night that I finally decided to book it, they stormed off and I thought they would never talk to me ever again. Their “baby” girl was growing up there was nothing they could do about it.

And do you want to know what happened when I returned, nothing. The world did not end, I returned home in one piece and it felt like I had never really left and it was all a dream. The only tangible way I knew that I had gone, was the fact that I had my typical touristy woven bracelets from the markets, an abundance of alpaca and llama printed souvenirs and that breathing and walking everywhere was 100% easier. 

But I knew that once I came back, that "barrier" was gone. That ball and chain which I thought was attached me is no longer there, I am a free woman!!! (not really haha).  I no longer feel the need  to always do what is expected of me by others. This is something I have always really struggled with; doing what I want vs. doing what others expect me to do. This trip made me realise that I can do things on my own, and I need to trust my gut and stop the self doubt. 

I would also like to thank anyone who gave me the courage to take this leap of faith, you know exactly who you are. Without you I would not have seen what I have seen, met the wonderful people I have met and experienced a whole new way of life.

So here is a peak of my trip. Peru, is a truly amazing place! I didn’t even get to see half of the country and I'm in love. Invaded by the Spanish, most of Peru and definitely Cusco reminds me of Europe, with the cobble stone roads and beautiful architecture. The landscape itself is absolutely breath taking. Once you leave Cusco, there are mountains at every glance and untouched greenery. They are very in touch with the land and preserving the ruins they have.

The culture is amazing, from their food to their music and everything in between. Their textiles are what got me. Everything was bursting with colour and intricacy; from their hand woven tapestries, to the natural dying of yarns and the colours of the Cusco flag.

It is so gratifying to think that in the short time we spent volunteering, we enabled the last two households in the village of Misminay to have a greenhouse. They are now able to grow and eat food, that they otherwise couldn't because of the cold weather and high altitude in the Sacred Valley. We could only speak a few words of Quechua and they spoke not a word of English, but we somehow made this house. It was so heartwarming to see them happy and smiling even when they had all but nothing. It was even more heartbreaking when we had to leave them. But a piece of me will always remain in Peru. For as long as it stands, the green house we built for our families will always be there.

I miss wearing my hiking boots everyday and not caring about what I looked like. I miss being called Sara (because it was too hard for the Peruvian’s to say Sarah) and being haggled every time we entered a market. I wish I could still be eating the delicious quinoa cereal mix for breakfast, drinking Pisco Sours and Inka Cola and continuing  to try every meal on the Paddy’s Pub menu.

The Peruvian’s use the world “ciao” instead of “adios: to say goodbye. “Adios” is a final goodbye, instead, “ciao” means see you soon, because we never really do say our final goodbyes.
So until next time Peru, ciao!

- Sarah

People Profile: Phoebe Witts.

In what has already been a stellar month for student theatre in Melbourne, N.U.D.E Theatre's latest production ‘Kissing Booth’ is set to keep this brilliance going. 

When four friends get together to organise a kissing booth as a social experiment for their behavioural studies class, things get complicated. Let assistant director Phoebe Witts introduce you to a show all about relationships, sexuality, love, and the comedy and mundanity found in everyday life.

Kissing Booth will run from the 20th - 23rd of May at the University of Melbourne's Guild Theatre (7pm start each night), and you can get your tickets by following the link through here!  
Pucker up and join the queue.

- Miriam

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m producing and assistant directing Kissing Booth and I am the co-founder of the production company running the show, NUDE Theatre. I’m a student at Melbourne University majoring in English and Theatre Studies and Creative Writing. Am still maintaining hope that my student theatre career, combined with my passion for  sitting on lawns at uni will lead to a career and prove all the arts degree h8ers wrong.

What is something that fascinates you about human nature; how do you like to capture it in your shows?

I am really interested in relationships and their dynamics. It’s so fascinating how shifts in a situation, whether that’s adding a new person to the mix or a change in body language, can have such an impact on tone, conversation and emotion. The diverse and often contradictory variety of relationships in every invididual’s life, and the impact they have on the identity of that individual, are something that endlessly interests me. In a show, for me, this comes through in the little moments. A crossed leg away from a character, a silence, a power play represented through positioning. The symbolism of everyday gestures and movements combined with the added symbolic potential theatre offers through stagecraft are important, I think, in capturing the tone of a situation or relationship.

What is one thing that always makes you laugh and can we expect any comedy in Kissing Booth?

The awkwardness of everyday life is hilarious to me. Dodging a stranger in a hallway, or having a conversation with someone you didn’t like at high school. Kissing Booth’s script has a heavy focus on finding comedy in the mundane, and for me that can create a lot of special moments. They’ll definitely be a few laughs to be had in the show – sarcasm and irony play a big part in it.

When do you feel most creative?

I feel most creative in the calm after a flurry or events or interactions. When I have time to take a pause and reach that meditative state of contemplation just past the emotion of a moment, that’s when everything comes to me – like, when I’m tired and relaxed and can create without over thinking.

Name a film or play that changed your life, why?

I remember MTC’s production of The Wild Duck that I went to see with school when I was doing year 11 Theatre Studies. It was so different and original, and I remember thinking after, this is what theatre should be, and I always want to be involved in this world. I think a good play or film leaves you not with your life changed, but with a slight shift in your mindset, perspective or emotion. The audience should leave feeling like the experience they have just added to their lives has affected them in some way, hopefully for the better.

What do you admire in the people working on Kissing Booth with you?

They’re all amazing!!! Directing alongside Dom has been great – he is fantastic at dealing with the emotion of a scene, and finding creative ways to draw out energy and character. And the cast is so talented, they have given us so much and have been an absolute pleasure to work with. Behind the scenes, James’ ability to adapt and find creative solutions under pressure has also been fantastic.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get a start in local theatre?

Talk to people, make friends, network. Be enthusiastic and open to working with anyone and everyone with a friendly and creative attitude. Local theatre’s great fun and definitely worth a shot. 

*Mosaik does not take credit for the images used in this article

The End of Mad Men.

When it was finally announced that season 7 of Mad Men would in fact be the last season I poured myself a drink. And here it is, the day of mourning. The final episode will be broadcasted tonight.

Matthew Weiner wrote the script for the first episode 6 years before it was finally picked up by AMC in 2007. The show was a risk: its protagonists were flawed and it was set in an era that was not experienced by the audience. Yet it worked on both levels as it projected the rawness of life and the appeal of nostalgia. Although it has never been the most popular show on television it is perhaps the most well produced; the costumes, the sets, the performances and the incredible wit of it all. 

There have been so many theories about how the final episode will end. My own theory is that it will end the way it started, the way that has been suggested all along in the opening credits, with Don Draper's world collapsing, falling past the projections of the American dream he created and disappearing into solitude. 

However it ends, tonight somewhere among the clouds of cancerous smoke and the sound of slurring conversation we will catch the final glimpse of the ad men of Madison Avenue  and their mad mad world. 

- Alessandra

*Mosaik does not take credit for the images used in this article

UMMTA presents Thoroughly Modern Millie

After our recent People Profile about Grace Haslinghouse, we had the pleasure of seeing the UMMTA performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Sarah and Beth went to the show without having seen or even heard of the original 1967 film starring Julie Andrews and had no idea what it was about, except that it was set in 1920s in Manhattan, New York and based around the tales of Millie Dillmount.

It began as what seemed like a very typical take on the American Dream; optimistic girl moves to big city in search of a new life for herself. However there is a clever shift in the viewpoint, making the storyline more relatable and leaving you with no choice but to love all of the characters immediately.

The cast was so enchanting and vibrant, there was not a dull moment. They worked together in such unity and the intimate setting of the theatre allowed you to really appreciate their hilarious expressions and energy. Absent was the sense that they were a group of Aussie uni students as their unfaltering New York accents and well designed set transported us straight into the Big Apple. Every actor brought something exciting to the stage, all complementing each other nicely. It’s hard to say that there were stand outs, however the oriental villainess 'Mrs Meers' played by Niamh O’Keeffe and young Mille Dillmount played by Grace Haslinghouse must be mentioned. The audience was in fits of laughter whenever Niamh was on stage due to her dramatic energy and genuine funniness. Grace’s take on Millie showcased her stunning voice, and really communicated the independent yet clumsy nature of the lead female role. We found her so easy to relate to and Millie's subtle facial expressions made the performance really fun to watch.

We thoroughly enjoyed our night at the show and can't recommend it enough, the tickets won't cost you the earth and it's a delight to be transported to a world of dreamy businessmen, fun-loving flappers and big city dreams.

There are two nights left, so get in quick. (You can purchase your tickets here)

- Beth and Sarah

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*Photos by Ben Fon