The Filmmaking adventures of Anna Brownfield

Updated website finally completed!

2012-01-09T10:19:00.000+11:00

Finally, I have finished updating my website. I thought this time rather than getting someone else to do it for me I would teach myself dreamweaver and have a go at it myself! Talk about a huge learning curve, but hey its good to keep your mind active!

Check it out here.

It is great now to have everything linked in together, as previously I didn't have a link to my online shop or this blog.

Creatively, I have been having a break and trying to still work out where to go, what to focus my energy on. Let's hope over the next few weeks I'll make some breathing space to sort through it all and make my mind up!

I hope you all had a wonderful Silly Season and a Happy New Year.

Restless.

2011-10-19T09:38:00.001+11:00

One thing I'm finding hard at the moment is trying to work out where to next, in regards to filmmaking. I've got several projects I'm interested in but can't work out which one to put my energy into.

This morning, I watch the soft trailer for Petra Joy's new film "The Female Voyeur" and got all sentimental about being at the Berlin Porn Film Festival and meeting her. Petra is one of the many wonderful women I meet and she has a highly unique erotic style. We both share similar passions for promoting a variety of bodies and sexual acts that your normally don't see. I highly recommend you check out her work if you are interested in an alternative to mainstream depictions of sex!

It filled me with the desire to make my next erotic film "Screwed in Suburbia: Perfect on the outside, Perverted on the inside". Its about a young woman trying to escape suburbia and move into the inner city.

The other project I have been toying with is an adaptation of a book by Australian author Emily Maguire, "The Gospel According to Luke". I first was introduced to her work through a book called "Taming the Beast", which I would love to make into a film, but the subject matter is so taboo I think it would be extremely hard to find finance to make it! She also interviewed me for her book "Princesses and Pornstars:Sex and Power and Identity". I still remember the day she contacted me and I put two and two together and realised she was the author of such a twisted and confronting book as "Taming the Beast"! You can guess I was absolutely ecstatic about being interviewed by her!

"Man Made" is a documentary I would like to make as a follow up to "Making it handmade" which is going to be about men, craft and what it is to be a man today! I'm slowly finding subjects and researching but I'm guessing, its going to be at least a two to three year project like "Making it Handmade" was.

So you can see there a lots of ideas but I'm finding juggling motherhood, working and making films to be overwhelming at the moment. I desperately need to update my website so have decided to focus on that and then try to work out where to go next!

Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

2011-09-21T15:07:00.000+10:00

Here's a very blurry picture of myself at home just before "Making it Handmade" premiered on ABC2. As you can see I lead a glamorous life, in my tracksuit pants, slippers, the washing drying in the back ground and a knitted nanna rug on my knees (yes I did make it myself) and of course a glass of bubbly in hand.

It was strange to watch it,as I have seen it so many times, so it was very surreal, but I did enjoy the bottle of bubbly...maybe a little too much as I struggled teaching the next day!

Thank you to all 33,000 of you who tuned in to watch it and to the 9000 odd of you who watched it on iview. I was astounded by the numbers considering nearly all of the publicity was done through social media sites of those involved in the film!

The film stirred up some passionate discussion online:

On the films facebook page comments varied from:

Quoting Cheryl Rabe
"Thought the documentary was very disappointing. Not all crafters are activists. I'd like to think the majority of us make tasteful and useful things for others to enjoy, without sending any sort of political message."

We then proceed to engage in a debate about if the act of making is political in itself!

To:
Quoting KrÌstíÑã Gréeñwõod
Loved it. It's re-ignited a spark in me. Chronic Illness has taken away a lot of things from me. I have a creative mind and a bit of a wicked sense of humour. This is right up my ally. :D

Searching online I found so many different response so of them that caught my eye talked about:

- the craft demonstrated was of low quality. This I find interesting as often craft can be elitist and not inclusive. I liked the idea that in the doco, its about giving it a go. After all even if you are now highly skilled, you started off this way and its just been practice that has enabled you to make amazing work that is technically perfect!

- that the documentary was anti making money from craft. To be straight, no I'm not. I actually think that it is amazing that something so lovingly crafted can make you money, especially as in the past it was seen to have no commercial value. I guess I wanted to show that it is a hard road, that its not easy and there is a lot of work involved. Also in my research I was finding lots of women who were experiencing burn out from trying to make a full time living from crafting and giving up on it. However, if you can make a full time living from craft, I think you are amazing and I take my hat off to you all and bow down low in respect of your brilliance!

- Offense. This happened for may reasons, Casey's work was obvious but that I had left out so many women who make beautiful practical things has come up a few times. I wish I had the money and time to make a whole series on the women and the men I meet, spoke to, interviewed and read about online who are making wonderful, amazing stuff, who are from all walks of life and ages. When I was researching for this film it just kept on growing and growing, but I was restricted by the fact, I had no money to make this doco. I had no funding, it was made in my holidays with the money I'd managed to save from teaching. I shot it over 2 years and then edited it over about 9 months. Thus I had to keep it simple and that's why all the women are from Melbourne ( which is where I live). I wanted to challenge the idea of how society perceived crafters. I was drawn to women who were using traditional craft but subverting it in someways. From embracing the idea that it was about spirit and giving it a go, not making it perfect, to being craftivists.

- Inspiration This of course is my favorite reaction. I loved receiving posts and email from people who aren't crafty feeling inspired to give it go, or others who are lapsed crafters wanting to make again.

If you missed it, you can order your own copy on DVD here.

Also there will be screenings happening in Radelaide on Saturday Oct 8th at 6:00pm at the Reading Room as part of the Festival of Unpopular Culture . Check it out the screening and there is a radical craft workshop beforehand.

Or if you are in Western Australia you can check it out at the Soul Highway "Wave Rock Weekender" on from Friday 28th Oct til 30th Oct.

Thanks once again to all wonderful people who helped make the film and also to all the wonderful people who have watched it. Keep crafting.

Change of date for "Making It Handmade" screening on ABC2!

2011-07-15T13:15:00.001+10:00

Looks like "Making it Handmade" is hitting our screens earlier than expected and is now scheduled to premiere on ABC2 Sunday 14th August at 9:30pm.

You'll get to see the wonderful women who took part in the doco, Pip Lincolne, Rayna Fahey, Casey Jenkins, Gemma Jones and Justin Telfer, talking about all things craft!

So set your alarm clocks, grab your craft and enjoy!

Looking for men who craft.

2011-06-22T09:53:00.001+10:00

With my marking completed, my time has become my own again and I'm looking forward to working towards a new project. I have been throwing around the idea of making a follow up film to "Making it Handmade" about men who craft. So I'm looking for men who make stuff, either traditional men crafts like shed craft and those who also might knit, sew, etc. If you know anyone please point them in my direction.

"Making it Handmade" to screen on ABC2!

2011-06-03T10:30:00.000+10:00

I've had to sit on this news for quite awhile now and I have to admit it has been difficult!

It all began last year in November after I sent a copy of the film to the ABC, I received a very excited phone call from them and then nothing. Being caught up in the joy of motherhood I didn't give it another thought until after the new year. So I emailed them again to see what was happening and one replacement disc later and it was all systems go!

I joked with a friend that I had become mainstream!!! hee hee

No date for the screening as yet, but will let you know when I have one.

What else?

I had a meeting with Neil from Monster Pictures about the possibility of doing another erotic film. So I'm working on idea set in the suburbs, because we all know that is where you will find the most sexually diverse/perverse people. At the moment I've entitled it "Screwed in the Suburbs: perfect on the outside, perverted on the inside"! Fingers crossed that it will get up and running.

For a complete contrast, I have been throwing around some ideas for a craft series with Pip Lincolne. We pitched it to ABC and while they haven't rejected it, they suggested we come up with a different format....mmmmm back to the drawing board.

Reflections of how life used to be....reflections on the Ballarat screening!

2011-04-20T14:21:00.001+10:00

Marcia and Steph from Red Brick Gallery, you can guess who the other person is!

It was both comforting and disconcerting going back to Ballarat for the screening of "Making it Handmade", as this is town I grew up in memories of high school come flooding back! Especially when one of my lovely friends from high school, Jenni and her sister Sue turned up to see the film! And one of the teachers from my high school days who turned them into 16 year olds!!!

A big thank you to Steph from Red Brick Gallery who organised the screening. The turn out was good and there was lots of discussion afterwards. I especially loved the story of a quilting group in Ballarat that you need to submit a folio to before they will consider accepting you into their group!!

There are lots of amazing crafty stuff happening in Ballarat and I got to meet the Jodie Carleton who creative use of salvage I have always admired!

I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the relaxed, friendly environment. Also the chance to slip back into the past and relive a little of my youth!

Thanks to all those who turned out and made it such a great day!

Making it Handmade to screen in Ballarat!

2011-03-31T12:09:00.000+11:00

Yes that's right folks we are hitting regional Victoria again with another screening of the film! This should be interesting as I was born and breed in Ballarat! I'm hoping there will be some familiar faces in the audience from my high school days. This could be scary for all of us...makes me wonder how well we have all aged!!! Or not!

Its been brought to you by the lovely ladies who run Red Brick Gallery. So big thanks to them for putting it all together!

If you are in the area the details are:

Where: 14 Camp St, Ballarat (the old masonic hall)

When: Saturday 9th April 2011

Time: 3pm, doors open at 2:30pm

To pre book tickets you can go here!

I'm being interviewed by ABC radio Ballarat today. I'll post about it when its going to air and also when it'll be up online.

There is some very exciting news about "Making it Handmade" but I have to keep it under my hat until its official!

Otherwise, things have been very quite on the filmmaking front. I've finished the transcripts of the interviews I did with various erotic filmmakers while at the Berlin Porn Film Festival and have just been trying to work out how I will structure it, if I need more interviews (I'm kicking myself I didn't interview Shine Louise Huston and Lousie Lush while I was there!). Also trying to work out what to do for cut aways as I don't have any observational footage. I'm thinking I might go the animation route. Then I can make it fun and lighthearted and probably get way with more nudity etc cause its just a cartoon!!!

Must go back to being a mother....hope to see you all in da Rat on Saturday 9th April!

Happy New Year.

2011-01-27T10:37:00.000+11:00

I hope you all had a good, relaxed silly season!

Yet again its been way to long toooooo long since my last blog. Its amazing how life gets in the way, especially when a child is involved, who needs your love, care and attention!

Just to update you all...the screening at Bendigo's (or should I say Eaglehawk's) Star Community Theatre went well. There was a good turn out considering that it was a week or two before Christmas. If you are every in the area go and see a movie there. The theatre is in the old town hall and has its original projection room. Apparently, it screened movies for the 1920's til 1950s when TV took over. The projectionist told great stories about how they used to stager the film times between Bendigo and Eaglehawk so that once it finished in one cinema it could be sent on the tram to Eaglehawk. If for some reasons there were delays they used to pay a kid to take it over on their bike!

The q and a afterwards was very interesting. Belinda Moon who is a local Bendigo crafter and runs "The Square" craft market told a great story of the smaller crafter triumphing over the large multinational chain store (whom shall remain nameless for legal purposes!). One day when Belinda was in said nameless chain store, her son with toy in hand, said "Look Mummy, there are your cards!". To her surprise, they indeed looked exactly like her cards, in style and design, but only the colors had changed slightly. Turning it over she discovered the cards where produced by a Melbourne based company, who had then manufactured in China. To cut a long story short she engaged a lawyer and even though the large said unnamed chain store did not admit their guilt, they did pay her out! Yah! One for the little crafter! After having heard so many stories of independent makers being ripped off, it was lovely to hear a triumphant one!

In other filmmaking news, I have been very quite, but the new year has spurred me on and I have begun transcribing the interviews I did with female erotic filmmakers while I was at the Berlin Porn Film Festival in 2009( has it already been nearly 2 years!). I'm hoping to turn it into a 30 min documentary about women who are redefining the adult genre. I'm not sure what it will be called yet. Any suggestions? One I've been floating around is "Doing it their way: Female erotic filmmakers reinvent the adult genre", but I think its too long. I had such a inspiring time in Berlin and got to meet so many amazing women who were doing similar things to myself with the adult genre. It made me feel as though I wasn't alone in the fight to break free of the cliches of adult films and to create unique films, that were still erotic and sexy. Listening again to the interviews, has make me want to attempt another erotic film, so I have started on a script set in the suburbs, as we all know despite the outward appearances, they are full of sexual creatures who hide behind closed doors!!

The creative juices are following and I am feeling inspired again after feeling like I was lost in mummy world. While mummy world has been great, I realise more and more how important it is to be creative. I remember saying quite dramatically, if I couldn't make films I would die! Now, having experienced a period where I have been unable to put any energy into making films, I don't think I was being dramatic at all! It has brought home to me how important it is to my happiness to be creative. Do you feel that passionate about something you do?

"Making it Handmade" to screen in Bendigo!

2010-12-01T08:46:00.000+11:00

Wow who can believe that its already December...where did this year go?? Life and raising a small child have been keeping me occupied, so please excuse my lack of blogging!

I'm very excited to announce that "Making it Handmade" will be screening at Bendigo's Star Community Cinema on Sunday 12th December at 3:30pm. I'll be there to introduce the film and there will be a Q and A afterwards with Belinda Moon, who is an avid Bendigo crafter and hosted by the lovely and talented Megan Spencer. Also one lucky person in the audience will win a goodies bag generously donated by Bob Boutique. It should be a great afternoon with devonshire tea thrown in! I can't wait for a scone with cream and jam!

Pip Lincolne, who is in "Making it Handmade", let it slip that her secret ingredient for the best scones is lemonade! Apparently, its an old tip from the CWA cookbook!! Also if you haven't yet, go and check out her new book. It is a beautiful work of art!

Also, in the November issue of The Melbourne Magazine that comes with The Age newspaper, myself and the lovely Royce made an appearance. For those of you who missed it, I'll scan it soon and post it up here. It was good to read an article that wasn't so sensationalized and gave me more depth, than just being a feminist erotic filmmaker! Mmm just read that back...wow it sounds conceited!

Anyway, I hope to see you in Bendigo, if not I hope you have a good silly season and if you are looking for a present for that crafty person in your life, why not get them a copy of "Making it Handmade"! Click here to buy it from my online shop!

Online shop now up and running!

2010-11-04T08:44:00.000+11:00

Finally, I have set up an online shop where you can purchase some of my films (more will be added soon). Being the DIY kind of woman and after constantly being contacted by people wanting to know where they could buy my films, I decided to give it a go! There is a link on the side but you can also click here to access it. Happy shopping!

Sydney Screening of "Making it Handmade"

2010-11-03T09:21:00.000+11:00

Thank you to all who turned out for the screening in Sydney.

With my partner and baby in tow we headed off to the MeMuson Archives for the screening. It wasn't that far away from where we were staying, so we decided to walk which seemed like a good idea until it started to rain and rain and rain. Stepping in to the eclectic screening space of MeMuson Archives we were warmly greeted by Jamie and Aspa. Aspa was knitting an intricate baby rug, so we sat and discussed knitting while we waited for people to arrive.

The turn out while small (being from Victoria, we didn't realise that it was a long weekend and lots of people go away!) they were certainly passionate about craft! It was interesting to see how this audience reacted to the film and there was lots of heated discussion afterwards about the ethics of handcrafting goods and is it okay to subcontract it out either here in Australia or overseas!

Sydney here we come! And talking about sex and films!

2010-09-27T09:32:00.000+10:00

I'm getting very excited as I'm off to Sydney this weekend for the screening of "Making it Handmade". Two of the women in the documentary, Rayna Fahey and Casey Jenkins are going to be in Sydney town for the Object, "We craft this city", so they will be joining me for a Q and A after the screening. To book tickets you can click here, its strictly limited seating!

Finally, after a lot of running around like a chook with my head cut off, the DVD's of "Making it Handmade" should be in my hot little hand on Thursday! I've set up an online shop, so they will be available to purchase soon. Keep an eye on here or facebook for more details.

To add to my already full dance card, I will be speaking at Pleasure Salon in Melbourne on Monday 4th Oct about female erotic filmmakers and how they are reclaiming the genre! I was hoping to be able to show some clips from some of the great films I got to see while I was in Berlin last year, but unfortunately the venue is getting a little jittery and I'm only allowed to show clips leading up to sex scenes, but not the scenes themselves!! Oh well, guess I will be using verbal language to describe them instead!

...and then there were more screenings!

2010-09-12T21:20:00.000+10:00

Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the crazy Melbourne weather to see "Making it Handmade!" It was a great day and the craft market in the foyer made it an event. To see people come out so excited and inspired was the best review anyone could ever get! Since, i have received emails from people who have felt inspired to get crafting or return to it!

Big thanks to my Mum who helped with the box office, Changa Mole for helping with the door and the beautiful Rayna Fahey for organising the craft market.

The film is traveling to Sydney next on Sunday 2nd October as part of the Object Gallery's "We Craft this City". For details and to book tickets check out here!

Also looking into possible screenings in Brisbane, Lismore and Perth, but will keep you informed. If you want to keep up to date with everything that is going on with the film join the facebook page!

Today I checked out the DVD design by my wonderful brother, Richard. It looks amazing so I can't wait to have one in my hot little hand. Now, I have to get off my arse and record a director's commentary and what's more work out how to author it on the dvd...and look after Royce and teach and .........ah the joys of balancing motherhood and making DIY films!

On another note.... I just found out that "The Band" has now sold to France and Korea! I wonder if it will be subtitled or dubbed??? Could make for some interesting watching!

If you missed "Making it Handmade" at MIFF!

2010-08-15T15:30:00.000+10:00

If you missed "Making it Handmade!" at MIFF, you now have a chance to catch it! Yes I can finally announce that there is going to be not one but two screenings of "Making it Handmade" in Melbourne on Saturday September 4th at Kaleide Cinema at RMIT (360 Swanston st, Melbourne) at 2:30pm and 4pm. There will also be a craft market from 2pm til 5:30pm in the foyer.

You can purchase tickets here.

Its selling fast, so don't miss out again!

Look forward to seeing you at the screening!

Premiere of "Making it Handmade!"

2010-08-05T10:51:00.000+10:00

All the Ladies on stage for the Q and A.

The sold out cinema!

Images stolen from Rayna Fahey!

I have to admit this is all still a blur!

To begin with I was running late, ah the joys of trying to get ready and change a newborn didn't quite go to plan! Royce decided that he was going to unleash a stream of wee onto his clean outfit during his last nappy change before we walked out the door, so what should have taken 5 mins ended up being closer to 15!

On arriving at the theatre I meet up with Megan Spencer who was generously chairing the Q and A and sat down in one of the vibrating chairs at the cinema to give Royce a feed before the film. While sitting there I realised that I had my boob out in front of part of the queue for my film!! Oh well!

Was I nervous? Mmmmm, yes a little, which I hope wasn't evident during my intro speech!! It was a great opportunity to thank the many people who have been involved in the film. Especially my brother, Richard Brownfield, who designed such beautiful opening titles and who in my placenta brained state had forgotten to add to the end credits of the film!! Please forgive me and I promise it will be fixed before the next screening. I'm hoping I didn't forget anyone else!

The film seemed to go down well, quite a few laughs, which is always nice to hear....another baby out into the world!

After that I was joined up on stage for a Q and A by the gals whom without there would be no film; Gemma Jones, Pip Lincolne, Rayna Fahey and Casey Jenkins. I loved the fact that they answered most of the the questions and I could just stand there and look crafty most of the time! Thank you sooooooo soooooo soooo much for being a part of this film, and thanks to all those who have helped out along the way, especially Robert Harding for the brilliant sound design and original music, another one to Rayna for being the music supervisor, Carla McConnell for helping out in the early stages, Faythe Levine for giving me the opportunity to interview her, Peta Pledger for being the devil advocate and constantly asking me probing questions about the doco ( i'm so sorry that camera stuffed up and i couldn't use the footage I shot of you!) and to the Melbourne craft community for letting me stick a camera in their faces!

Also big Yah and thanks to Justine from Mixtape Zine for letting me interview her and for providing Mixtape zines showbags for spot Prizes!

To all of you who missed out on getting tickets...do not fear there will be another screening of the film by the end of the month, so keep your eyes on here or join me on facebook for more info!

On the Radio!

2010-07-27T16:15:00.000+10:00

This morning I had the pleasure of for the second time being on Jon Faine's Conversation Hour on 774 ABC, promoting the screening of "Making it Handmade" at MIFF.

I thought I was going to be running late, for those of you not living in Melbourne, a power line went down and hence my baby sitter, Nanna Jean was stuck at Flinders street station without a train in sight! So my wonderful partner came to the rescue and I jumped into a cab. Halfway there will applying my makeup I realised the cab was swerving a bit and looked into the rear view mirror to see the cabbies eyes slowly closing!! Promptly I began asking him questions in rapid succession and we managed to get to the ABC studios without incident!

Jon's co-host today was actor Adam Zwar from one of my favourite Australian TV shows "Wilfred" and the other guest was John Wood of Blue Heelers fame! What a star studded line up! However, once the subject of my new wave erotic film and sex came up then all of a sudden it was like being in the studio with three giggling school boys!!

It was lots of fun but I was wondering if we would actually end up talking about "Making it Handmade!". However I'm glad I can finally gett my dirty little secret of loving craft out into the open!!!

You can listen to the interview here.

MIFF screening sold out!

2010-07-26T10:26:00.000+10:00

I can't believe it! The MIFF screening is sold out! Sorry to all of you who missed out. I'm trying to organise another screening somewhere else. Will let you know when its organised! I'm still in shock and I keep receiving emails from complete strangers who are upset they missed out!

"Making it HANDMADE" to premiere at MIFF

2010-07-14T16:33:00.000+10:00

Photo by Rayna Fahey

Yes finally it can be announced!!

I've had to sit on this one for quite a few months....which for me is hard, especially as I was soooooo excited to have it premiering in my home town!

Sorry its taken so long for me to post about this but I've been making other things too while I'm been finishing this movie, and finally on early Sunday June 20th after nearly three days of intense labour I pushed out a beautiful baby boy called Royce! One of the hardest projects I've ever had to do! Oh well I can now say I'm giving birth to two children in two months, the other of course being a film baby!

Here is the MIFF website if you want to find out more and I'd love to see you all there on Sunday August 1st. Hang around afterwards so you can pick the brains of Pip, Casey, Rayna, Gemma and myself!

Also if you haven't checked it out there is a wonderful article written by Megan Spencer ( who will be chairing the Q and A after the screen of the film) in Frankie Magazine. I've always called this mag the "cool kids mag" so I've been joking with friends that I'm now one of the cool kids!!! hee hee what a joke, I'm really a bit of dag....and thought I was too much of weirdo to be considered even slightly cool! The above picture I stole from the lovely Gemma Jones's blog as I haven't been able to get into my office and scan the article yet!

Hope to see you all at the screening!

Link to article that appeared in Playboy Magazine in the Philippines and editing madness!

2010-05-03T15:06:00.000+10:00

Who can believe it is May already! Where has this year gone and can I have some more time in my days please!!

I'm currently trying to finish the fine cut of "Making it Handmade!". Having set the deadline as the end of May and now teaching more hours, I'm finding only being able to dedicate 2 days a week to it, very unsatisfying. Just as I'm getting back into it and powering along I have to switch my brain back into teaching mode! At times like this I had wish I had funding and wasn't doing this with no budget.....why do I torture myself so!!!??????

Then again I would rather be making films than not so if this is the way it needs to be, then so be it!

Finally, I have a link to the article written by the very talented Ana Santos about female erotic filmmakers for Playboy in the Philippines.

I'm still waiting for my award from the Feminist Porn Awards in the mail but above is an image that I stole from "The Feminist awards" facebook page! Can't wait to feel its cold metal in my hand....I wonder if it will be stopped by customs!!! hee hee

Must return to the darkened cave of editing heaven, I promise I will emerge again soon!

"The Band" wins Hottest Feature at the Feminist Porn Awards in Canada!

2010-04-13T11:05:00.000+10:00

Wow is all I can say. Its an honor to be considered amoung such a talented group of women, but to win an award blew my mind! They actually let me know in advance and I've had to sit on it for a few weeks, which has been hard, but now that its all over I can let you all know. Check out all the winners here.

I wish I had been there but due to my physical condition I had to stay here in Australia! Oh well, but I did record an acceptance speech and sent it to them to screen on the night.

When my award arrives in the mail, I'll take a picture and put it up here for all to see! Does that mean I can now call myself multi award winning feminist erotic filmmaker??? hee hee

On other films, after a weeks break I'm back to fine cutting "Making it Handmade!" Hoping to knock it over in a month or so but worried as my teaching load is about to increase for the next six weeks....looks like I'll be kissing my weekends goodbye!!

Rough cut of "Making it Handmade" finished and other news!

2010-04-01T10:13:00.000+11:00

Photo by Rayna Fahey

Finally, I have finished the rough cut for "Making it Handmade!". It feels great but also has left me feeling unmotivated, or maybe I just need some rest after arriving in my office too many mornings at 4:30am to begin work! Yes madness I know, but I'm not a very good sleeper and figured why spend two to three hours trying to get back to sleep when I could go and work, undisturbed instead!! It was a great idea at the time, but I think I'm paying for it now.

I screened the cut to Rayna Fahey of Radical Cross Stitch and Casey Jenkins of Craft Cartel, who are both in it, the other night and got a great response from them, which was ace. They said they felt inspired to go out and make more things. I just hope it has the same effect on everyone who watches it!

Other news, if you are in the Philippines, try and grab a copy of the Jan/Feb edition of Playboy magazine as there is an article about female erotic filmmakers, and yes I'm one of them. I was hoping to post the article here but I'm still waiting on the last three pages...they gave the article 6 pages!!

An article I wrote on the amazing women I meet at the Berlin Porn Film Festival (which is calling for entries for this years festival), in Metro magazine, has hit news stands, so go and check it out!

Still on amazing women at the Berlin Porn Film Festival, Petra Joy is soon releasing an exiting compilation of female made erotica, with scenes from the films and interviews, called "Her Porn Volume Two". She interviewed me for it while I was in Berlin, so I can't wait to see the final product. The trailer is online now, but be warned its nude and sexy, so don't watch it at work!!! hee hee

Also got two very exciting bits of news over the past few days but have to keep a lid on it for a little while, but will let you know as soon as I'm able! I hate keeping secrets!

The Band nominated for Feminist Porn Awards

2010-03-02T09:49:00.000+11:00

I'm so thrilled! The Band has been nominated for a Feminist Porn Award! Very exciting. I would love to make the journey to Toronto for the awards but I'm back teaching this week so I'm guessing I'll have to miss this one. Such a bummer, that is one of the dramas of living on an island at the bottom of the world! But still very excited to be in such good company!

Other good news is that my doco "Making it Handmade!" has a few paragraphs written about it in the most recent addition of IF
(Inside Film) magazine! Does this mean I'm moving from Smut maker to legitimate filmmaker??? Hee hee Like I would care either way!

Also two festivals has asked to have a look at "Making it Handmade!" so I need to return to editing. I'm nearly done, but I need to go and shot some more footage on Thursday. Nothing very exciting, just computer screens and the like, but its getting closer to being a complete rough cut so that is exciting. Next I need to get some fresh eyes to have a look and give me some feedback!

Australia's sexploitation and erotic filmmaking history!

2010-02-16T08:19:00.000+11:00

Last week wasn't as productive as I hoped. The intense and ongoing heat, knocked me out and made it impossible to sleep, but the rough cut for "Making it Handmade!" is still chugging along. I'm finding it interesting to see how over the year or so that I shot this documentary, not only did my interviewing technique improve but also my shooting skills. Yet again making another film has been a massive learning curve for me! I guess that is something that sucks me in...everytime you make another film you learn something new!

Any of you reading this are probably thinking, but what does that have to do with Australia's sexploitation and erotic filmmaking history....to be honest not much, accept I was working on the film when I spoke with legendary Australian Erotic filmmaker John D Lamond. Like most Australian genre filmmakers you may not know his work but if you've seen that great documentary about ozploitation, "Not quite hollywood!" you would probably know who he is. Just to refresh your memory, he is the one being interviewed with a pole dancer in the background or you may have seen some of his film "the ABC of love and sex: Australian Style" and "Felicity", just to name a few.

I was interested to talk with him but also a little weary as I have found male film makers of that generation to be .....how does one put this...pigs! However, John was anything but! He was lovely, humorous and extremely personable. We talked about the trials and tribulations of making erotic films in Australia, from dealing with censorship issues to trying to find cast who can act and don't have a problem taking off their clothes. He was as wealth of information and shared so many stories about his filmmaking adventures not only here but overseas. One story that suck in my mind was how he challenged the censorship board in regards to masturbation scenes in "the ABC of love and sex: Australian Style", inspirational and sad that still as a society that is so inundated with sexual images in our daily lives from advertising to music video clips on TV, we still are more threatened by sex than we are by violence..... It was truly an honour to speak with him and fingers crossed I get to work with him in the future.

I have always felt like I was working in a bubble here, until I went to Berlin last year and meet so many amazing women making films, so it was nice to connect with a fellow erotic filmmaker here in Australia who strives to make good erotic films with high production design, good scripts and acting. I no longer feel so alone!!! hee hee

Must return to the edit suite as I have a strict deadline to have the rough cut finished by the end of Feb. As my dad would say its time to put your head down and your bum up!

Rough Cutting "Making it Handmade!"

2010-02-05T12:24:00.000+11:00

Knickers Making Day from a Kaotic Kraft Kuties Gathering.

Last week, after an extremely unproductive and frustrating week, I have decided to take a rest from writing "Talk to Me". It was driving me nuts and I kept trying to do everything else to avoid writing. As one of my music teachers said when I was a child "procrastination is the robber of time and thief of opportunity!" So rather than continue the torture I have put the script aside until I'm once again ready to face it and make a more concerted and positive go of it!

In the meantime, my hands have not been still and I have begun rough cutting "Making it Handmade!" This is bringing me considerable joy and after three days I'm nearly half way through it! Why is making films so much more fun than writing them!!!??

"Making it Handmade!" is the first real documentary I have attempted. I've been shooting it for about a year now and the editing skills I learnt while working as an editing assistant under the brilliant Tony Stevens last year has been invaluable. Thanks Tony you rock!

I'm hoping to have a rough cut finished by the end of Feburary, so I must return to FCP and continue.

No doubt I will write again before the end of march....but if not keep an out for an article I wrote on the Berlin Porn Film Festival in Metro Magazine.

Script writing and other computer bound tasks!

2010-01-14T12:20:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year. I hope you all had a good break. Mine was spent painting the lounge room, which is now a lovely shade of yolk yellow and white!

After a recent heat wave here in Melbourne I am once again back in my office typing away. First port of call for the new year was two articles on The Berlin Porn Film Festival and some of the brilliant women I meet there, Candida Royalle, Petra Joy, Ovidie and Shine Louise Huston. This also meant I finally got to view the armfuls of film I brought back with me from The Berlin Porn Film Festival. A few stand outs were "Champion: love hurts" by Shine Louise Huston, a seriously hot and queer film for women that was beautifully shot, moody and brutal at times. It was great to see some real porn for lesbian rather than the high heeled hetero male fantasy we are served up in mainstream pornography. Petra Joy's "art-core" Female Fantasies, great art direction and excellent sexual chemistry between the actors. Jennifer Lyon Bell's serious sexy short film called Matinee and I revisited Ovidie's Stories of Sex(es) which is still hilariously funny and sexy at the same time.

"The Band" is showing at the Athens Porn Film Festival this weekend, so if you happen to be in Greece please go out and check it out!

I'm still wading through the rewrite of "Talk to me". I was hoping to have it done by the silly season but it didn't happen so I have until the end of the month to make it work! Then I will sink my teeth into creating a trailer for "making it handmade" which should be up on Youtube sometime in Febuary, but I'll let you know.

I must return to my re-writing and I promise to post more regularly this year than I did last!

Being tied to my computer...oh if only it was sexual too!

2009-12-15T14:39:00.000+11:00

Yes, as you can guess from this posts title I am busy trying to knock out another draft of my telemarketing musical that is a lesbian love story called "Talk to me" before the silly season takes over and I spend too much time consuming excessive amounts of food.

I originally wrote the first draft of this film back in March 2003!! Its been sitting in my draw for quite a while but I have continued to make notes on how I would like to change it for the past 6 years. This draft is taking a very different path, but I'm enjoying taking it in a new direction, its refreshing and makes it easier to write in some ways.

I actually find writing quiet stressful and taxing. I have such a vivid imagination and can see my whole film in my head; what the characters look like, who they are, what shots I would use, how it will look, but transferring that to paper for me is painful. People have often said that if they read my scripts and then watch my films they are surprised how different they are! Sanne who was the DOP said the script for 'The Band" was cheesy and she said the main character was very bland and dull, but that the actress I cast brought another layer to it that wasn't in the script...I guess I am an actor's director. I love rehearsing my scripts with actors and seeing what works, giving them the freedom to change and shape, maybe I need to write all my scripts by just video graphing the actors work shopping it and go from there???

However, I often write my whole script or ideas in longhand...yes I'm talking about using a pen and paper. I know its old school but I find it can sometimes open up my mind and provide solutions particularly when I have writers block, or am frustrated. The other useful tool, is going off to write somewhere else. A new environment and space you can gaze out into can make all the difference.

On another note, check out this short doco Louise Lush shot of the Berlin Porn Film Festival. Also if you look back at the old posts from Berlin Porn Film Festival here you will notice I have now added some photos. Above is my hero Candida Royalle and myself at Opening night of the festival.

Enjoy and have a good silly season.

Berlin Porn Film Festival wrap up and other news!

2009-11-23T09:40:00.000+11:00

Its hard to believe that it has been a month since the opening night of the Berlin Porn Film Festival. After my last post, my days just became a blur of interviewing some of the amazing female film makers at the festival and being interviewed myself.

Some of the highlights were meeting Ovidie for France who made a hilariously funny film called "Histories de Sexe(s)", great realistic sex scenes, excellent acting and dialogue that had me splitting my sides with laughter! She also interviewed me for a tv channel she works for in France and I interviewed her! Talk about mutual appreciation society and love!

Got to see a documentary about Petra Joy (the Joy of Porn) and her path to making erotic films, which made me realise what a unique group of women film makers where represented at the festival and how different our visions are compared to the mainstream industry! Petra also interviewed me for "Her Porn 2" which is the second in her series on women erotic film makers. She also held the Joy Award to support and encourage more women to make erotica. A film by Australian, Lousie Lush. Her film was a refreshing take on erotica and I hope this is the first of many films to come from her.

Another highlight was being interviewed for German cinephile magazine "Cinearte". Sabine, who interviewed me was well researched and a joy to talk with. So if you are in Germany I think it will be coming out in jan 2010!

While, Berlin was a crazy 6 days I got to meet so many amazing people and I can't recommend enough, despite the expense of going to an overseas festival the contacts you make face to face are priceless!

Since returning home, I have done an interview for Playboy in the Philippines! And if you speak or read french check out this article written by a lovely woman called Stephaine!

Also The Band was released on 17th November in the US! Its available through amazon and is uncut, much to my delight! While in Berlin I learnt that the R rated version of the film has been cut by 2mins!! Still haven't seen the dubbed German version yet but looking forward to having on hopefully in my hot little hand soon! Still no word on an Australia distributor, dingers, I mean fingers crossed there will be one soon!

Much to my disappointment I have also discovered someone has ripped and illegally posted an edited version of The Band online. This saddened my greatly as being a small independent filmmaker who has spent the last three year of her life working unpaid on the film, my only way of recouping is through distribution deals and actions like that stop that opportunity. So whoever you are I am disgusted by your disrespect and people like you will kill independent film makers who offer an alternative to the mainstream cinema. Basically, I think you are an arsehole and if I ever meet you would like to make you a few new ones...and that's being nice!

Opening Night of the Berlin Porn Film Festival

2009-10-24T01:48:00.000+11:00

Oh wow! I was a little nervous before it all started, but with a glass of champagne in hand, I was whisked off to be interviewed by a queer german TV show. They put me in front of a great piece of art which was lots of different photos of colored vaginas! I have to admit though I was quite distracted as there was also a squirting video/ performance art piece playing on the wall and I kept on catching glimpses of it as they interviewed me.

It was a great night, all three cinemas were packed to the rafters and they also added in more seats! Madness. I had so much positive feedback at the end and people kept coming up to me all night, it was such a high! Yet, again I didn't sit in the theatre and watch it with an audience, but my spies told me that everyone was having a good laugh, which is what I was hoping...that people thought it was funny and sexy!

I meet some amazing women film makers, Petra Joy, Shine Lousie Huston and Candida Royalle, who I had interviewed earlier that day. Meeting Candida was thrilling. I have admired her for a very long time. I remember being about 15 or so and reading an article about her films and thought, "Wow, this woman is amazing'! And she is. I could have stayed there for hours but I had to get back and get ready for the night. Such an intelligent and sexy woman! She is so open and so willing to help other women who want to make erotic films.

This afternoon I went to get some tickets for other screenings and I meet Oli and Tat from Madrid, Spain who run an independent adult film festival in Madrid. They were so much fun and it was great to practice my spanish, I haven't laughed like that for a long time. To make it even better they have invited The Band to screen at the festival in Madrid next year!! I love Madrid and everytime I have been there it feels like home, so this blew my mind! They also asked me to recommend other Australian film makers who are making erotica or film about sex, so any of you out there reading this check out the link and send them your work! They Rock!

I'm on the jury for the short film competition here so I have to head back and sit in the dark womb of the cinema, will keep you posted with what else is happening here!

I've been trying to upload pictures but for some reason my internet connection keeps crashing!

Berlin Porn Film Festival

2009-10-22T20:21:00.000+11:00

Well tonight is the night that The Band will open the Berlin Porn Film Festival! I would say I'm nervous but have so much to do before then, it probably won't hit me until I'm standing up in front of the audience before the film starts!

Sanne Kurz who was the brilliant DOP for the film has arrived in Berlin and we have been having a great time catching up..its like we haven't been apart but when you have such a strong creative bond with someone it is hard to lose all connection!

I went past the cinema yesterday to pick up my pass and the well organised team were putting the finishing touches on hanging artwork and putting up posters. One volunteer has travelled all the way from Ireland to come and be a part of it!

Today, I'm off to meet the German distributor, Wolfgang of Cult Movies. He is coming to do an interview with me but I'm not sure what for yet...but I guess I will find out this afternoon.

After that I have a meeting with the other jury members who will be voting on the best short films, then I'm off to interview Candida Royalle. She has been such a support for me over the years so it will be great to finally meet her in person.

Keep tuned for tomorrows post as I will have photos and stories from Opening night!

The road to Berlin!

2009-10-16T13:39:00.001+11:00

Only 3 days to go and I will be heading off the Berlin Porn Film Festival! I'm very excited and can't wait to see The Band on the big screen. I was just musing the other day how conservative Australia is and the fact that if The Band was screened in public here we would be committing a crime, yet in Berlin its all fine! Mmmmm maybe I should move to Germany.....

Also, Sanne Kurz who is a wonderful and talented DOP (director of photography) who shot The Band wasn't going to be able to make the screening as she will be off shooting in Prague. Boo hoo! However, she contacted me yesterday to say she will be there! YAH! I've also got some close friend's coming from London too, so I'm guessing we will be in for some good times.

However, I will have to limit my late nights as I'm a mad woman who can't sit still, and have decided to shoot a documentary while I'm there!! Well I figured all these amazing female film makers who are breaking boundaries and reinventing the adult genre, its too good an opportunity to miss. I'll be interview pioneering erotic film maker Candida Royalle, Art-Core creator and award winning film maker Petra Joy, photographer and artist Emilie Jouvet from France, Fetish film maker Julie Simone; and erotic star/ cross over mainstream actress and film maker Ovidie. Its going to be a kick arse group of women!

Can't wait. Keep you eyes peeled here for the daily updates I'll be posting while in Berlin!

THE Band being dubbed in German!

2009-10-10T11:05:00.000+11:00

It has been an eventful week. I learnt that the German release of THE BAND isn't going to be subtitled but is being dubbed! I look forward to seeing how they translate some of the Australianisms! Lucky no one says "cracking the shits" in the film! I always thought that was a very funny Australian turn of phrase.

Unfortunately, for the wonderful sound designer of The Band, Lachlan Mooney, had to recreate all the sounds made but the actors on set through the time consuming art of Foley. To make matters worse they emailed me on Friday, but as I like to get away from my computer on the weekends I didn't get the email til monday and went into a state of panic because they needed it by Tuesday! I managed to get some extra time and Lachlan did a sterling job putting it all together in such a short period ( this man is brilliant, please employ him!) ...we both have learnt lots. At the same time being such a low budget production there was no chance in hell that we were going to be able to afford to ADR the whole film, hence I found it strange that they choose to dub the film for its German release. I'm meeting with the German distributor, Wolfgang from Cult Movies, while I'm in Berlin, so I will ask him.

The film is the film that keeps on demanding my time. Just when I think there is nothing else I need to do for it, something else pops up!

I'm counting down the days to Berlin and trying to work out when I'll get time to do washing before I go, wondering if I should get sleeping pills for the long flight, realizing its going to be stupidly cold and I need a coat I can close ( thanks Sprinkle for sorting out that one, go check out her clothes, beautiful, well made here in Australia and no sweat shop labour) and learning how to burn Blu ray DVDs for the screening at the Berlin Porn Film Festival! Never a dull moment.

Exciting News for THE BAND!

2009-10-02T15:26:00.000+10:00

The US DVD cover
The German DVD cover

Sorry its been so long between entries, but I have been off gallivanting around the world; celebrating a friend's wedding in Spain, meeting my partner's family in Italy and battling through Ramadan in Morocco - but many exciting things have been happening while I've been away!

Firstly, THE BAND will be the opening night film at the Berlin Porn Film Festival. a great honour and I still can't believe it. It makes the slaving my guts out to get the money together to go there extremely worthwhile! So I'll be heading to Berlin at the end of October...so if you are in Berlin on the 22nd October please come and be in the audience. I promise I will be blogging each day that I'm there to keep up to date with all the naughtiness and great erotic delights I will be experiencing!

Until then I am keeping busy subtitling the film in ....english! Yes I know that's strange but I'm guessing that due to the German's being inundated with american accents that the Australian one is quite hard to understand!

Its a rather time consuming and boring task, but I'm extremely grateful that I spent over a week creating a continuity script because all I have to do is cut and paste. However, it is one of those tasks that you wished there was money left in the budget to pay someone else to do! ah the joys of independent film making you need to be multi-skilled and wear all sorts of hats!

Other exciting news is that its official Cult Movies in Germany are distributing "The Band." From what I can gather, it looks like it is being released on 22nd October 2009, but I need to confirm this.

Also, a new company in the US called Breaking Pictures has picked up the US and Canadian rights and will be releasing it on 17th November 2009 - so keep an eye out for it! They are backed by an Aussie, so finger's crossed they might pick up the Australia rights too! It would be a shame never to see the film distributed here - but as I have said before we live in conservative times!

Director's commentary for THE BAND

2009-07-30T18:21:00.001+10:00

Today, I edited together the Director's commentary that I recorded last week. It's very strange listening back to ones voice and I find that I constantly stumble over words and use the wrong ones. Some sections I want to redo but due to time restraints I have to use what is there, which is disturbing as I think of people who don't know me will listen to this jumble of words and think I don't make sense.

I'm so tired that I can't express how I feel very well....my language escapes me...and thinking back there are other stories I have forgotten to tell about the journey of making the film...like the masturbating auditioner (sic) who was quite happy to let us film him jerking off, but afterwards had second thoughts about being in the film and only wanted to if he could wear a mask! Or the horrible nasty emails I received from someone pretending to be from Family First (a right winged christian political group)...so many stories...its hard to remember them all when you are standing alone in a recording studio! Oh well.

Behind the Scenes of "The Band"

2009-07-29T17:53:00.000+10:00

I feel like I've been push a big barrow of mud and rocks up a hill! Not really, I've just been wading through the 20 odd hours of footage that was shot by Megan Spencer to be used for "Behind the scenes." Its strange to look at the footage now that nearly 3 years have past since we shot "The Band" and brings a new perspective to the shoot. Here are some things I didn't know:

Butch Midway aka Princess was working 8 hrs at his other job before he would come on set, hence he did most of the shoot sleep deprived! What a trooper, I don't know how he did it, but thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Aer and Mike were driven crazy by having a film crew in their house for a week...okay I had some inkling of this.....thank you for putting up with it all.

How many people enjoyed working on the film and found the set very relaxed.

That lots of the clothes used in the film to dress Mia were mine and I never got them back! Obviously not that important to me, if I've only just noticed that now!

There were so many talented people involved in the film. Thank you all once again, it would have been nothing without all of you, every single one of you!

While it was hard to go through the footage and cut it down, so many "gems" of moments didn't make it, it restored my faith in how good the shoot was. There were several events that occurred after the shoot that jaded my perception of the experience so its nice to have faith restored once more and hopefully the 33mins will provide people with insight and entertainment into the journey that was the making of "The Band".

Making it HANDMADE part 4 and "The Band"

2009-07-15T08:12:00.000+10:00

Monday was a marathon day. I returned to teaching, then after a 3 hour class headed off to see Pip Lincolne from "Meet me at Mikes". I asked her kindly if I could re-shoot her interview as she was very sick when I originally did so. She actually admitted she couldn't really remember anything about the interview, and while her answers were good, she looked unwell.

Afterwards we drank cups of tea and extensively chatted before heading off to a Brown Owls gathering. I have to admit it is a truly strange sensation pointing a camera at people you don't know and shooting footage. I always feel like I should do an official "Hi I'm Anna and I'm making a film about..." I did introduce myself but then moved around the room shooting. About half way through people started asking me questions and then the flood gates opened!

There was lots on interesting discussion about craft and female inheritance, why people sell their craft and can you actually make a living from doing so. Home baked treats filled the kitchen as people skill shared, talk about their their days and the inspirations. I wanted to put down my camera and whip out my knitting and join them. The funniest question I got asked was "Do I make craft?". I find this very strange but I guess people look at me and don't think I fit the idea of one who crafts, this was something Pip and I had discussed that afternoon, the perception of who crafts. A very interesting night, but a long one....I didn't make it home til 11pm and considering I left home at 7am, it was a very long day/night!

Today, I will finish shooting the various websites people talk about and use. Thrilling I know!!

However, I am looking forward to Thursday night as I'm off to shoot an evening of mischief with the Melbourne Revolutionary Craft Circle.

Now, I have over 13 hrs worth of footage and my hard drive is looking very full, so after this weekend I will commence post production. Firstly, I'm going to edit a teaser together, so I'll post it on youtube for all to see and I would love feedback.

On another note, its official I am off to the Berlin Porn Film Festival in October! I've raised the airfare by writing articles for various magazines men's magazines! Very exciting and it looks like quite a few ex-pat Australians will be slipping across from London to be at the screening! I've never been to Berlin so it will be great to have a few days to explore the city, unfortunately I will only be there for about 6 days and I'm hoping I can do some publicity for "The Band" and its upcoming DVD release.......more on this later!

"making it HANDMADE" part 3

2009-07-08T08:49:00.000+10:00

Its been a packed few days of shooting.

Sunday, I meet up with Casey of Craft Cartel and Trashbag Rehad to do some "Cunt Fling ups". As Casey busily added public hair to the last few vaginas, a friend of Casey's, Tash and myself made cloth roses to represent the flower that the clitoris is!

Casey had told me she had organised a few people to come along and help throw the "cunts" over power lines but I wasn't expecting the 15 people who turned up! There is something very powerful about a group of people walking along the street together!

Flinging the cunts proved to be more challenging than what I thought and when each person finally achieved it was greeted with jubilation! An uplifting and empowering time for craft and vaginas everywhere!

Monday night, I went off and shot some footage of "Died Pretty", a trashbag rehab gathering to beautify swine flu masks. Some amazing creations and the final parade was hilariously MCed by Erin Tasmania, who made me laugh so much I had difficulty holding my camera still! I had to fight for space with a lovely woman, Claire from SBS's show "Insight" and when I arrived Casey was engaged in an interview for ABC 774...what a media whore!! hee hee

As a contrast, next Monday I'm off to shoot "Brown Owls" with Pip Lincolne as they learn and share the art of embroidery. I might even drag out mine and do some stitching myself as I am in need of some manual creativity as shooting so much has left me little time to craft!

"making it HANDMADE" part 2

2009-07-01T08:40:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, I headed out in the gale force winds to interview Pip Lincolne. I meet Pip years ago when her shop "Meet me at Mike's" was still in Richmond, but since then she has become such a whirlawind in the indie craft scene, been extensively featured in the press and has such a huge "fan club" world wide I wasn't quite sure who I was going to be meeting this time! Was this another person driven by money, cashing in on the resurgence of craft???

The answer is definately no! I now understand why Pip has such a huge following ( over 2000 visitors to her blog daily). Here is a woman who is passionate about craft and creating, but who isn't precious about her "art" and is happy to share her skills and knowledge to encourage everyone to have a go at crafting even if they make mistakes or produce "crap"craft. Its so refreshing to hear this and is something I think is wonderful about the indie craft movement that its about creating and not being put off by what I call the craft nazis ( those who insist on perfect technique) and letting your creativity roam free!

Today I'll be shooting footage of craft websites!! Thrilling I hear you yell! No not really but needs to be done for storytelling purposes!

Tomorrow I'm off to interview outspoken and fiesty crafter and designer Peta Pledger, which should be lots of fun and stir the pot up!!!

"Making it HANDMADE"

2009-06-30T09:13:00.000+10:00

I feel so lucky this week to be able to dedicate all my time to interviewing and shooting for my latest film entitled "Making it Handmade"! It a documentary about the Melbourne Indie Craft movement/scene.

Yesterday, I interviewed the lovely editor of MixTape Zine, Justine. I have to admit that I was nervous as she is the first person I have interviewed without having meet her in the flesh first, but I have been a fan of her Zine for quite awhile. If you are into craft and art or both check it out. She told me about some very exiting plans she has for the future, and I can see the Zine growing up and becoming a magaZine in the very near future.

This afternoon I'm off to interview Pip Lincolne, the queen of handmade in Melbourne. She has squeezed me into her busy schedule (thank you sooo much), she currently writing a new book and I'm looking forward to talking with her about it today.

I'll keep you updated with the other wonderful people I will be interviewing this week.

On another note: it looks like "The Band" has sold to at least one country, just waiting on final confirmation...but will let you know.

The Band and Cannes

2009-06-11T14:50:00.000+10:00

Finally, I heard back from the sales agent in regards to the screening of "THE BAND' at Cannes film market.

The screening was 70% full...not bad for a very small very independent Australian Film! Only a few people left but all returned to grab screeners!

There maybe a sale of the film, but nothing completely confirmed as yet...will keep you posted.

In the meantime I am writing a treatment for a documentary I would like to make while in Berlin for the Berlin Porn Film Festival. I hate writing such documents and get distracted and start writing a script instead, and visualizing instead! Writing for something that is a visual medium sucks the big one!

Also trying to find a producer, but no doubt will end up doing it myself again...oh black mood leave me now!

The Band at Cannes

2009-05-27T11:59:00.000+10:00

Finally some feedback!

A friend of the wonderful Sanne Kurz, the brilliant DOP who made "The Band" look so amazing, Tina by accident ended up going to see the film and left Sanne this message on her blog!

Tina wrote:

"Just watched by coincidence "The Band" - amazing movie...congratulations and respect."

How lovely!

When you spend hours and hours in a darkened room going over and over your film you really do loose sight of if its any good or not! I am working my arse off so that I can go to Berlin Porn Film Festival later this year and see it on the big screen with an audience.

Also check out the July edition of Australian Penthouse and you can see some stills from "The Band" and read a very brief paragraph about "The Band".

Voice Over for a talking Vagina!

2009-05-21T16:20:00.000+10:00

Last night I made a journey to visit Rupert Owen, who played GB in The Band. Not only an actor but a brilliant and progressive film maker in his own right, and avid sex blogger, Rupert is currently working on an animation of a talking vagina and asked me if I would do the voice over. I ask you who could resist playing a talking vagina?!

Not me that is for sure!

So off I went with my lovely partner for dinner and voice over. After a few wines and a delicious dinner of mussels, we got down to business. I went in completely unprepared. I had no idea if Rupert had a script or not, instead his partner asked me a series of questions with a very conversational vein, about being a vagina and what I like to do with it! Some very funny moments finishing off with a recording of the juicy vaginal sounds I can make with my mouth! Lots of fun and I can't wait to see the finished product. Vagina's rule!

In the meantime, as the project I am working on in the straight film industry winds down and I can once again have space and time for my own work, I am busy plotting how I can get to the Berlin Porn Film Festival to finally see The Band on the big screen also how an international audience reacts to it!

I meet with the wonderful Shanti Gudgeon for lunch and she came up with some new and interesting ideas. She even suggested, I should give Film Vic a try! Considering they rejected my profile on their industry directory because "they wanted to protect the Film Victoria brand" (what from filth??? which is fine if you are Anna Kokkinos and you are making a comment on heterosexual power politics, but not if are a feminist erotic film maker making comment on the male driven adult industry and its depiction of sex), I would be highly surprised if they did, but hey will give it a go.....maybe. Will keep you posted.

If you happen to be in Cannes!

2009-05-12T11:04:00.000+10:00

THE BAND is having a screening at the Cannes Market Place. So if you happen to be in Cannes, France or Europe and you want to check the film out its screening on May 16 at 11:30am at Palais D! Its only the R rated version....sorry if you are after the better X rated version you will have to wait until October and come to Berlin!

More craft filth!

2009-05-09T11:07:00.000+10:00

Vagina dentata
Anna in crafty action!

I've decided I shouldn't write blog entries at 2am in the morning while working a 16 hour day, it just doesn't make for good writing and hence good reading!

Let's move on.

Trashbag rehab had their second gathering, this times it wasn't cunt fling ups but porn embroidery! The turn up was massive, they even had to turn people away! The press love Casey who organises it and a writer for The Age conducted interviews and a photographer took some naughty shots of Casey topless with embroided breasts in front of her own, but I noticed they did a reshoot the next day and had her looking more subdued!!! ah the joys of living in conservative times! Check out the article.

It was great to document this subversion of domestic arts and I even had time to sit down and do a little craft myself, a vagina dentata on a lovely hankie that the wonderful Gemma Jones of Kaotic Kraft Kuties gave to me...someone suggested it should be used as a cum rage and when I arrived home I presented it to my love one with the suggestion that next time he had a pull he could use this to "clean up". He looked at it in horror and stated that it was scary and didn't know if he wanted his nob anywhere near it!!

THE BAND screening

2009-04-30T23:12:00.000+10:00

The night of the cast and crew screening finally arrived! I must admit I was very nervous. Putting your work out there for all to see is hard and my mind was racing...what if they don't like it? What if people don't laugh?

I arrived early and began putting up the posters I had especially made for the night (thanks Swinburne Uni for having staff color photocopiers!), followed by a couple of vodkas. People began arriving soon after and after a few drinks, I ushered them into the cinema. Wow it was crowded no room to move. I introduced the film, thanked everyone who was involved in the film, dimmed the lights and then it all began.

It was too crowded so I sat outside with my partner and sister. I snuck up to listen at the door several times, and was filled with glee that people were laughing within the first few minutes! yah!

Once it was over, the two people who I work with at my straight industry job, who I thought were cool made a sudden dash for the door as soon as it was finished. One even ran straight past me and said nothing! Needless to say it has not been mentioned at work since!!

When you surround yourself with such open minded people, it still shocks me that others aren't!

Luckily, there were many other great people there: Rupert, Butch Mid-Way, Jimstar and Anthea who acted in the film all turned up. As did lots of the crew and all the wonderful people who worked on the film for free!

The feedback was all good and positive. Even my brother who is usually my harshest critic thought it was great! I knew I was on a winner when the bartender said at the end of the night that he had only heard good things, and apparently bartenders always hear the truth!

People were asking if there is going to be a sound track released because they loved the music. Thanks to the very talented Moscow School Boy for the original composition, Sons of Lee Marvin, The Dacios and Butch Midway. Rock 'n' Roll porn rules!

Thanks to all those who came and thanks to all those who made making The Band.

If you happen to be in France in May it is screening at the Cannes Market, I'll let you know the exact details soon.

THE BAND invited to play at the Berlin Porn Film Festival

2009-04-17T19:13:00.001+10:00

My eyeballs are hanging out of my head, I've been up since about 4am! Ah the joys of working a full time job and then trying to fit film making endeavours around that. Yes I'm currently working as an editing assistant on a documentary. Its been interesting. While the job itself isn't very challenging, I've been learning a lot about making mainstream TV documentaries. So all good, except for the fact I have no time to do my own film making except on weekends or at ridiculously early hours of the morning. I'm not a night owl, really I'm a Nanna and like to be in bed by 10pm! I'd rather get up early in the morning and work instead!

That aside, on Saturday THE BAND is having its cast and crew screening. I'm excited! It will be great to see everyone again...however I don't know how I feel about sitting in a cinema watching porn with a whole group of people....but I guess before VHS you had to do that. Lets hope there aren't too many stains left on the seats! Hee hee

Mind you, I've watch the film sooooooooo many times it really isn't erotic for me anymore and I forget it contains hard core sex!

Also, big news is that the Berlin Porn Film Festival has invited The Band to screen in October. I would love to go and am trying to convince them that I would be a brilliant guest and could give insight into the Australian industry and my unique take on erotic!! Keep your finger's crossed for me!

I'll be taking photos at the cast and crew screening so I'll post some next week!

Interviewing Casey, creator of cunts!

2009-04-13T17:24:00.000+10:00

Ah Easter, time to over indulge, eat lots of chocolate and generally lay around. All of which I have done, except the eat lots of chocolate.....okay I ate some!

However, today while everyone here froliced in the beautiful sunny autumn day, I got to interview the lovely Casey, who runs the Melbourne Craft Cartel, with Rayna Fahey. She also organizes Trashbag Rehab, which I shot at the other night where many wonderful people made cunt fling ups!

We had a nice lunch together and then proceeded to do the interview. What could be better than spending the afternoon talking about cunts and craft! I remembered when I first meet Casey, while filming the Melbourne Revolutionary Craft Circle in action, she was so quite and unassuming, who would have guessed behind that was a woman wanting to reclaim the word cunt and make it beautiful once more! A truely awe inspiring woman who makes edgy craft that pushes the boundaries of good taste!

Afterwards, I shot some cut aways and must make a note for the future not to drink more than one cup of coffee before doing so...lets just say I have a feeling there is going to be some seriously shaky camera work.

I'm cutting together a montage from the cunt fling ups night and will let you all know when its up on youtube.

Shooting Cunts!

2009-04-07T06:44:00.000+10:00

I had a great night last night shooting the first ever Trashbag Rehab, which is a craft night set up by Casey who is also part of the Melbourne Craft Cartel. The theme last night was Cunt Fling ups.

The turn out was huge, when I left people were still turning up. Not bad for a cold Monday night! It amazing how craft can draw people together and I was surprised how many men also turned up, but then again they like cunts too! One women brought her 8 year old son along who was having a great time making his own cunt. I spoke with his mother before I left and she said he didn't actually know what it was but asked her towards the end of the night, she was very happy that her son's first encounter with a vagina was a fun and positive one! Right on Mum!!

I got lots of great footage and I'm looking forward to interviewing Casey on Easter Monday. You can check out her blog ! ( Yah I finally learnt how to make links...mmm yes sometimes I'm a little slow!).

Also I caught up with Rayna of radical cross stitch, who I have already interviewed but need to do some more shooting of her prankster/ craftivism and it looks like she has more planned so I'll keep you informed of what is happening. You can check out my award winning short of one of her crafty pranks here.

I'm feeling excited about making films again and after a brief period of trying all the usual avenues to get funding etc, I have decided to do what I have always done and go out there and do it myself. There is more than one way to make a film and fuck if I have to wait around in this country to get money from the funding bodies I will die and never make another film again. There is something seriously wrong with the structure and manner that you have to apply for funding, extremely restrictive and if you are like myself and have worked outside the system, they don't want to know about you!!

Rant, rant, rant, enough for today!

Working on the Weekend!

2009-03-21T16:57:00.000+11:00

Inspired by Faythe Levine of Handmade nation I have decided to begin a blog.

Yes its Saturday and I'm in my office! I feel like this week I haven't had a life! I get up every morning at 5am to do some work before I go off to work. I have a pressing deadline to get all the deliverables for The Band (see ) for the trailer. This film has been in my life so long now I just want to get it out so I can work on my next project, which is a doco about craft and the subversion of domestic crafts.

And after waiting an hour for compressor to output files for a DVD I have just discovered I forgot one important element and have to do the whole process again!!

Speaking of craft and referring back to Faythe again...I got to watch Handmade Nation last night, which I loved and if you are into craft I suggest you go and check it out if its screening in your locale. A really important documentation of the women's craft (and some men!).

You can check out my doco in progress with a small film I made called "I wanna live here". It won the "I want to live here" film competition and you can check it out at . I hope you enjoy it.

Go radical craft!