Local Filmaker Wins Advert Challenge

John St.Clair, one of our long-standing and talented members and Thor Andersen, an old member of TMLT, have found new fame when an advertisement that Thor produced for an OzKleen Advertisement competition won the top prize. The report was produced in the Tamborine Times and is reproduced here:

After putting the call out Australia-wide to find OzKleen's next TV Advert, Ormeau-based OzKleen has awarded a hefty $15,000 prize to a budding filmmaker in its own backyard. OzKleen, has officially announced that Tamborine Mountain’s Thor Andersen has won the OzKleen Television Advert Challenge 2007.

The competition's judges selected Mr Andersen's entry, entitled “Hooked”, for its quirkiness, its humour and its alignment with OzKleen's brand values . Set amongst a Tamborine Mountain avocado grove, the advert stars a quintessentially “Queensland” character using Shower Power, who Mr Andersen affectionately refers to as “Gazza”, played by local theatre talent John St Clair.

“The ad plays on research that OzKleen had previously quoted from a university study in the US that revealed women found men more sexually attractive if they participated in household tasks,” Mr Andersen said.

“We placed our shower screen in the avocado grove because it was less restrictive than filming inside a bathroom and it suited OzKleen's environmentally friendly philosophy. “It also meant we didn't have to light the set artificially, which kept our budget tight. Living in nature on the mountain offers great inspiration. Avocado groves are so prevalent up here that it just seemed like the perfect backdrop.”

Mr Andersen said he put his filmmaking career on hold when he moved from Canada to Australia to be with wife Rebecca, who gave birth to their now six-year-old daughter Eve within two months of arriving.

While here has worked on and off as a sound technician within the Gold Coast film industry, Mr Andersen has paid the bills by working as a house painter on the Mountain. “With the responsibilities that come with being a father, I couldn't really afford to outlay costs to make short films the way I once did,” he said.

“It was actually my wife Bec who cut out the article about the competition and encouraged me to enter. I'd never made an advert before, but I had been looking for a way to get back into the creative side of filmmaking for some time, so the OzKleen TV Advert Challenge seemed like an ideal project.

“The $15,000 prize has enabled me to buy an entry level camera that will allow me to film projects high enough quality for TV.”

In fact Thor flew to Denmark this week where he plans to film a documentary tracing his family roots on his uncle's farm, which has been in his family for 100 years. “My mother is Danish, so this is a personal project for her side of the family,” Mr Andersen explained.

“It'll give me the chance to get used to the camera because when I return I plan to begin work on a documentary about a 16 year old girl from the mountain who is currently training for the next Olympics in four years time. “I want to follow her journey for the next four years and then try my luck at getting the documentary screened on TV.

“In Canada I used to make a lot of short films, and while they were satisfying to make creatively, it was always tricky to get them in front of an audience, which is why TV now interests me.”

With the Advert currently being aired nationally on Channel 9, Channel 7 and Southern Cross and soon to also be screened on UK
TV, Mr Anderson has certainly now found his audience. “It's a great feeling to have your work watched and I'm pretty excited that it'll be watched internationally soon,” Mr Andersen said.

“It's also quite a buzz to see you own work so prominently.” Hooked can be viewed via OzKleen's website www.ozkleen.com.au.
Thor and Bec Andersen were also the winners of last year’s Beaudesert Shire Council’s - Tiles for Trees competition.

This is just to let you know that a short video excerpt has been placed on the Video page, to provide a taste of what you will see on Saturday.

See you there!

Barbara

Don't forget that this Saturday night, the World Premier of "Grave Consequences" a political drama written by one of our own members, Frank Rotherham, will be performed as a rehearsed play-reading at the Vonda Youngman Community Centre at 7.30 pm. Entry is only $2 at the door and includes a tea or coffee after the performance.

The play has a cast of seven and concerns three related but separate stories that are taking place at the same time, although in widely separate locations.

As this will be the first public performance, Frank will be happy for members of the audience to comment on it; we are always keen on feed-back! You can meet the cast, the writer/director and other members of the Little Theatre Group.

This photo shows one of the scenes from the play, where a hostage is being interrogated; for other photos taken at rehearsal, go to the Gallery Page.

Last night our monthly meeting took place and we heard in person from Warrick about the good news which was posted here a few days ago that the Scenic Rim Council will be recommending to the State Parliament that part of the the money for funding allocations for Q150 (Queensland 150 year celebration)should be allocated to the restoration of the Zamia. So, being in a good mood, we took time out to raise a glass for the best news we have heard for the Zamia in nearly two years.

We heard about the upcoming rehearsed play reading of Frank's play "Grave Consequences" which will take place on Saturday, 28 June at the Vonda Youngman Community Centre.

We also discussed the last weekend's brainstorming session and it has been agreed that, towards the end of November we will probably hold a variety show and combine it with a local offering of "Tamborine Mountain's Got Talent". I will be co-ordinating it, with help from Warrick and anyone else who is interested. We will be looking for three good judges and an excellent prize as an incentive; so, ideas, please.

‘It was with great anticipation that I sat in the recent Scenic Rim Council meeting listening to proposed funding allocations for Q150 (Queensland 150 year celebration money),’ said Warrick Bailey, President of the Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre, this week. ‘Council was reallocating this money to projects in the shire, and I was there hoping that Tamborine Mountain's Zamia Theatre would be given the nod. There were many worthwhile projects discussed, but I am pleased to say that the new Council saw fit to allocate some of the funds to our wonderful old Zamia. This included the money set aside from the recent sale of the land from beside the Polish Gallery, and a further $240,000 from the Q150 allocation to make the Zamia makeover a reality’.

The Committee and members of the Little Theatre have expressed their thanks to the Mayor and six Councillors of the new Scenic Rim Regional Council for believing in the Zamia Project and allocating these funds, along with the land sale funds, to the restoration of the Zamia. The funds raised by the community for the Zamia over recent months will also be used. The Little Theatre will continue with fundraising activities for the Zamia as part of their commitment to Council for the restoration.

The Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre will ensure the ongoing maintenance of the theatre. There are also internal building works that will require some further funds, such as purpose-built dressing facilities and storage areas. ‘The TMLT have been working amicably with Council in the group’s role as lessee of the Zamia,’ said Warrick. ‘We are looking forward to restoration commencing as soon as possible. We know the community have been waiting patiently to attend movies and theatre productions once more, and to use the building for other cultural and community projects. The Theatre Group is already planning the opening of the Zamia and a full year of activities for Mountain residents to enjoy. This is a wonderful outcome for the Mountain Community and the dear old Zamia’.

It was a beautiful day to meet to discuss future productions and Geissmann Oval was a perfect setting. We had a successful session throwing ideas around and, although the turnout was disappointingly low, the quality of the brainpower certainly made up for the lack of bodies.

The result of it all will be discussed at the next committee meeting and it will be posted here and in the TMLT newsletter.

If you were unable to make the session but have had some thoughts then please let Tim or Warrick know, either by email or phone, or you can even post your suggestion here on the website.

For more photos go to the Gallery and to see the brief video, go to the Videos page.

Rehearsals for the play reading of 'Grave Consequences'  by Frank Rotherham have commenced with the seven actors getting to grips with their parts. It is proposed that there will be a performance on Saturday 5th July. Entry will be a gold coin donation to cover costs. The location will be advised later.

It will be a good social night and a chance to see the first rehearsed performance of the first act of a new play. TMLT members will welcome members of the public to the performance. Seating will be at tables and people can bring their own drinks and nibbles. Tea and coffee will be available after the performance. The TMLT is also planning to produce two one act plays at one performance and then a comedy at a later date this year.

At the Geissmann Oval on Sunday the 25th May there will be a TMLT “Dreamfest” brainstorming meeting and bar-b-que 11 – 1.00pm to throw around some ideas for a review type production around Christmas time. We want members of the public to be involved so BYO picnic plus your ideas on the format. It could include music, song, dance, circus, skits etc. If you are interested in being involved or are just plain curious why not join us. Come and have a good time that hopefully leads to a worthwhile and fun result. A light comedy theme has been proposed but nothing has been decided at this time. For this type of project to proceed and succeed it needs support from the whole community.

Tamborine has excelled at this in the past so come and join us for what could be great experience for the performers and the audience.

For further information phone Tim on 5545 4154.

I am pleased to report we had a most enjoyable trip to the Spotlight Theatre last week, to see “Home Is Where Your Clothes Are”, a comedy, which in reality should have been billed as a typical English farce.

The synopsis of the play is that when the Major’s wife leaves him for his best friend, and takes all the money, except allowing him to rent the basement flat of their house, he decides to make some money by renting out the flat to more than one tenant….simultaneously. As they all had different types of jobs they never turned up at the same time….until now.

The first half felt somewhat dated and possibly a little slow; however it soon improved by the second half. As with all farces, it is essential for the timing to right, and I felt they well and truly achieved this. The acting was, in the main, pretty good, held together by a very strong lead played superbly by David Edwards. A marathon part (he is on stage for the majority of the time) and completely convincing.

The majority of the audience seemed to enjoy it, as did most of our party, although, unfortunately, it didn’t tickle the funny bone of one or two of the members, I’m sorry to say. That’s the problem with farce; you either like it or loathe it.