Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 21 February 2006

What do Pandas and Ducks have in common?

Panda Band lead singer Damian Crosbie will join internationally acclaimed film director Phillip Noyce as a judge of the innovative WA short film competition Buy My Duck!

Buy My Duck! is a joint initiative of Revelation Perth International Film Festival and Consumer Protection.

WA filmmakers are vying for a $10,000 prize for the best short film about the challenges young consumers face today.

Panda Band achieved national success with their 2005 EP Sleepy Little Deathtoll Town. Last year, they received the West Australian Music Industry (WAMi) award for Most Promising New Act and are nominated for this year’s Best Indie/Pop Act.

“It’s great to have Damian as one of the judges,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

“Damian brings to the judging panel a local youthful perspective,” Mr Walker said. “His audience is the same audience we want to reach through this competition.

“Panda Band have a strong interest in filmmaking, having made two of their own music clips for television.

“Damian makes a perfect complement to Phillip Noyce who has reached international acclaim with such films as The Rabbit Proof Fence and The Quiet American.

“Both recognise the grassroots nature of the film competition and its aim to give budding filmmakers exposure to the industry and new audiences.”

Mr Walker said the Buy My Duck! competition deadline has been extended after an exciting opportunity arose to encourage Indigenous filmmakers to enter the competition.

Revelation, ScreenWest and Consumer Protection’s Indigenous education officers have joined forces to conduct a special briefing session on guerrilla filmmaking for Indigenous filmmakers at Yirra Yaakin this week.                                                                                            
“Indigenous youth are one of the most disadvantaged groups in society and this opportunity allows Indigenous filmmakers to explore consumer issues facing this vulnerable group,” Mr Walker said.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival director Richard Sowada said guerrilla filmmaking is a freestyle form of filmmaking which utilises available situations and uses real people. It was traditionally pioneered by documentary filmmakers because of its flexibility and intimacy.

“It’s about ideas, a between-the-eyes sensibility, and the empowerment of individuals to really have a voice," Mr Sowada said. "It's a style that falls outside of established government grants and it tends to ignore established filmmaking practices. It’s also done on ridiculously tiny budgets.

“Guerrilla filmmaking attracts passionate filmmakers who have a strong social conscience and who are often from marginalised communities themselves.

“Guerrilla filmaking will add grit and authenticity to young consumer issues, it supports the ideals of Revelation film festival, and is ideal to meet the short deadline.”
    
Buy My Duck! is only open to Western Australian filmmakers. The films can be in any genre from drama and comedy to animation and documentary, and must be no longer than 10 minutes in duration.

The competition also encourages high school students to enter with a first prize, in the under 17 category, of a MacIntosh G5 and Final Cut Pro editing software.

The closing date for the competition is 5 May 2006.

Selected entries will be shown at the 2006 Revelation Perth International Film Festival in July and may be used for community education purposes by Consumer Protection.