Performance4a

A Fair Go in Casting

Sydney talent agent, Jon-Claire Lee is lobbying for changes to the casting system, which he believes unfairly favours a minority of actors represented by the major agencies.  Casting briefs are often made only to a limited number of agencies, and Jon-Claire argues that these opportunities must be given to all agencies, and all MEAA member actors in the city where the casting is held.  

jonathan Chan goes solo

Jonathan returns to Slide in Darlinghurst by popular demand to bring you a brand new show, The Classic Musicals. Joined by Therese Doyle at the piano, Jonathan will be presenting timeless Broadway melodies from the classic musicals such as My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Carousel, Guys & Dolls, Kismet and many many more! Pop Wednesday 29 October in your diary to check out his show. Bookings through Ticketek.

Renee Lim has been shaking up local television screens. She can be seen on the current season of Channel 7's All Saints and is about to continue shooting her starring role in Season 2 of SBS's successful series East West 101. Keep an eye out for this rising star.

Tony Ayres is full of Bogan Pride. The director of Home Song Stories has produced the new six part, half-hour musical comedy televsision series which stars Rebel Wilson (Pizza, The Wedge). The series screens on SBS Mondays at 9pm. Also check out Rebel's "Bogan Diaries".

Actor Felino Dolloso has had a busy year and 2009 looks to be the same.   Filming recently wrapped on Unexpected, a short film directed by D. Tanuwidjaya; feature films Guy Said To The Universe and Under The Same Sky are in post production; Felino is also in the feature "Balibo" directed by Robert Connolly and starring Anthony Lapaglia; and he teams up with director Khoa Do in an upcoming feature.  Next year Felino returns to the stage in Tasmania and Sydney's Griffin Theatre, and has been confirmed in D. Tanuwidjaya's feature.

Performance 4a proudly announces the Asian-Australian Performance Directory.  This online database of performers, technicians, designers, writers, choreographers, composers, producers, directors and other performance-related artists is a free service intended to promote opportunities for artists and to assist casting agents and directors to locate Asian-Australian talent.  Click here to join the directory or search for talent.

The Jammed eligible for AFI Awards

Low budget thriller, The Jammed, has a chance at the 2008 AFI Awards.  Ruled ineligible in 2007 because it did not have a theatrical release by the closing date, new rules allow it to be entered this year.  The Jammed won the 2007 IF Award for Best Film.  Inspired by actual events and court transcripts, the story exposes the sinister workings of human trafficking, illegal prostitution and governmental deportation.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is to have its own Academy with Australian screen legend Jack Thompson AM as its Patron.
 
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are held in collaboration with UNESCO, FIAPF - International Federation of Film Producers Associations and CNN International. The Awards acclaim the cinematic excellence of Asia-Pacific films that best reflect their cultural origins.

Tanveer Ahmed, Tony Ayres, Anh Do, Khoa Do, Tony Ayres, Kylie Kwong, Cindy Pan, Annette Shun Wah, Chi Vu and Quan Yeomans feature alongside many others in this collection of stories edited by Alice Pung (Unpolished Gem) and published by Black Inc Books . 

Shooting has completed on short film Let's Shoot Max Instead, a story about secret rendezvous and hidden agendas for a group of hitmen.  Directed by Indonesian-born Susanto Widjaja, and written by Felino Dolloso who also stars in it, the 35mm psychological thriller is headed for international film festivals.  Felino also stars in the independent feature Guy Said to the Universe, directed by Martin Jose Ponferrada, currently shooting in NSW and Qld.