Funding boost for local film-makers

"Banana" film crew, from left, is Scott Mason (editor), Kerry Stewart (animation), Melissa Dodds (production manager), Jeremy Herbert (writer), Aden Shillito (producer), and Jodie Stack (director).

Creative Communities NZ has given budding Canterbury filmmakers a boost and alowed a lucky "banana" to make its film debut.

In the June round, "tagged funding" was set aside specifically for films.

The Belladonna Creative Film Trust, an educational documentary and a short-film group, has been given the green light. Filmmaker Diode Stack is pleased to have the chance to have a go making her mixed-medium comedy short film before moving on to bigger projects.

With a working tittle of "Scott’s Banana," the film is based on a diary "written by a banana belonging to Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott". Some filming will be carried in the Snow Room at the International Antarctic Centre.

The Creative Communities scheme is a partnership between that organisation and local government and it aims to increase access to the arts and improve community participation in the arts.

The City Council administers the arts funding locally.

The Belladonna trust received $5000 for the "Scott’s Banana" film and also received $3000 towards a documentary about short-film making in the Canterbury region. Work is under way on this educational resource and the trust’s chairman, Aden Shillito, is keen to hear from short-film makers so they can document their efforts.

The trust was set up to aid and assist short-film makers and to hold workshops and forums on film and cinema appreciation.

City Council arts adviser Marlene Le Cren says the recent tagged funding is the result of Creative Communities wanting to put more money into the Christchurch film industry.

Twenty per cent of the total funds went to film projects. The next round of applications will close on 28 September. — Maria Hand

For application forms and information: City Council Arts Advisers Marlene Le Cren (941 8886) or Rhonda Thomson (941 6413).

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Other organisations to receive funds:
50s Up Brass Band $400, Anglican Parish Of Heathcote $400, Anubis Trust $5000, Canta Clay $500, Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild $150, Canterbury Ensemble $1500, Canterbury Poets’ Collective $750, Canterbury-West Coast Region, NZ Choral Federation $1000, Centre of Contemporary Art $2000, Christchurch Clef Music Club $450, Christchurch Community Arts Council $2800, Christchurch Kiribati Community Club $450, Christchurch Music Society $1000, Christchurch Primary Schools Cultural Festival Trust $6000, Christchurch School for Young Writers $1100, Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Association $3000, Dermot Pratt School of Irish Dancing $371, E Tipu e Rea Childcare Centre $400, Fabel Music $2000, Free Theatre $3500, GlobalNet Summit 2001 $1800, Hoon Hay Youth Centre $1000, Huakina Trust $3951, Indian Social & Cultural Club (ChCh) $575, Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling Trust $4000, JJKL Productions $1000, Kanohi Kitea Trust $3000, Kiwanis International $1000, Krator $2000, Liminal Film $10,000, Linwood Community Arts Centre $1500, Linwood Community House $800, Linwood Liaison Group $1500, Maggi Danby-Belcher $300, Matua Pasefika Welfare Trust $1250, National Council of Women Christchurch Branch $415, Nature Photography Society $1000, New Brighton Project $1000, Nga Puna Waihanga-Waitaha Tai Poutini Branch $2044, Nga Tai Tamariki O Roimata $400, Oakley Grenell $2600, Pacific Health Employment Sports and Education Trust $1220, Pangolin $2500, Pinacolada Records $2000, Rainbow Creche $400, Riccarton Players $3000, Risingholme Orchestra $700, Samoan Advisory Council $850, School of Philippine Folk Dances $1400, Skylark Productions Ltd $2000, Small White Teapot Group $820, St Albans Community Resource Centre $450, STANZA $700, Step Ahead Trust $1800, Straw Umbrella Trust $400, Sumner Art Society $300, Te Kotahitanga Maori Club $1100, Te Whanau Puawai Ora $3500, The Clinic $3500, The New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir $1400, The Sketch Club $3000, Your Studio Charitable Trust $1400.

Number of Successful Applications reported : 63.
Total Alocation: $118,857.