Alliance/Equity (MEAA) E-Mag 24th August 2006

Welcome to your weekly e-bulletin from the Alliance. This week:

- Make Your Own Fun - Performers Join In New Zealand - Equity Graduate Days
- Film NZ seeks trustees - Equity Mentorship Programs - Opera Australia's 50th
- Beresford Working on Long Tan Movie - Hard Drive - Certificate IV in OHS
- Internet Dating's Ups and Downs

Make Your Own Fun - Part of Equity's professional program, this is for performers starting their own project or who wish to develop writing, directing or producing skills. Make Your Own Fun is on Monday, 18 September from 6.30 - 9pm at La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday St, Carlton. Cost is $11 for members, $33 for non-members. All money goes to the Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust. Register now: alison.aprhys@alliance.org.au or call 1300 65 65 13. Supported by Film Victoria (http://www.film.vic.gov.au) and La Mama.

Performers join In New Zealand - Meetings of performers were held last week in Auckland and Wellington to kick start the membership drive for performers in New Zealand. Successful meetings were held with many members volunteering to assist with the organising venture. Priorities for the future were also discussed. For more details contact teresa.brown@alliance.org.au

Equity graduate days - Equity's graduate days this year are Queensland - Friday 30th September, NSW - Friday 20th October and Victoria - Monday 13 November. Contact Alison Aprhys on 02 9333 0911 or alison.aprhys@alliance.org.au.

Film NZ seeks trustees - Film New Zealand's Board of Trustees is seeking to replace two trustees who are retiring. The Trust is seeking active industry people with current experience in and a solid understanding of the screen production industry. See http://www.filmnz.com/news/recent-news.html

Equity Mentorship Programs - The Equity Foundation is accepting applications from performer members looking to be part of the mentorship program in NSW and Victoria. Application form and details at: http://www.alliance.org.au/content/blogcategory/80/50/. Applications close Friday 1 September 2006.

Opera Australia's 50th - This year marks the 50th anniversary of Opera Australia - we think it's worth celebrating the fantastic contribution of countless casts, crews and creatives. Got any thoughts on how you'd like to celebrate, or want to be part of the organising committee to get our show on the road? Contact Suzanne on 02 9333 0922 or suzanne.culph@alliance.org.au - we'd love to hear from you.

Beresford Working on Long Tan movie - Bruce Beresford has signed up to write and direct a big-budget Australian film based on the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam 40 years ago. Long Tan, to be produced by Martin Walsh, will have a budget of up to $42 million, depending on casting and production specifications.
Beresford is currently researching and writing the script with production likely to begin early next year. http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/beresford-to-film-battle-of-long-tan/2006/08/20/1156012399047.html

Hard Drive - Any New Zealand or Australian performers who have not been paid for work on Hard Drive should contact Teresa Brown in the New Zealand office: teresa.brown@alliance.net.nz

Certificate IV in OHS - The Alliance has worked with the Sydney TAFE to develop a nationally recognised OH&S course. It is particularly relevant to stunt and safety officers, and those with higher levels of responsibility across the film and entertainment industry. The course will be run at the Alliance in late September and will reduce the usual one-year course to two one-week blocks. For more information see http://ohs.alliance.org.au/images/stories/certiv_ohs_0806.pdf or julie.deakins@alliance.org.au or call 02 9333 0916.

Internet Dating's Ups And Downs - As part of the Manly Festival, Factory Space Theatre is producing a series of rehearsed readings of new Australian plays including the new comedy Love.Com about three 40 year old friends and their travails with internet dating and much younger boyfriends. Love.Com will be produced as a double header with Julia Lewis' new play The Baggage Handler. Shows are at Star of the Sea Theatre - Studio, Cnr. Collingwood St and Iluka Ave, Manly on Sunday 10 September and Saturday 16 September at 5pm.