Dan Castle is the Writer & Director of the new Australian Film – Newcastle , which began in cinemas this weekend. Dan has written & directed a number of critically acclaimed short films, including The Visitor , starring Barry Otto, which received awards at the national & international festivals including an AFI (Australian Film Institute) nomination for the Best Short Fiction Film in 2003. Newcastle is Dan’s eagerly anticipated debut feature film. Catch it in cinemas now!

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

Hi – I grew up in New Castle Delaware on the east coast of the US – about 2 hours south of NYC, forty minutes from Philadelphia and 3 hours from Washington DC – so in a lot of ways my New Castle is a lot like Australia’s – in the shadow of a bigger smoke! And similar to Jesse in the film I wanted to hurry up and get onto a bigger playing field.  Went to NYU in NYC then moved to LA at 25… I live in between LA and OZ/Bondi.

In your own words, what do you do?

I am a writer/director of films

Where did you learn your craft?

Mostly self taught but my education and training was all in music growing up then in my early twenties I started acting, then writing, then painting, photographing and then took a stab at directing in my early 30s and got hooked – finally had a venue to throw all my guts into and past training and pursuits!

Who or what inspires you?

Beauty and different cultures – whether they be sub-cultures like surfing or communities or overseas countries – I have a story I wrote set in St. Tropez France and am working on something that will shoot in S. Africa.  But I also have my Hollywood Film Noir flick I want to make and anther surf film called Surf Mom about a 40 something Laguna Beach mom who chucks in the botox for surf wax!

Childhood Memories:

TV Show –  Six Million Dollar Man!  Charlies Angeles, Baretta!
Hobby – guitar – blues, rock n roll, song writing, painting, yoga, photography
Food – Pizza!
Fear – Speaking in public ☺)
People –grounded – self aware, tuned in and conscious good energy is the crowd I walk with.
Defining moment – seeing KISS in concert – December 22, 1977 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia – hands down – changed my life and my perception of what is possible – I was 11!!

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Bit of both – was definitely a chore when in school but now looking back can see how much it all grounded me and gave a positive start and value system to work with as I grew up and dealt with the world at large.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

Well – Newcastle!!  Love its diversity and duelling images – working port, coal barges and those beaches and waves!! Besides that I love driving out to Broken Hill – get great shots in that light and open space!

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

Lots of exercise, yoga, swimming, email, phone calls, writing, take photos, play too much guitar some days and sometimes allow a meeting of some importance to take place ☺

Who are your favourite film personalties? And is there anyone we should keep a look out for in Australia?

Favourite film personalities – Al Pacino!  Gael Garcia Bernal, Johnny Depp Sophia Loren, Fellini as a filmmaker, Reshad Strik – Victor in Newcastle – guy is going to be HUGE!

Where can people see your work?

Some of my films are on the internet or for sale through Amazon – right now Newcastle at the movie theatres starting Nov 6 in OZ ( Oct 30 in NC)  then on DVD in OZ in early 2009 – in US theatrical release of NC in March – I have tons of photos for sale on my website – www.dancastle.com

For love or money?

LOVE  – haven’t been paid a dime yet for anything I’ve done creatively! True! I am so in debt – but do what you love and the money will come!

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Depending on what gets funded first – some that I wrote or something a bit bigger that some companies are considering me for to direct!  We’ll see – I hope to be behind that camera sooner than later!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Making bigger and better films!

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

Bill Clinton – Love the guy and what he has survived and accomplished as a man and leader

Farrah Fawcett – just to let her know I love her and think she is the most beautiful woman to ever hit the world stage and give her a pep talk as she fights her cancer battle!

If we’re talking alive or Dead – Picasso – all the way! Genius

If only alive – Gael Gracia Bernal – he’s just got it in spades!

Coffee or Tea?

Tea – mostly green – but I like my English Breakfast with milk, no sugar at times and in OZ I’ll take a flat white any day but don’t drink coffee in US – just can’t get a flat white!

When catching a film a thriller doesn’t really appeal to me. Restraint however is an Australian film & I do my best to watch as many Australian flicks as possible. Restraint in the opening five minutes draws you to the screen. What better way to catch your attention than a beautiful woman (Dale – played by Teresa Palmer), a dead body in the trunk of a car & a murder!

Picture – Teresa Palmer

The film is about a young lady (Teresa Palmer) who learns the lessons of life the hard way & realises that growing up is all about choices, making decisions. Her boyfriend (Ron – Travis Fimmel) is a murderer & they both get into trouble & decide to hide out in a near by town. The house they choose to ransack is occupied by a gentleman (Andrew – Stephen Moyer) who is afraid to venture outside. Andrew is kept hostage in his own home.

The story line is quite good with plenty of twists & turns. The flick keeps you on the edge of your seat. The young Australian cast make this film what it is. I can guarantee Teresa Palmer is destined for great things and she was well supported. (not that she needs a great deal of support  … you’ll see).

Restraint is a low budget Australian film but different. A great film, fantastic acting, wonderful story line and a tremendous ending. I thoroughly recommend Restraint for something a little different.

- Liam Gibbs

Two Flat Whites is continuing with it’s support of the Australian film industry & is pleased to announce the launch of the Sydney Film Festival 2008 which opens it’s doors tomorrow with events running from the 4th to 22nd June 2008. So what are you waiting for? Get out & catch a flick!

The Sydney Film Festival is New South Wales’ pre-eminent showcase for contemporary cinema from Australia and around the world. Established in 1954, Sydney Film Festival is a major cultural event on the city’s social calendar and one of the world’s longest running film festivals. Our festival patrons include Cate Blanchett (pictured right with SFF Executive Director Clare Stewart at the 2007 Opening Night Gala), Sam Neill, Gillian Armstrong, Jane Campion, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, Dr. George Miller, Phillip Noyce and Hugo Weaving, among the many whose careers have been launched at SFF screenings.

They have been extending the reach to audiences in regional centres with the Travelling Film Festival since 1974, and from 2008, the 55th festival, we will become Australia’s only film festival to have a FIAPF-accredited Official Competition, with 12 films from around the world selected to compete for a cash prize of $60,000.

The Big Screen Festival now in its eighth year, brings programs of contemporary and classic Australian films to regional, rural and remote Australian communities. First launched in 2001 as a Centenary of Federation project, the festival has played to close to 140,000 Australians in more than 50 towns.

Reflecting the AFC’s commitment to increasing access to Australian content, the 2008 tour will continue to visit remote centres such as Burnie in Tasmania and Karratha in Western Australia. Big Screen has also expanded through satellite programs such as a tour from Broken Hill through Silverton, Wilcannia, and Ivanhoe. The 2008 program will feature the latest Australian releases including The Black Balloon, Cactus, Death Defying Acts, Disgrace, Forbidden Lie$, Not Quite Hollywood and Unfinished Sky.

Regional, rural and remote locations for Big Screen festivals this year include Broken Hill, Port Macquarie, Nambucca and Gunnedah in NSW, Nanango, Blackbutt, Cairns and Pomona in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Broome, Port Hedland and Karratha in Western Australia, Bendigo, Traralgon, and Briagolong in Victoria, Mallacoota, Quorn, Port Augusta and Woomera in South Australia and Burnie in Tasmania.

In 2007 over 16,000 people in 27 regional, remote or rural parts of Australia experienced Australian features films, short films and documentaries at a Big Screen festival and this year is expected to be just as big. Films screened on the 2007 tour include Rogue (world premiere in Darwin), Razzle Dazzle, Clubland, Lucky Miles, Noise, Bra Boys and Romulus & My Father.

School Screen organises free school screenings and include films such as Dot and the Kangaroo, The Magic Pudding, Hildegarde, Opal Dream and the newly restored Storm Boy. School Screen has its own web pages on the AFC website. The schools program features a selection of some of the best graduation films from students of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). AFTRS classified the films specifically for Big Screen to cater for high school students studying English, media and communications in years 10, 11 and 12.