Two Flat Whites caught up with Academy Award winner Adam Elliot. Adam has won an AFI award for his Short Animated Film ‘Uncle’. He also won his Academy Award in 2003 for his Animated Short Film, ‘Harvie Krumpet’. Adam’s films have participated in over 500 film festivals and they have won over one hundred awards. You can catch his new film ‘Mary & Max’ which he directed at cinemas from the 9th April 2009.

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

After 5 years on a prawn farm in outback South Australia we moved to the suburb of Mount Waverley in Melbourne. But now I hang my hat in Windsor.

In your own words, what do you do?

I tell stories……and never let the truth get in the way.

Where did you learn your craft?

My kindergarten teacher, my Art teacher Graham Bennett at Haileybury College, Sarah Watt and Robert Stephenson at the VCA and all the wonderful lecturers at the Brighton Bay Art and Design School.

Who inspires you?

My pugs, Barry & Kevin.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – The Muppet Show
Hobby – Drawing & making things out of egg cartons & pipe cleaners
Food – Lolly gobble bliss bombs & sweetened condensed milk
Fear – The Werewolf from the film The American Werewolf in London
People – The Two Ronnies & Dame Edna
Defining moment – When my friend Brett Krueger told me there was no such thing as Santa.

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Cherished.

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

The Pinewood Independent Cinema in Mt Waverley where I went every Saturday as a child.

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

Immersing myself in all things Plasticine.

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

Jan Swankmayer, surrealist stop-motion genius in Czechoslovakia. In Australia, our Mary and Max cinematographer Gerald Thompson, also a brilliant writer.

Where can people see your work?

Check newspapers for details! – In cinemas April 9.

For love or money?

Depends how drunk I am

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Finishing drawing my kids book. So far it’s taken me 15 years!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Raising pugs on a farm in Daylesford

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

Barry Humphries, Michael Leunig & Marcel Marceau – to ask their thoughts on iphones.

Coffee or Tea?

Earl Grey.

It’s not often you get to see how Australian films are put together. So it was exciting to see how The Combination progressed – from looking for people in a local newspaper, to early rehearsals in a small office space in the middle of Rydalmere (surrounded by industrial sites), and then finally to garnering screenings in some of the biggest cinemas across the country.

Australian films with violent Middle Eastern themes generally don’t have the government rushing to support them, and you would be right in recalling the old adage It’s not what you know. This rings true in most cases and that’s why we see so much rubbish on screen. In any case, it’s no surprise that while HoWARd was in power, funding to the arts diminished at a rate not seen since the great depression.

The Combination was put together with private funding and filmed mainly in Granville, which is why it’s great to see a movie like this finally make its way to the big screen.

The Combination is a story written by and starring George Basha, who grew up in Guildford and who, between stints as a tradesman, has had minor acting roles in other Australian films including Blackrock.

Directed by one of Australia’s most respected actors, David Field, The Combination will be his directorial debut. The film is produced by the lovable screenwriter John Pirrie of See Thru Films.

Filming was completed by none other than Toby Oliver of Looking For Alibrandi fame and was filmed on RED (you can read about it on his blog). The film was edited by Ken Sallows whose work includes the brilliant Australian film Chopper (Hi Chop!). So whatever you might think, you know it will look fantastic.

Will The Combination be anything like Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s Café Lumière? No, It will be more like a Takeshi Kitano Flick, say Sonantine. Excitement, violence, and a few kicks!

http://www.thecombination.com.au/

The Combination is in Cinemas Feb 26th.

Article brought to you from our friends at Design Federation .

The cast of William McInnes (John) & Monic Hendrickx (Tahmeena) really make this a little Aussie gem. The performance of William McInnes shines like a radiant sunrise on a spring day. You may have seen McInnes on the screen in SeaChange, Blue Heelers & My Brother Jack (2001), just to name a few. He has picked up numerous Logies & AFI Awards along the way.

Two Flat Whites have always enjoyed seeing McInnes on the television or the movie screens & this film has reconfirmed for us that he is one of the most talented Australian actors on the scene today. The leading lady Monic Hendrickx is a beautiful woman & her character draws you to her life & the flick.

SPOILER ALERT WARNING

The story begins with John, a farmer living in a remote part of the country in central Queensland. His wife passed away six years ago. John is still taking it hard & resorts to drinking for comfort, while he blames himself for her death. Then dramatically, Tahmeena enters the movie. Bruised & battered, she runs towards John’s farm. He takes her in & they develop quite a bond.

Tahmeena is an illegal immigrant from Afghanistan. Choosing Australia in pursuit of her little girl, who was taken from her in her homeland. John teaches her English, & Tahmeena teaches John how to love again. Tahmeena was rapped & pillaged by the guy that owns the local pub with his son. She consistently has flashbacks & remains scared throughout the movie.

The film reaches its climax when the local pub owner & his son look to John’s farm with guns to hunt out Tahmeena. The twist to the story is when the audience discovers that the country town cop (David Field) is also seeking Tahmeena, to cover his wrong doings. The support cast led by David Field is fantastic & supports the lead actors with gusto.

Unfinished Sky (2007) is a wonderfully directed (Peter Duncan) film; it tackles issues in society such as loneliness, excessive drinking, refugees, crime & love. The ending is not predictable & finishes on a realistic note. The acting is what makes this Australian movie stand out from so many others.

Article written by Liam Gibbs.

Two Flat Whites recently viewed a wonderful little Aussie flick titled ‘ All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane (2007)’ . Anthea (Charlotte Gregg) is in her early twenties, single, hates her job & all her friends are leaving Brisbane. Should she follow the herd to Sydney or London? Is there anything worth staying for now that her best friend Michael finally has a girlfriend? This film tells a universal story about finding your place and yourself.

The leading lady Charlotte Gregg, who plays Anthea does a fantastic job portraying a young woman who has grown up in a close nit neighbourhood. She has a great job & good friends, the issue for Anthea is that all her friends have moved on with there lives either travelling or by getting married & Anthea faces the realization that she needs to make some life decisions that will move her out of her comfort zone.

The leading guy Matt Zeremes, who plays Anthea’s best friend Michael, has been hanging on to the fact that he loves Anthea more than just a friend. Situations come to a head through a drunken encounter & Michael is the typical nice guy in the film.

The supporting cast was very good, including Tyson (Ryan Johnson), Michael’s best mate & underbelly star Gyton Grantley, who plays Anthea’s boyfriend. The movie was well written by Stephen Vagg & many young Australians will certainly be able to relate to this movie. Special mention must also go to Director Louise Alston who brought the best out of the young cast. Grab yourself a copy & watch the flick!

Movie reviewed by Liam Gibbs.