Byron Bay, NSW, Australia – 1 June 2010

Mark Piper’s Exclusive Byron Bay Film & Television School opens in July 2010, with the first courses starting on 19^th July 2010. Part time open programme and short courses will be available to Aspiring and Advanced Actors, Directors and Filmmakers.

Part Time courses are delivered over 9 weeks for Actors, Directors and Filmmakers, to provide an in-depth opportunity to hone skills in a hands-on environment. For more details on this rare opportunity to gain relevant skills we invite you to visit the website www.markpiper.com to see what is covered and the schedule for each course.

World renowned Film & Television Industry guest tutors join Mark Piper (Director / Producer) to pass on their real life experience and skills to students.  They include Martin Sacks (Director / Actor) , Anthony Wong  (Ivana Chubbuck Method), Andrea Moor (Practical Ascetics), Paul Barry  (NIDA graduate), Sharon Shostak  (Award Winning Short Film Maker), Dean Francis (Award Winning AFTRS Graduate) and  Karel Segers (Writer / Producer ).

The comprehensive Short Course schedule including Makeup & Hair for Film & Television, 3 Day Filmmakers Course, and a 2 Day Actor’s Preparation Course is also scheduled to fit in with September School Holidays. Additional courses are in development.

Idyllic Byron Bay is the perfect location for undertaking Film & Television studies, close enough to Sydney to make it easy to reach, but far away enough that students can combine a getaway with undertaking their studies with some of the best Film & Television tutors available in Australia. Accommodation assistance for students while studying in Byron Bay can also be arranged by Byron Bay Film & Television School. Classes will also be coming to Gold Coast and Lismore.

Spanning over three decades in the international Theatre, Film and Television industry, Mark Piper’s award-winning career has seen him on the initial teams Producing and Directing many international drama programs. Water Rats (Australia), Mercy Peak (NZ), Beastmaster (USA), Ponderosa (USA), Neighbours, Home and Away, All Saints, Blue Heelers, Always Greener, Halifax F.P (Australia), and Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten (Germany), are just some of the popular series that Mark has directed.

For more information on Course Curriculums and Schedules, Mark Piper and Guest Tutors as well as enrolment forms, please visit http://www.markpiper.com or contact Mark Piper directly on 0414 888 884 or by email at markpiper@ozemail.com.au.

Places in the exclusive courses are strictly limited, so contact Mark today to secure the next step in your Film & Television career!

Short Courses

Mark Piper Short film Course Schedule

Makeup and Hair Course  Saturday 25th September 2010

One day course designed to give you the opportunity to view a Drama Makeup and Hair Artists role in making films and television

10 DAYS over 2 WEEKS ( 3 part time ) Monday 27th September 2010

Musical Drama Short film

Over seven days full time and three part time you will Write, Produce, Direct, and Edit a 5 to 6 minute short film WITH SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES BEST WRITING DIRECTING, PRODUCING, CAMERA, SOUND, AND EDITING MENTORS

You will DIRECT for part of the shoot and get to do all of the other crew positions on a rotating basis

$200 discount if you pay EARLY
Free Directors checklist
Free Actors checklist
Free E Book The Actors Handbook
BONUS One script submission will be used as the basis for our short film
Bonus A DVD copy with the short Film that you worked on.

ONE HOUR FILM CAREER OR FILM PROJECT COACHING FREE

Mark Piper will offer you a One Hour Free Coaching Session valued at $300. This is an optional part of the course and is FREE

* The consultancy occurs during or after the Week Long Course at a suitable time for you.
* At this one-on-one session, we will work out the best strategy for your film career or film project.
* Your Plan for 2010
* The actions and projects needed to achieve your goals.
* Any specific questions you need answered

All equipment supplied

* How to develop your film story and format it.
* How to cast your film
* How to produce and organise your film and shoot with small Budgets
* How to operate the camera
* Location Sound
* How to do lighting
* Know how a film is edited
* Which film Festivals to enter

7 Day Intensive 9am to 6pm

3 Day Post 6 pm to 9 30 pm

Total 10 Days 7 full time 3 part time

Maximim 10 people

Byron Bay

Monday
9am to 6 pm
Script With Writer TBA Director Mark Piper

How to structure the short film story
How to write a script
How to format a script
Begin scene breakdown for short film

Tuesday
9am to 6pm

Script With Writer TBA Director Mark Piper
Write First draft
Locations
Directing Scenes Mark Piper Blocking shot lists story boards

Wednesday
9am to 6pm

Write Second Draft

Script With Writer TBA Director Mark Piper
Casting session
Wardrobe/makeup checks and discussion

Thursday
9am to 6pm
Script With Writer TBA Director Mark Piper

Producing

Friday
9am to 6pm
Producing
Camera Equipment TBA How to Operate a camera
How to frame a shot
* How to get great exposure
* How to light a film set
Director Mark Piper
* How to Shot List
* What a Storyboard is

Sound Equiptment TBA * How to get great location sound
Rehersal / read through with actors

Saturday

8am to 6pm Shoot With DOP TBA Professional Sound Technician TBA
Crew Positions you will experience

Director
Director of Photography
Camera Assistant
Gaffer
Clapper Boom
Sound Recordist
Continuity
Producer Runner
Production Assistant.
Sunday

8am to 6pm Shoot With DOP TBA Professional Sound Technician TBA

Monday

6pm to 930 pm

Edit / Post Production Mark Piper and Editor TBA Final Cut Pro

Tuesday

6 30 pm to 9 pm

Edit / Post Production Mark Piper and editor TBA Final Cut Pro

Wednesday

6 30 pm to 9 30 pm

Cast and Crew Viewing

An Actor Prepares

A Director’s Perspective

Preparing for the Reel World

Two day course for actors Including show reel with 2 scenes and resume prepared during course

Team Building – Make a short film with All Saints, Home and Away Director Mark Piper – markpiper.com

Each participant will get to Direct one scene each and work on various crew roles over the two day shoot

Week 1  Preparation for 5 to 7 min short film – prepare a short story idea for short film and submit for consideration. All ideas will be distributed to other class members before first meeting and one idea will be chosen for the short film.

Cast should be no more than two main and two minor characters and no more than 4 locations over the two day shoot

Week 2 3 hour Introduction night 1 x script idea chosen for final script , camera and equipment tutoring

Week 3    1 full day script writing 10 scenes and casting – Script mentor in attendance, camera and equipment tutoring

Weekend 4    2 x day shoot with Director mentor, Sound mentor and DOP mentor in attendance Cast will be two actors and the minor roles cast from the class

Weekend 5  1 x day edit and post and Editor mentor in attendance then party

cost $2000 per person – max 10 people

TWO DAY FILMMAKERS COURSE
9 am Start

Introduction

Topics covered over two days

Script -    breaking down script
Casting -rehearsing actors
blocking
camera, sound

Shooting 2 scenes – 1 hour each

[ over the two days 10 two hander scenes will be shot with each participant directing one scene each and everyone else acting in each others scenes and changing crew roles – the scenes will be sent out one week before the workshop begins

Lunch

12 30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

shooting 3 scenes – 1 hour each

editing

Bejesus! Wow! Incredible!

This is an interesting, strongly cinematic story that starts when a reckless
bank robber robs three banks in a row (running from one bank to the next)
in downtown Central Sydney.

And it’s true.

It’s a richly detailed treatment — full of the real and unexpected, full of beautiful
human weaknesses, and stupid human venal courage. A rollercoaster, helter-
skelter heist, siege, chase movie, like something Michael Mann might do. Or Sidney Lumet. Or John Frankenheimer. It’s brilliant. This could make an excellent groundbreaking movie.

Despite the US name-checking above, it feels like one of these new wave Korean or Taiwanese movies — that strange heightened steely-polished realism they do. Coldness as unbearable horror and warmth. This story and its telling is fresh and bold and cold and real. Distinctive and refreshing.

It’s crazy, mad and unimaginable. Truth here is not only stranger than fiction, it’s a darn sight more cinematic than most movies — when here the gods are having their fun.

What’s great about this story is it mocks reality somehow — the absurdity of the real and of the violent. In desperate situations, journalists do jump into taxis and shout, “follow that car”.

Quote: “In retrospect, it was like something out of a Keystone Cops movie. The car we commandeered was full of reporters and photographers. There were pressmen hanging onto the back. When Norm looked to the back and saw one of the reporters was from a rival newspaper, he stopped the car in the middle of the Harbour Bridge and chucked the reporter off.”

But really it’s the psychology of the central character, the small time crook who cracked and went for broke, that holds the whole thing together. It’s like a deranged DOG DAY AFTERNOON, but gone kinda modern and multi-story-strand.

The plot unfolds unruly, just like in real life, yet miraculously (the skill in the writing) it plays as “story” with a solid beginning, middle and end thematic/emotional structure. It’s an excellent, strange, odd piece of work. A 21st century movie (about the early 80s).

The treatment is basically a clip-and-pasteing of news articles, interviews, etcetera, etcetera, but it reads as pure movie — the rhythm, tempo, structure and pacing of this treatment is impeccable. Just join the dots and colour the spaces. A writer’s fuck’n dream.

I hope they write the script with the same matter of fact manner they’ve written the treatment. The notes indicate they will. If they stuffed it up with (in this context) all that character development baloney, it would be an inappropriate cop-out. Forget that shit. This just tells it like it is and it works.

Please excuse the superlatives, but this is excellent. A gilt-edged hit. The climax is astounding.

All in all, this is a beautifully-measured, cool, calm and intelligent take on a very intriguing (and hilarious) story. The masterstroke is all the decisions the director has made so far. I know this may sound dumb, but the story tells itself, revealing the complex and compelling psycho(patho)logies of all its major players.

This is a film with a brilliant vision and an impeccably measured distance. Pure, pure cinema.

Highly recommended.

ATAHAN A Feature Film ($5 to $10 million)
A Bank Robber, a Cop and a Reporter – not a good mix
A TRUE STORY

The day is shaping up as a pretty ordinary one.

Norm Lipson has a hang-over the size of Mount Everest. A junior reporter at work has once again got the front page. And he’s just been given an assignment that’s more worthy of a first year cadet.

Not so long ago, if there was a big story breaking, Norm would be sent to cover it. His reputation as a journo is that he’ll do whatever it takes to get the ‘scoop’ – and if that includes liberal amounts of sweet-talking (a nicer way of saying lying), then so be it.

Unfortunately, when you expose the shonky dealings of a businessman who just happens to be good mates with the Managing Editor, you quickly find yourself assigned to writing the fishing column.

His personal life is in a similar state of disrepair. The so-called ‘sweet-talking’ might get you the story, but it won’t stop your wife from packing her bags and walking out.

Norm’s just about ready to tell his Editor to get stuffed, when he hears the call on the police scanner.

An armed bank robber has taken hostages at a nearby city branch.

Norm is determined to get the story and he’ll do whatever it takes.

Which is something Hakki Atahan understands. He’s determined to be re-united with his young daughter. He wasn’t planning on taking hostages. He wasn’t planning on anyone getting hurt. But if that’s what it takes, then so be it.

In certain respects, both men have been trading on dishonesty. Today is the day their lies will catch up with them.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Atahan Trailer

Mark Piper Exclusive Course

Mark Piper presents a unique 9-week course, which is a rare opportunity to learn from award winning Producer and Director, Mark Piper and industry guests.

How directors interact with their actors is crucial to the success of any production. This course develops the skills needed for leading a creative team, motivating actors, and inspiring audiences. It also provides valuable guidance on how to cast and rehearse actors and how to facilitate great performances. The program covers the director’s roles and responsibilities, principles of effective storytelling, characterisation, planning, production skills and working with other creative roles such as designers, writers, choreographers and composers.

During the course you will assist to write, direct, and produce a 10 scene modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, using professional actors as well as directing a scene of your choice. The course will run each Saturday with preparation work during the week.

One on one mentoring with Mark Piper during the course  – 4 hours minimum per person.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Increase your passion for the industry
• Gain from a writers, directors, actors and editors perspective
• Receive realistic feedback and encouragement from a director’s perspective
• An understanding of the facets of the process of making a film or television production.

Guest Presenters

Seasoned industry professionals will present on aspects of casting, acting, voice, auditioning, camera, screenwriting and editing. Previous guest presenters have included  Anthony Young Ivana Chubbuck method of Acting; Dean Frances Actor / Filmmaker; Martin Sacks Director / Actor; Sam Atwell Actor / Director Home & Away; Andrea Moor Practical Aesthetics; Paul Goddard Actor / Director; Michael Futcher; Actor / Director; and Chris Haywood Actor/ Filmmaker.

What Will You Achieve?

Based on the feedback from participants from previous Mark Piper workshops you can expect to develop and boost your confidence as a Director or filmmaker, clarify your vision and become more determined and motivated to succeed in a highly competitive industry.

Complimentary DVD

Each participant will receive a free copy of Mark Piper’s Actors, Directors and Filmmakers handbook and a DVD of their work from the workshop.

Booking Details:

• Bookings $2500 inclusive
• Payment plan available
• Dates 2010
• Email markpiper@ozemail.com.au
• Web www.markpiper.com
• Strictly limited places available

Spanning over three  decades in the international Theatre, Film and Television industry, Mark Piper’s award-winning career has seen him on the initial teams Producing and Directing many international drama programs. Water Rats (Australia), Mercy Peak (NZ), Beastmaster (USA), Ponderosa (USA), Neighbours, Home and Away, All Saints, Blue Heelers, Always Greener, Halifax F.P (Australia), and Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten (Germany), are just some of the popular series that Mark has directed.

Mark Piper presents a unique 3 day intensive workshop, which is a rare opportunity to learn from award winning Producer and Director, Mark Piper, and three industry guests including a writer, an acting / voice coach and a director / editor.

Guest Presenters

Seasoned industry professionals will present on aspects of casting, acting, voice, auditioning, camera, screenwriting and editing.

Click here to read more about Mark Piper’s 3 Day Intensive for Aspiring Actors Workshop

Booking Details

Bookings $695 inclusive

• Email markpiper@ozemail.com.au
• Strictly limited places available

Testimonial

“I want to thank you again for your time and attention on the weekend. I am particularly grateful that, after I asked you to push me, that you did. I am at the stage with my career that I will not settle for anything less than my best (at the time) and it was extremely beneficial that you realised that. It was also great to have the opportunity to work with Sam so that I could experience different directing styles (although, as you said, your styles are quiet similar). The workshop has helped me to develop more confidence in film acting and your supportive, detailed and constructive approach was just what I needed.

Also, it was lovely to talk to someone who is (still) so passionate about their art and the future of the industry. There are lots of very jaded people I’ve met in recent years, I like that you are so proactive.”

“I just want to say THANK YOU for being you! I had a really good time at the workshop and felt that your relaxed, open and directive approach worked well with me. I also enjoyed getting to know the other inspiring actors and their views and experiences in the industry. I have come home totally pumped and spent most of my free time researching and applying for roles. I can now see my vision a lot clearer and I’m determined to continue this path until I have reached my desired outcome. So thank you again, and I hope that sometime in the future I will get the opportunity to work with you.”

Read more Testimonials from past participants.