Moved to Wordpress

We've decided to run this blog from WordPress from now on. Not that we have a complaint about Blogger. It's a subjective thing - better templates, open source, a bit more control over things. Go to http://kssvideo.wordpress.com/

Finance - the Odyssey

Making a documentary in a single location is not as expensive as making Australia ($150 million), but it does cost money: for insurance, videotapes, travel, printing, contractors, equipment hire, salaries and even the occasional lunch. Much of this project will be self-financed, however we’ve invited local businesses and government departments to sponsor the project and applied for production funding from the ABC, Screen Australia and ScreenACT. So far no enthusiastic replies. There is a growing file of responses such as: “... having reviewed your request we are unable to offer assistance at this time”, “... unfortunately we will not be able to take up your offer of sponsorship...” “This letter is to let you know that unfortunately you were not successful.” “There are currently no funds available... I wish you well in your endeavours and thank you for sharing your proposal.” We’ll keep at it, but I anticipate an expanding Rejection file rather than a blossoming bank balance.

Not to be deterred, we’ve decided to take the project to the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) Meetmarket in Adelaide, February 2009. This is competitive, so we need to make a 2 min “pitch” video and provide a 500 word description. Material for the pitch came from the official naming of the school by Julia Gillard and Jon Stanhope, a breakfast for local businesses at the West Belconnen Leagues Club and the last Open Day at Holt Primary School. (Holt and Higgins Primary Schools will close at the end of 2008). A couple of fortuitous inclusions - emphasising the “universal themes” - from Rupert Murdoch’s 2008 Boyer Lectures and Kevin Rudd’s Australia Day talk.