A Shark Island Productions Film
Outreach Strategy
1. DVD Donation Program
Through a grant from The Caledonia Foundation funding has been committed to donate a DVD of In the Company of Actors to every Secondary School in Australia. This major Outreach and Education campaign will commence in the second half of 2007. To accompany the screening of the DVD, all teachers throughout Australia will have access to a comprehensive Study Guide and Teachers Kit for both the film of In the Company of Actors and for the play Hedda Gabler. It is hoped these will provide the framework for inspiring lessons and class discussion.
Message from The Caledonia Foundation:
The Caledonia Foundation has been a proud supporter of the Performing and Visual Arts in Australia, with one of its primary objectives to use the Arts to educate, inspire, create behavioral change and engage with young Australians. The DVD Donation Program is targeted directly at the grass roots - the next generation of emerging artists, theatre practitioners and audience members in this country. Through a co-ordinated Outreach and Education program accompanying the documentary, the DVD Donation Program has been designed to encourage a deeper understanding of theatre, and to inspire a new generation of young Australians to connect with this vital and important art form.
It aims to show students the work of different members of a theatre cast and crew, so that they may consider the possibility of entering the world of theatre as a career. Most of the cast in the film (actors, directors, production designers, stage managers etc), typically found their inspiration for drama at school. These formative years were vital in their personal journeys towards a career in the theatre industry. We hope that students throughout Australia will be empowered by the actors and production crew's passion, perseverance and commitment to the production, the art of theatre and the theatre industry.
The Caledonia Foundation is delighted to support an initiative which provides students with an opportunity to realise their own ability, and to embrace and utilize the Arts as a way of learning more about themselves, their own cultures and the cultures of others. We hope the DVD donation will provoke discussion about the power of theatre and the importance of telling stories (our stories and other peoples stories), and influence the way young Australians see the world. We hope this grant will provide a high return on social capital, and that it will support the sustainability and advancement of our own Arts and culture in Australia for the current and future generations.
2. Film Festival Screenings
The filmmakers aim to connect with a wide of audience throughout Australia and around the world at a variety of film festivals. See Festival Screenings for more details.
Melbourne International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
DOCNZ Documentary Film Festival
St Tropez - Rencontres Internationales du Cinema des Antipodes
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The London Australian Film Festival 2008
Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films
3. Community Screenings
The filmmakers intend to conduct a variety of screenings in Sydney and around Australia to promote theatre and the Arts.
Parliament House screening, Canberra 2007 - 15 August 2007
On the 15 August, 2007, the Minister for the Arts hosted a screening of In the Company of Actors at Parliament House, Canberra, for Ministers, Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and their staff. Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Andrew Upton and Mary Macrae (all of whom appear in the film) were present together with Producer/Director Ian Darling. Following the film screening Cate Blanchett spoke to the audience about the documentary, its educational objectives and the importance of maintaining and encouraging a vibrant theatre industry in Australia.
Big Screen 2007 Touring Australian Films - July 2007
As part of the Australian Film Commission’s Big Screen 2007, In the Company of Actors screened in Gunnedah, NSW in July 2007.
G’DAY USA Australia Week - 23 January 2008
BAMcinematek, Brooklyn Academy of Music
4. Other
Watch this space for updates on the Outreach and Education strategy for In the Company of Actors. We would be delighted to hear from you with suggestions. See Contact us page.
