Tuesday 3rd March | 630 – 8.00pm | $20 (Paid-Up Friends of Geelong Waterfront Film $15) | Eden Oak | Casual Networking from 6.00pm. 6.30pm sharp start.
The launch session of Geelong’s REEL Film Festival takes us behind the scenes with three innovative industry professionals. A Masterclass in Independent Vision, Precision Editing, and Global Directing.
The Shoestring Solution: How “Kenny” Rewrote the Rules of Independent Film
Discover how innovative storytelling and clever filmmaking techniques are redefining independent film
✨Presenter: Clayton Jacobson – Director of Kenny & Brothers’ News (starring Sarah Snook & Kim Gyngell)
Clayton is an award-winning Producer / Director / Writer / Actor whose experience spans across commercials, documentaries, online content, music videos and feature film. Clayton graduated from the prestigious Swinburne film and Tv school with a Bachelor Of Arts degree in 1984. He has been making his mark in the Australian film industry ever since. His debut comedy feature KENNY was a highly acclaimed box office hit winning the 2006.
Clayton was also CEO/Founder of Australia’s first end to end virtual production facility located in Melbourne’s north. Dreamscreen Australia has worked on many international and local high profile productions utilising state of the art virtual production techniques. THE FIRES, THE CLEARING, LOVE ME, SCRUBLANDS, WHITE FEVER, HIGH COUNTRY AND LA BREA SEASONS 1&2 are just some of the productions Dreamscreen has serviced.
Women’s Voices in Cinema & Global Ocean Stories
From Torquay to Los Angeles. Gain insights into international filmmaking and developing projects with impact
✨Presenter: Ella Bourne – Actress (LA Actor Awards: Best Voice) & Director of Awoke (California Film Festival: Best Environmental Film)
Ella Bourne is an Australian filmmaker whose work blends stunning visual storytelling with a deep commitment to the environment. Growing up along the rugged coastline of Victoria, Ella developed a lifelong connection to the ocean.
She spends her time between Torquay, Victoria and LA.
Ella’s debut film, Great Ocean Love, a poetic exploration of the Great Ocean Road, garnered acclaim for its immersive cinematography and thought-provoking narrative. It’s screened globally in France, the US, Australia, Italy and Chile.
Her dedication to environmental causes and the promotion of women in cinema has made her one to watch in both the Australian industry and the US where she resides.
Ella has three films in post-production with strong female leads and another two projects in development, a feature and kids TV. Both focusing on the ocean, environment and female stories.
From Cannes to Sundance: Inside the Edit Room with a World-Class Storyteller
High profile music video editing, visual storytelling, and life at the top of the music industry.
✨Presenter: Jarrah Gurrie – Editor for Madonna, Ricky Martin & Jennifer Lopez; and award-winning shorts screened at Sundance.
From Melbourne’s grungy film warehouses in the early 2000s to New York and the glittering stages of Las Vegas, Geelong based filmmaker Jarrah Gurrie has carved a unique path through the world of screen storytelling.
Jarrah is a motion picture editor and director whose career spans continents, formats, and genres. He has worked on projects that have premiered at global festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes, Outfest, and Palm Springs.
But the journey hasn’t been conventional.
Jarrah’s bold visual style has also lit up some of the world’s biggest concert stages – creating multiscreen visuals for the likes of Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin, and Cirque du Soleil’s MJ One residency in Vegas. His commercial and branded portfolio includes edits for Rare Beauty, Grown Alchemist, and Visit Victoria.
Key Takeaways!
- Own Your Vision: How to maintain control by making the work yourself.
Directing Truth: Practical techniques for working with actors to find authentic truth.
Sustainability: Building a sustainable creative path in Australia on any budget.
The Art of Editing: Breaking down the decision-making process for award-winning festival films.
Global Collaborations: Lessons from working with international pop icons and top-tier directors.
Storytelling with Impact: How to use editing to elevate underdog narratives and diverse voices.
Meet Your MC
With over 35 years’ experience in advertising and screen production Hugh has worked across some of the most successful communication strategies in Australia, Asia and the USA.
Hugh has owned or managed many of Australia’s largest agencies, produced 100’s of hours of TV’s and screen content and worked as EP on feature films and Documentaries.
Hugh remains actively involved in the screen production, working on numerous commercial and creative projects, and now lives on the Surf Coast.