MEDIA: Pitch Perfect

by Catherine Brown | September 09, 2011 15:04 | Edited September 09, 2011 15:06 For the original source, click here 

FILMINK went along to watch a selection of emerging talent battle their nerves and pitch their ideas at the NSW final of The National Pitch 2011.

"I always thought with executives and funding bodies that it was about us versus them," stated the evening's winner, Producer/Director Maria Tran, just moments after her victory was announced. "Tonight, however, after hearing the judges and the feedback, my perception of what I felt the industry was is actually changing."

The National Pitch 2011 requires candidates to not only pitch their ideas, but also themselves, as filmmakers to a panel of industry professionals in the hope of representing Australia at the MPA CICE [Motion Picture Association China International Copyright Expo] Film Workshop in Beijing later this year.

In addition to being enabled to attend a variety of programs led by industry experts, the workshop will also provide the winner with the opportunity to establish invaluable professional connections.

"Because it's the coming together of filmmakers from the whole Asia Pacific region, it will be a great opportunity for networking with people who are from our part of the world," says Metro Screen's Projects and Production Coordinator, Craig Boreham, in relation to the grand prize.

Held at Metro Screen's headquarters in Paddington on September 8, the pitches on the night were linked by a common desire to develop cross cultural ties and connections with Asia; each candidate presenting several projects which they thought would be ideally suited to Chinese-Australian co-productions.

After deeming Tran winner of the NSW heat, the judging panel acknowledged that whilst the decision was incredibly difficult given the high standard of pitches, Tran's commitment and passion to promoting cultural diversity on the screen could not be ignored.

"We were really excited about her original voice," said Judge Lisa Gray, Head of Content for interactive media production company The Feds. "Storytelling that needs to be told is not in our market at the moment. We see a lot of potential in Maria's opportunities to do these kinds of productions with Asia," she concluded.

Fellow judge Sally Regan, a Development and Production Executive with Screen Australia, offered similar sentiments when explaining the panel's decision. "It's also about diversity and Maria's view on work is about developing cultural grass roots with people who don't see themselves on TV very often."

During her pitch, Tran stated that her commitment to bridging the cultural divide on screen was fostered through her own Asian-Australian "hybrid" upbringing. "I feel excited that the concept of the ‘whole community' is really starting to catch on," she said.

"Maria's passion about taking her community with her on the journey that she is on was one of the things that we were really drawn to," explained Metro Screen's Productions and Project Manager, David Opitz.

Film Depot Producer, Louise Smith, also made it known that the panel were won over by Tran's "infectious" presentation style. "We genuinely got a sense of who Maria was as a person and as a filmmaker and her approach to life," she stated.

Tran will now compete against the other five state champions at The National Pitch Finals hosted by Metro Screen on October 8 at The Chauvel Cinema, Paddington. For more information, go here.

Picture caption (L-R): Lisa Gray, Louise Smith, winner Maria Tran, David Opitz, Sally Regan