Movie Extra TV Show
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
The TV series based on the Short+Sweet Festival (10 × 30min episodes)
As part of the Sydney Short+Sweet Gala Final Movie Extra do a TV show.
The TV show has done three previous Gala Finals and has found a home on Foxtel’s Movie Network Channel. The TV show will consist of 10×30mins episodes and will start broadcasting later in the year (generally around June/July TBC).
Being part of the TV shows means your work will reach a national (and potentially an international) audience and viewers get the very unique opportunity to see what life behind the stage is really like. Warts and all.
You can view a small trailer when you click here
Synopsis of the TV show
Revealing a unique insight into the closed world of the theatre, To Be or Not To Be follows the journeys of ten acting troupes as they devote their time, sweat, tears and passion to compete and battle it out on the stage floorboards in the world’s biggest little play festival.
Who?
Between 6th Feb – 13th March a main crew consisting of a shooter/director and a production co ordinator will shoot behind the scenes. Randall Wood is the director and is a very experienced documentary filmmaker. Kate Ellovee will coordinate shooting logistics. Both Randall and Kate worked on the TV show last year.
The TV show series producer is Kylie Washington. She has produced all three of the previous Short+Sweet TV shows. Her contact details are: kylie@activetv.com.au
During the last week there will be some extra crews on board as all finalists have been annoucned.
Production Timelime
What is required of all TV participants (all actors and directors)
Between 6th Feb – 13th March
Randall and Kate will be in touch with you all to organise suitable shooting times to catch up with the rehearsal process and do some interviews with each actor and director at home/work/rehearsal space about life in independent theatre.
‘Countdown is on’ Shoot: Sat 6th March – 1 hr. NIDA.
All actors and directors of each finalist play will need to be available for aprox 1hr for an introduction shoot to your play. This will be a discussion held by Mark Morrissey. It’s a chance for us to have you all together and film what stage the play is at and what will form the countdown week to the Gala night.
Gala Final weekend at NIDA Parade Theatre: Friday March 12th, Parade Theater, NIDA
NO filming of the plays, just backstage filming. On this night judges will view and decide on their winning plays.
Saturday March 13th Parade Theater, NIDA : Filming from noon – 6.30pm
TV shoot of all finalists plays, cameras will also shoot during the Saturday night performance. There will be 5 cameras front of house. And 2 cameras back of house.
During the TV afternoon shoot, each troupe (actors and directors) will go from the stage (directors wait in the wings) to walk together to the panelists’ shoot. Each troupe will need to allow a couple of hours on this day. Order of shoot will most likely follow Gala Final order.
Prizes
The To Be Or Not To Be TV show panelists are the only judges that will decide the Gala Final awards.
There will be five awards/prizes:
Best Overall Production,
Best Director,
Best Female Actor,
Best Male Actor,
Best Writer.