A happy story in film

Kim Shaw

Wentworth Courier, 31st Jan, 2007.

Throw on your penguin suit and wad­dle along to Popcorn Taxi’s first event of the year; a forum with Mr Happy Feet himself, George Miller.

For eight years the crew at Popcorn Taxi has been showing films and in­viting their makers to talk about their work before a captive audience.

After a move from the Valhalla Cinema in Glebe to Bondi Junction Greater Union, the crew are excited about their latest event.

At the forum, Mr Miller, who has been nominated for three Academy Awards, will focus on the importance of story in film.

In his view, story was the key element in his films, which include Mad Max, The Witches of Eastwick, Lorenzo’s Oil and Babe: Pig in the City.

Mr Miller was the creative pro­ducer behind Dead Calm, The Year My Voice Broke, Babe and landmark televi­sion programs such as The Dismissal, Bodyline and Bangkok Hilton.

He is also credited with having discovered Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman.
Popcorn Taxi events now run in Sydney and Melbourne.

General manager Natasha Henry said the aim of Popcorn Taxi was to contribute to a richer film culture in Australia by entertaining and edu­cating audiences in a non-exclusive screening environment. “All our audi­ences share a common thirst for film knowledge and a love of film and film-making,” Ms Henry said. Popcorn Taxi won the Byron Kennedy Award at the 2000 Australian Film Industry Awards for excellence and innovation in the Australian film industry.

George Miller’s talk, hosted by David Stratton, was held at Bondi Junction Greater Union on January 31, from 7.30 pm. Tickets were $20 for adults, $17
for concessions.

Advertisment for the Popcorn Taxi event.

PopcornTaxi

Watch the films. Meet their makers.

Wednesday 31 January, 7:30pm

GEORGE MILLER IN CONVERSATION

With ABC’s At The Movies DAVID STRATTON’

‘THE IMPORTANCE OF STORY & THE ‘HAPPY FEET’ JOURNEY’

Popcorn Taxi is proud to present our first event for 2007 with legendary Australian filmmaker GEORGE MILLER who will join us on stage to discuss his career and the four-year journey he undertook to make HAPPY FEET a reality. This exclusive discussion will be hosted by film critic DAVID STRATTON.

Nominated for three academy awards, George Miller is one of the most respected and awarded filmmakers in Australia. During this special event, he will focus on story, story, story; in his view the most important element in all his successes with the three MAD MAX films, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, LORENZOS OIL and BABE: PIG IN THE CITY.

Miller is also renowned as the creative producer behind DEAD CALM, THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE, BABE and landmark television programs such as THE DISMISSAL, BODYLINE and BANGKOK HILTON. He is also credited with discovering’ MEL GIBSON and NICOLE KIDMAN. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear George Miller speak!

POPCORN TAXI is made possible through the in-kind and financial support of the THE AUSTRALIAN FILM COMMISSION, NEW SOUTH WALES FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE and FOX STUDIOS AUSTRALIA.

This George Miller program is proudly sponsored by ATLAB. The soundtrack for HAPPY FEET was mixed in Atlabs extensively upgraded mixing suite in Lane Cove, taking over a year from the first premixes to the final track. Atlab also transferred the animated images to laser digital negatives and interpositives as masters for the world-wide release print orders.

Greater Union Cinemas
Level 6.
500 Oxford Street.
Westfield

Tickets: $20 adult I $17 concession
Time: 7:30 pm
Date: Wednesday. January 31st
How: tickets available via our website

To be the first to know about Popcorn Taxi events join our email list
www.popcorntaxi.com.au

Rating: TBC