I spent a year as the Public Programs Producer at ACMI while the usual person took a year off. I've worked with the Public Programs and Education teams at ACMI periodically for many years and it was interesting to step into a different role in the Public Programs Team for a while.
A big part of the year was making public programs to go with blockbuster DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition. This included opening week talks with DreamWorks CEO and extraordinary media mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, plus a totally lovely and inspiring team of DreamWorks Animation lead creatives, as well some very bustling Family Days. A highlight was handling a program called the Designing Dreams studio that offered local emerging and mid career animators mentoring from senior DreamWorks creatives.
Outside of the DreamWorks program, I got to produce a very diverse range of talks, workshops and special events and work with some really interesting people. Some highlights:
A Next Wave Festival coproduction Hello There, We've Been Waiting for You created by the talented Louris van de Geer and Samara Hersch. A theatre piece staged within the 'confines of a television studio' it made interesting use of the ACMI studio's live video and vision mixing capabilities. Here's a peek:
Hello There, We've Been Waiting For You from Louris van de Geer on Vimeo.
A big part of the year was making public programs to go with blockbuster DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition. This included opening week talks with DreamWorks CEO and extraordinary media mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, plus a totally lovely and inspiring team of DreamWorks Animation lead creatives, as well some very bustling Family Days. A highlight was handling a program called the Designing Dreams studio that offered local emerging and mid career animators mentoring from senior DreamWorks creatives.
Outside of the DreamWorks program, I got to produce a very diverse range of talks, workshops and special events and work with some really interesting people. Some highlights:
A Next Wave Festival coproduction Hello There, We've Been Waiting for You created by the talented Louris van de Geer and Samara Hersch. A theatre piece staged within the 'confines of a television studio' it made interesting use of the ACMI studio's live video and vision mixing capabilities. Here's a peek:
Hello There, We've Been Waiting For You from Louris van de Geer on Vimeo.
A Digital Storytelling project with Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA), focused on providing insight into people's experience of mental illness in migrant and refugee communities, though facilitating participants' creation of autobiographical videos. Over the years I've worked with a great array of storytellers and community groups in ACMI's Digital Storytelling program as a workshop facilitator - it was interesting to be involved in a project from the different perspective of Program Producer. For MHiMA this project was an advocacy tool, with the participants' stories featured in various news pieces, including SBS and the Leader.
Working with the fabulous arts and social change company Big hART on a retrospective film program and masterclass as part of Melbourne Festival.
The China Up Close Summer Season, alongside ACMI's major exhibition of video artist Yang Fudong. My personal highlight in this program was working with Slow Art Collective who created a beautiful, interactive installation in the ACMI lightwell.
Working with legendary animator Anthony Lucas during the early stages of his hybrid puppet/ animation theatre production A Moon Safari
Being involved in early stages of programming for the upcoming David Bowie is exhibition, which kicks off in July. Can't wait to see it.
Working with the fabulous arts and social change company Big hART on a retrospective film program and masterclass as part of Melbourne Festival.
Working with legendary animator Anthony Lucas during the early stages of his hybrid puppet/ animation theatre production A Moon Safari
Being involved in early stages of programming for the upcoming David Bowie is exhibition, which kicks off in July. Can't wait to see it.
