Welcome to the latest newsletter from www.rebeccaswan.com
Welcome to the January 2007 newsletter from http://www.rebeccaswan.com/
Here's the latest news...
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| Poster for the New
Zealand screenings of "Black and White". |
BLACK AND WHITE
A short documentary directed
by Kirsty MacDonald.
"Black and White", continues to make a
splash around the world. It's about Mani Bruce Mitchell (intersex
activist) and my collaboration with herm for my book, "Assume
Nothing".
Awards
"Black and White" won the audience
award at The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival,
(agliff) in Texas.
www.smileyfilmdistribution.com/news
"Black and White" also won best New Zealand Short documentary in
The International Documentary Film Festival, New Zealand.
Events
Mani Bruce Mitchell flew from New
Zealand to Austin, lugging a heavy box of "Assume Nothing" books
with herm. As a guest of the festival, Mani spoke about "Black and
White" and "Assume Nothing" at the screening and at a successful
book event hosted by the local bookshop "Bookwoman". Mani worked
herm special magic creating a buzz on the ground, moving and
inspiring people who came to both events.
We are hoping there will be a similar event at Hares and Hyenas
bookshop in Melbourne in conjunction with the Melbourne Queer Film
Festival, where "Black and White" screens in March.
New screenings around the world
2007
Melbourne: Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Proposed
date, Sat March 24, 2pm at ACMI Cinemas, check website to confirm
details closer to the time.
http://www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au/
Zurich, Switzerland: Pink Apple - Schwullesbisches Filmfestival.
10th Annual.
http://www.pinkapple.ch/
Canada: Reelout Festival in Kingston, is on now January
25th-February 4th
http://www.reelout.com/festivals/2007festival/ro_programmes.html
Distribution
Women who make movies, has just
launched "Black and White" as one of their titles. It's the largest
distribution company to distribute movies by women in North America
and will promote "Black and White" for broadcast, festivals and
education.
http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/new_releases.shtml
I'm hoping to have a book distributor confirmed for "Assume
Nothing" in North America for when the USA screenings of "Black and
White" begin.
MORE MOVIE MAKING...
Kirsty MacDonald has
completed "Blur" a 30 minute documentary about gender identity.
However, "Blur" won't be available for public release. Kirsty will
use the footage shot for "Blur" in a feature length documentary
called "Assume Nothing" due to be finished at the end of 2007.
Last year Kirsty filmed Jack Byrne, who created a poignant
performance piece called "On Reflection" for the launch of "Assume
Nothing" in New Zealand and Australia. Jack created a short piece
for camera called "Bound". It was a different way of working for
Jack, as he's used to live performance. He and I collaborated on
creating images together that were used as a spring board for
"Bound". It was a great opportunity for me to work playfully with
Jack knowing that he would add new layers from the images with both
his writing and performance skills. The resulting work is both
powerful and tender.
 Jack performing "Bound", photograph by
Rebecca Swan
Jack being filmed by Christopher
Prior performing "Bound".
Kirsty also managed to film Megan, who features numerous times in
"Assume Nothing", whilst she was in New Zealand on a fleeting visit
from New York. Kirsty filmed Megan's performance, "In Between", that
she created for the launch of "Assume Nothing". It was very special
for me to have "In Between" filmed beautifully, as it's a difficult
performance to capture on film. The dvd that is used in the piece,
was created by my twin brother Richard Swan who collaborated with
Megan in Sydney.
Megan at the filming of "In
Between", photograph by Rebecca Swan.
Megan performing "In Between",
photograph by Rebecca Swan.
For the new film Kirsty also explores alternative gender identity
and creativity with Ema Lyon, who is on the cover of "Assume
Nothing". Kirsty filmed Ema at Te Papa where she and Suzanne Tamaki
of Pacific sisters re-presented the "21st Sentry Cyber Sista", an
amazing Pacific Sisters costume purchased by Te Papa several years
ago. At that time, the Sentry had been presented by Ema and Pacific
Sisters in a ceremony at the Te Papa Marae. The "21st Sentry Cyber
Sista" is an androgynous warrior/protector costume that challenges
gender norms, paving the way for future generations.
Ema Lyon as the "21st Sentry Cyber
Sista".
Kirsty MacDonald, Suzanne Tamaki, Ema Lyon and
Christopher Pryor filming at Te Papa.
I'm looking at doing an event/ exhibition in New Zealand to
coincide with the release of Kirsty MacDonald's film about my book,
"Assume Nothing". Watch this space...
ONE
I'm still involved in the production of
ONE. There are a number of opportunities for ONE in New Zealand and
Australia, but no details available at this stage. I'll keep you
posted.
To view a selection of images from ONE go to;
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/
For more details about ONE go to;
http://www.bornkicking.com/x/rebeccaswan/templates/september/template.html
COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Last year I hooked up
with Karen Abplanalp, who is a fabulous photographer, and we
launched a commercial photography business called DOUBLESCOOP. We
have been getting some great commissions and we're loving it. Let us
know if you need any work doing. Check out our website, http://www.doublescoop.co.nz/
Newsletters
If you would like to read the
earlier newsletters, you can on:
http://www.bornkicking.com/x/rebeccaswan/templates/default/template.html
http://www.bornkicking.com/x/rebeccaswan/templates/september/template.html
http://www.bornkicking.com/x/rebeccaswan/templates/july06/template.html
If you would like to register a friend for the newsletter go
to:
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/contact.php
So that's the latest news for now, thanks for your
interest.
I'll write to you again in June, apologies that this
one is out late.
Rebecca Swan
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