By Margaret Maccoll
After inspiring students on the Fraser Coast last year to take on the challenge of documentary making Noosa filmmaker Greg Huglin and his wife Andrea plan to engage students across regional and remote areas of Queensland to tell their stories through film, thanks to a $250,000 Federal Government grant.
Through his Noosa Film Academy Greg will deliver film workshops at regional schools from Mackay to Stanthorpe.
The funding, announced this week by Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien was aimed at revitalising the arts and cultural sector.
Mr O’Brien said it was one of 115 projects to share in more than $60 million in federal funding under the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.
“The workshops will enable students to learn from Academy Award-winning cinematographer Greg Huglin, get first-hand experience using cameras and movie equipment, and present their own short film,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“The Noosa region has a strong and vibrant arts community, and this funding will provide critical support for the arts and entertainment sector to restart, re-imagine or create new cultural and creative activities.“
Students in the workshops begin the day viewing a movie montage and taking part in a production meeting then begin shooting scenes based on storyboards, Greg said.
In a team effort students become directors, producers, script writers, actors, sound technicians, clapperboard operators and data wranglers and the end of the workshop features a cinema style viewing of their finished work.
“Having the kids see their work in a venue makes you feel good,“ Greg said. “You see the sparkle in the kids’ eyes when they realise I can do this.“
Greg brings 50 years of filmmaking experience to the project.
After graduating with a filmmaking degree from San Francisco Art Institute and picking up university level teaching credentials from California Community Colleges, Greg headed to the catwalks of New York for a stint working as a fashion photographer.
Returning to his home base of Santa Barbara he devoted himself to shooting underwater footage and extreme big waves for films including Fantasea and Shark Park.
Shooting specialist footage for big Hollywood productions led to his involvement in the extraordinary film The Cove, that reveals the senseless slaughter of dolphins in Japan. The film won him a shared Oscar for best documentary of 2010.
In 2014 Greg and wife Andrea moved to Australia on a distinguished talent visa and have since seen it their duty to inspire young filmmakers through lectures at the University of the Sunshine Coast and the establishment of the Noosa Film Academy.
Over the years working as an
independent filmmaker Greg has filmed
more than 200 commercials for many high
profile organisations including Qantas,
National Geographic, Canon, Ford, Honda,
Chrysler, Roche and more recently Lipton
Tea, Volvo Penta and Illuma which were
shot in Queensland.
He has been involved in many films
including Surfing Dolphins, Shark Park,
Fantasea and In quest of the Sun which
gained a silver medal at Cannes Film
Festival.
The $75 million RISE program was announced as part of the Government’s $250 million Creative Economy Support Package to help restart activities such as festivals, concerts, tours and events once it is safe to do so.
