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Screen Australia has announced the five finalists who will compete in its pitching competition, Pitcher Perfect, to be held at VidCon in Melbourne this Friday.

Each creative team will send two representatives, who have five minutes to pitch their concept live on stage to a panel of judges. The winning team will receive $30,000 from Screen Australia to develop their concept.

The inaugural Pitcher Perfect judges are:

Sbs production supervisor Nicole Coventry Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason Viacom International Media Network Anz general manager and Svp Ben Richardson Warner Media director of communications Wadooah Wali

The session will be hosted by Susie Youssef and feature a performance by comedy duo Double Denim.

The finalists were selected from 93 applications, and will also receive intensive pitch training from Rosie Lourde and Jason Geary.

“Being able to do a killer ‘elevator pitch’ is an essential skill for any creative, and something we want our...

Scare Campaign has secured international sales, including a deal with Metrodome Distribution in the UK..

The film, directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres) and produced by Julie Ryan (Red Dog), has sold to the UK, Latin America, the Middle East, Turkey, Greece and Indonesia..

.We are thrilled that the fantastic traction Scare Campaign has gained through positive media reviews, sold out screenings and social media, has translated into an international appetite for the film., Ryan said..

The producer and directors have been doing roadshow screenings, taking the film around the country.

.The conventional wisdom is that younger Australians aren't interested in seeing local films on the big screen, but our experience with these event screenings would suggest otherwise", Colin Cairnes said..

"It has been heartening to see a predominantly young audience come to these events and clearly get a kick out of the film's many twists and turns...

Ahead of Scare Campaign's Australian limited theatrical release later this month, we have a trailer for the film to tide you over.

Press Release: February 3rd, 2016 – The full trailer has been released for Scare Campaign, the upcoming horror feature film from writers and directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres) and producer Julie Ryan (Red Dog), to coincide with the news that the film will be officially released in late March through an innovative event-style cinema release.

Scare Campaign, which recently scooped the awards at Melbourne’s Monster Fest, including ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Direction’, will initially host themed preview screenings in February and March. These include anti-Valentines showings at Dendy Newtown and Dendy Canberra, and then a special screening at Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, the abandoned facility that provided the ominous backdrop for the film. Following this, Scare Campaign will kick off a series of event screenings around Australia...

Mr iSelect played by Jason Geary

Acclaimed director Paul Middleditch is behind the camera for Ajf Partnership’s latest ad for price comparison site iSelect.

The ad, which breaks on Sunday, is something of a departure from the slapstick fare of iSelect ads in recent times, and sees Mr iSelect – played by Jason Geary – reveal how iSelect’s search engine works.

The company plans to roll out six new executions over the rest of the year, and introduced a range of new characters.

Credits:

Creative Director: Josh Stephens Art Director: George Freckleton & Nick Skelton-Kyd Copywriter: Brent Liebenberg & Jamie Rutherford Director: Paul Middleditch Producer: Peter Masterton Agency Producer: Roz Ruwhiu Post Production: The Editors Music: SongZu Sound Design: Sound Reservoir Account Director: Kate Silver Account Manager: Clare Burrow iSelect Marketing: Roger McBride, Nick Riley, Charlyn Dimasi, Lauren Brown

The post iSelect enters new advertising territory to reveal the ‘iSelectron’ appeared first on mUmBRELLA.

Roger McBride

Price comparison site iSelect has re-hired former marketing director Roger McBride, a marketer who first joined the company in 2004.

McBride replaces David May – who left to take the CEO job at Gold Coast Titans last month – from online finance firm CashDoctors.

Matt McCann, CEO of iSelect, said:“In 2011 Roger chose to leave the business to explore another opportunity, however we’re very glad he has made the decision to rejoin the team and continue the journey with iSelect he embarked upon eight years ago.”

“Roger’s exceptional marketing experience across a number of sectors and his intimate knowledge of our brand and corporate history, hold him in good stead to rapidly re-integrate with the team and build upon the fantastic work already underway within the marketing function at iSelect.”

The price comparison firm works with agencies including Melbourne-based Ajf Partnership, which is behind the popular ads featuring Mr iSelect,...

Price comparison site iSelect has launched a trio of new TV ads – one mocking advertisers ambushing the Olympics.

“Every four years it’s the same story. Companies that have nothing to do with the Games jumping on the bandwagon,” says Mr iSelect in the ad, played by actor Jason Geary.

The ad premiered during Nine’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympic Games opening ceremony.

The second of the batch, created by Ajf Partnership Melbourne and directed by Tony Rogers, suggests that it can be cheaper for Australians to have health insurance than not, in a school-yard style pitting of nerds versus cool kids.

The third spot sees Mr iSelect explain how iSelect finds the right health insurance to his apprentice Josh in the iSelect canteen by eating Josh’s chips.

The ads come just days after iSelect’s Cmo David May was announced as the CEO of national rugby league franchise the Gold Coast Titans.

Impro Melbourne's Artistic Director of six years, Patti Stiles, will be handing over the directorial reigns following this TheatresportsTM season. Long time ensemble member Karl McConnell will be stepping into the role at the start of next year, bringing with him a passion to continue to produce exciting, high quality improvisation.

Serving her theatre apprenticeship at Loose Moose Theatre Company in Canada, Patti crafted her skills under the playful, eagle eye of TheatresportsTM inventor Keith Johnstone. So started an enduring passion for improvisation, a passion which has shaped Impro Melbourne into an internationally recognised, dynamic and innovative theatre company.

Through her time as Ad, Patti has promoted a strong creative focus within Impro Melbourne, which has encouraged the company to push boundaries and challenge the work of improvisation.

Patti describes her time as Artistic Director with the company as an "exciting, creative experience" and sees a "bright future ahead" for Impro Melbourne.

This October Impro Melbourne has tricks of wit and comedy treats for all the boys and girls! Celebrate Hallowe'en with Impro Melbourne's Hallowe'en Classic - a long weekend of chilling tales and biting comedy. Prepare yourself this year for a particularly spooky Saturday night on October 31, when we will resurrect our critically acclaimed Sondheim Unscripted from the 2008 Fringe Festival.

Interstate and international guest performers join Impro Melbourne's players for this annual three day festival of spine-chilling and side-splitting performances.

Special guests this Hallowe'en include Glenn Hall (Wa), Dan Bain (Qld) and Robbie Ellis (Nz). Playing alongside Impro Melbourne players Lliam Amor, Rik Brown, Mike Bryant, Simon Dowling, Sean Fabri, Jason Geary, Jenny Lovell, Xavier Michelides, Karl McConnell, Rama Nicholas, Tim Redmond, Anna Renzenbrink, Jamie Robertson, Patti Stiles and Kevin Yank.

For the latest announcements of special guests visit www.impromelbourne.com.au

Hallowe'en Classic:

Venue: Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St...