Opening Night

On Saturday night INTO THE SHADOWS opened the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. It was a good night and the film received a hearty applause. It was the first public Q and A I had to do for the film and it went really well, a lot of passionate responses and questions from the crowd. Mike Smith from Indie Film Nation was there and typed up a short piece on his thoughts on the film, and you will be able to hear an interview with Mike and myself on his podcast Indie Film Nation come this Monday.

Here is his review:

Into The Shadows (Directed by Andrew Scarano) was great choice for this year's opening night film for MUFF. The current state of the Australian film industry has been kicked around in the arts community and wider Australian mainstream media for a number of years. This documentary took a holistic approach to the subject and gave a historical reference to the industry. Then moved through the years of Australian filmmaking to modern times. The film then took a look at the films, the exhibitors, recent events and the future.

This is difficult matter to cover effectively in an hour and half but Scarano choices and style has pulled together a very enjoyable documentary. It's informative but without being too dry. I was disappointed to hear that the a number of the major Australian film festival like (MIFF and SFF) both had chosen to overlook this documentary which is well made and provided a balanced, fair critique of the Australian film industry.

Into The Shadows certainly doesn't leave it's audience in all gloom and doom but introduces the notion that exciting times are ahead and the gate keepers of traditional exhibition/distribution can be bypassed by thinking outside the square. The internet may still be another solution. As the music industry has learned they should embrace new technology and maybe the motion picture industry should take stock. Exciting times are approaching for those that they have the heart and determination.


Best.
Andrew.