Progress

It's been nearly a week since the launch of the Facebook page and we're creeping up on 1100 members. Amazing. Emails are still rolling in pretty regularly, offers of great old footage and help with the production.

I've been researching in the last few days, getting some tips on putting together the doc. So far so good, it was super helpful watching some good documentaries and taking notes on the structure of the things. There is definitely a lot of potentially cool ways of doing this, it's just going to be a big challenge deciding which one is going to suit the best. There are so many different styles and compositions, I'd never noticed so much until I really started analyzing them.

Been doing more camera research and that has put somewhat of a spanner in the works. I had my heart set on an EOS 5D mark 2 but all the advice I've been given is to steer more towards a dedicated broadcast video camera. The problem is they cost nearly double the amount. I've been in touch with Canon about trying to get a deal of some kind. Hopefully I can get some sort of discount on whatever I end up getting in exchange for a bit of cheeky Canon product placement and whatnot. That's maybe a bit of a long shot.

The outline is coming together, quite a few interviewees have been spoken to, I've started doing a bit of grant research. I'm still open to any suggestions people have, if you have any kinds of ideas, drop me a line! Seanjcallanan@gmail.com

Keep it unreal,

Sean

Launched!

So the facebook group has been successfully launched and support is rolling in for this project. After not even one day the group has nearly 400 members which far exceeded my expectations. People have been in contact about helping out with interviews, cameras, old footage and photos. This blog is going to be the place to keep track of the progression of this whole project. I plan on posting photos, ideas and whatever else on here so people can see what's happening.

So far the goal is to start shooting some footage in May at the 19th birthday celebrations. This gives me/us about 6 weeks to make preparations in terms of scripts, interview plans, cameras, sound recording etc. I plan on buying myself a video camera (it must be tough to be a film maker without one) and soon after, start conducting some interviews with relevant people and get a solid outline for the basis of the doc.

If anyone has advice on good quality, reasonably priced HD video cameras, drop me a line seanjcallanan@gmail.com or on my facebook page. The Canon EOS 550D seems like a good option as it gives the image quality of the DSLR lenses and shoots HD video. Open to suggestions!

Keep it unreal

Sean

The Idea....

My name is Sean Callanan and I've spent the last year of my life living in Toronto, Canada.

I grew up in Melbourne, have always played in bands and have always called The Arthouse my second home.

In January 2010 I caught wind of Melbourne's new liquor licensing laws and the subsequent closure of The Tote. I never spent much time at The Tote but definitely appreciate that many generations of bands have got their start there and adore the place as I adore The Arty. The thought of coming home to a Melbourne with no Tote was definitely a strange one. Around this time, many articles began to spring up in newspapers speaking of live music venue closures - including the closure of The Arthouse.

The closure of The Arthouse, to those who've spent much time at the place, comes as no surprise. Many of us know the basic story of the place - getting a 20 year lease, fighting to stay in the building etc - but seeing an actual closing date printed in one of the newspapers was definitely shocking. It made me, and I'm sure many others, realise that the countdown has begun and our beloved Arty will soon have to shut it's doors.

I know that saving The Arty is near impossible but what is much more achievable is to make the absolute most of this last year and document the whole thing so we can remember this occasion not as a death in the family (pun definitely intended) but a celebration of the place our little community loves so dearly.

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I was 16 when I started going to the Arthouse circa 2002, back when all ages shows were still rampant. Not til 2004 was I able to actually drink there and spend some quality time late at night. This leaves over 10 years of stories, photos, videos, yarns, anecdotes etc, that I've never heard about.

This documentary can definitely come together, but it will require the collaboration of the whole community! If you have some old photos and/or stories of The Arty, if you own a decent video camera, if you know how to make movies, if you know anything about documentary making, video editing, writing etc, please drop me a line.

Seanjcallanan@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Check the gig guide and go have a beer!

http://www.thearthouse.com/