TVI actors studio’s New York full time program graduate, Australian based Shailla Quadra, is an actress, writer, producer, director and everything in between!

The actress/filmmaker who lives in Sydney has been accepted to screen her short film Breathing at the A Night Of Horror International Film Fetsival, March 29 – April 3, 2009.

Quadro has worked on numerous film projects in all departments, from editing and marketing to casting and music composition.

Be sure to check out her websites at: www.shailla.com &
www.meuamorfilms.com

AAP – Newcastle filmmaker Genevieve Clay has won Tropfest 2009 with her short film Be My Brother.

The 20-year-old took out the top prize at the 17th annual Tropfest for her story about a young man with Down Syndrome.

…”It’s my lead actor’s film, It came from Gerard O’Dwyer,”
she said.

O’Dwyer picked up the best male actor award on the night.

…Clay said she discovered O’Dwyer while she was making a documentary for Down Syndrome NSW.

“He just burst out with a Shakespeare soliloquy on the first day,” she said.

…”I thought what an incredible young man, I have got to get this guy on film.”

…Clay said Be My Brother took almost a year to make and she was quietly confident about its chances of winning.

Clay won a prize package worth $100,000, including a trip to LA to meet with film executives, and $5,000 cash.

…Second prize went to director Abe Forsythe for Being Carl Williams, while Tim Dean came third for his film Fences…SBS reports.

Australian Actor Tom Pelik, the co-creator of ‘Chocolate Face’, written and directed by Trent Atkinson has just won a place in the 2009 Short + Sweet Gala Final, playing at the Seymore Centre, 20th and 21st of Febraury.

As part of the finale Pelik is shooting a documentary for broadcast on Movie Extra giving insight into the intensely crazy process that is Short and Sweet.

Pelik first caught our eye when he was cast as boyfriend Nick in the 2007 Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback starring Bryan Brown and Densie Roberts.

The busy actor has also been cast in the much anticipated Australian War movie ‘Line in the Sand‘, due for release next year and has just secured the lead role opposite well known (Poland born) Australian actress Gosia Dobrowolska in the short film production, ‘Defect’.

Recently auditioning for the role of Apollo in the remake of the 80’s Hollywood’s ‘Clash of the Titans‘, Pelik waits with baited breath after being quite pleased with his audition. Truly rare for an actor to say, but it is this confidence that will see him do well in this industry.

After meeting Pelik at a Business of Acting Seminar in Sydney and seeing him perform for US Casting Directors through TVI Actors Studio, I must say he has the strength, intensity and talent, in addition to his hard working, pro-active approach to sustain a solid acting career!

To book tickets for ‘Chocolate Face’ please visit the website at: secure.seymourboxoffice.com.au