Short Focus Films

Some kids just can’t wait for Christmas

Genre: Short Drama

Duration: 7 minutes
Shoot Gauge: HD
Finish Format: HDCAM
Location: Adelaide, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SYNOPSIS

Toot Toot, is a cheeky Christmas film about Stan, a six year-old boy who opens his present early, only to discover it doesn’t live up to the picture on the box. While his determined approach to fulfill his Christmas wish may get him into a whole lot of trouble, fear not; Stan understands the true spirit of Christmas!

KEY CREATIVES

SIMON WILLIAMS – DIRECTOR

Simon Williams has a passion for the visual elements of film. His debut in directing; Monkey Bar Mafia screened to a sold out audience in the largest cinema in South Australia. He has a natural talent for working with children, and is fast becoming known for his ability to draw outstanding performances out of them. He works closely with his Co-Director (Brendon Skinner) on a range of corporate videos, and aims to continue growing their business. His strong skills in leadership help him to realise his vision whilst collaborating with other skilled filmmakers.

BRENDON SKINNER - DIRECTOR

Brendon’s love for film began in his early years of high school. After making several short films, documentaries, and a feature film as part of his high school curriculum, he went on to study film making at Flinders University, in South Australia. Whilst studying at Uni, he directed a short children’s film See-Saw Sweethearts which has since been accepted into several film festivals around the world. He went on to co-direct an eighteen-minute short; Monkey Bar Mafia with Simon Williams. Monkey Bar Mafia received nine nominations at the South Australian Screen Awards, and is now travelling the festival circuit. It has been nominated for ‘Best Short Fiction’ at the ATOM awards, and will subsequently be screened on TV to an audience of 300,000. His passion is for making engaging, and uplifting films.

MEGAN HUITEMA – PRODUCER

Megan Huitema is an emerging Producer interested in telling fun and heartfelt stories. She completed her Bachelor of Creative Arts (Screen Production) at Flinders University in 2009, where she received the ‘Best Producer’ Award for the short film Pleased to Meat You: Live with Sandra Faye in 2009 and for The Human Prism in 2008. She received the ‘Emerging Producer’ Award in the 2010 South Australian Screen Awards for her work on three short films, with her short Monkey Bar Mafia being the highest nominated film this year. Megan has gone on to work on feature films such as “Oranges and Sunshine” and “Red Dog” in the production office, as well as continue to produce her own short films.

PROJECT HISTORY

Toot Toot was brought to Short Focus Films by Adelaide-based screenwriter, Seth Williams at the beginning of 2010. Together we developed the script over four months, before receiving the support of the South Australian Government through Carclew Youth Arts Board and the Media Resource Centre in June, covering a portion of the production costs.

We are not set out to make a profit with the film but need to cover its production and marketing costs. The money raised will be used to pay for things such as:

• Some production costs such as insurance and equipment hire
• Venue hire for the premiere
• Marketing materials – DVD dubs, posters etc.
• Film festival entry and postage fees

Toot Toot will premiere to 700 people on Monday 15^th November, 2010 at the Capri Theatre, Goodwood. It will then go onto screen at other events leading up to Christmas, and at worldwide film festivals thereafter.