The idea came from the duo’s graduate short film from 2011, which caught the eye of Spanish director and horror specialist Alberto Sciamma, who at the time was leading a genre strand at the school as part of an artist-in-residence initiative.
Impressed with its potential to make a good feature, Alberto pitched it to Michael Cowan at Stealth Media Group in the UK who agreed, along with Professor Herman Van Eyken, head of the Griffith Film School, and Cathy Rodda of Visionquest who was approached to take on the role of producer.
According to ProfessorVan Eyken, it’s an exciting venture and an example of the opportunities being pursued to develop emerging filmmakers and create career pathways on home soil.
“Student interns are set to work alongside seasoned professionals throughout this shoot to learn their craft, earn a professional feature film credit and ultimately gain a leg up into the industry,” he says.
A new take on the old Western
Joshua and Michael then developed the script for their debut feature film while undertaking their Masters at the Griffith Film School and describe the resulting narrative as a “sexy, fun take on the Western genre”.
“The film is about a bounty hunter taking his latest captives, a rag-tag group of bank robbers across the country, when all of a sudden a zombie outbreak happens so the gang must work together if they’re ever going to have a chance of surviving,” Michael says.
“But at its heart, it’s a story about love and making the choices we make and facing the consequences.”
“It’s a wild ride!” Joshua adds.
“It’s a rollercoaster with strong characters, lots of gore and lots of action,” he says.
Producer Cathy Rodda, herself a Griffith graduate, concurs.
“What we have now is a great, fun script, a truly creative vision and a fantastic team that will see us punch well above the weight of our near $2 million budget,” she says.
Along with Griffith Film School and Visionquest, additional financiers include Screen Queensland, the UK’s GSP Distribution and Premiere Picture, with Michael Cowan’s Phoenix Worldwide Entertainment launching international sales at the American Film Market.
Backlot Studios will handle theatrical distribution in Australia and local audiences can expect to see the film in late 2015.
Shooting will take place on location in Brookfield, Wivenhoe and in the studio at Griffith Film School, South Bank.
Griffith University’s Asia Institute will host the second annual Australia-Indonesia Dialogue in Jakarta today(November 25) where experts will address a broad agenda covering climate change, urban development, and the changing economic and political relationship between the two countries under Indonesia’s new president, Joko Widodo.
Dialogue convenor, Professor Andrew O’Neil, says enhancing the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship is central to promoting stability in our region.
“New leadership in both countries presents an excellent chance to bolster the relationship across political, economic and strategic spheres,”Professor O’Neil said.
“It’s important to follow up opportunities that are presented to deepen relationships in the government and non-government areas.”
The Dialogue will be held in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). Leading academics in this area will be joined by government and industry representatives for the workshop.
The aim of the November workshop is to promote collaborative research between academics from both institutions in an effort to capture Australian and Indonesian perspectives on key topics such as globalisation, political science, economics and environmental and urban planning.
“The election of President Widodo has certainly changed the political landscape.” Professor O’Neil (left) said.
“The Dialogue demonstrates why cross institutional collaboration is so valuable. By exploring issues from both perspectives it leads to better policy recommendations for both governments and a better understanding of the ideas and values that shape our region.”
This year’s agenda will also focus on the Challenges of Contemporary Urbanisation, and regional perspectives on Climate Change Management.
Both Australia and Indonesia face the challenge of a growing urban populous, and the conference hopes to share learnings on how proactive policy changes can result in better solutions for both countries.
An outcomes paper will be developed from the forum to capture key points of discussions, as well as workshop papers submitted for publication in a special journal issue.
Research that provides a new understanding of how bacterial toxins target human cells is set to have major implications for the development of novel drugs and treatment strategies.
Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are toxins produced by major bacterial pathogens, most notably Streptococcus pneumoniae and group A streptococci, which collectively kill millions of people each year.
The toxins were thought to work by interacting with cholesterol in target cell membranes, forming pores that bring about cell death.
Published today in the prestigious journalProceedings of the National Academyof Sciences, the research is an international collaboration between Professor Michael Jennings from Griffith University and Professor James Paton, University of Adelaide in Australia, and collaborators at the University of Queensland and Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine.
The team has, for the first time, shown that these toxins require binding to specific glycans (sugar structures) on the cell surface for efficient targeting of the host.
This explains why some cell types are more susceptible to the toxins than others, and also provides opportunities to develop novel drugs capable of blocking toxin-glycan interactions, thereby protecting host cells from toxin-mediateddamage.
Professor Michael Jennings, Deputy Director of the Institute for Glycomics, says these findings open up a completely novel approach to developing drugs which may block toxin action.
“Understanding how toxins target particular cells in the human body is the first step in understanding their mechanism of action and how to block them from causing cell death.”
Professor James Paton, Director of the University of Adelaide’s Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, says: “interactions between CDCs and glycan receptors on immune cells also explains why these toxins have additional effects on host responses to infection, which enable the pathogenic bacteria to ‘fly under the radar’ of host immune defences.”
How robots can improve care for people in aged care isthe focus this week (Tues 25 Nov) at Griffith University’s Social Robotics and Assistive Technology Laboratory opening.
To be held at the Nathan campus on Tuesday 25 November, the lab opening is inviting the public as well as health care professionals, students and researchers to get up close and personal with a whole host of robots currently being trialled in aged, community and acute care facilities in Australia and overseas.
Leading the event will be Professor Wendy Moyle from Griffith Health Institute’sCentre for Health Practice Innovation, and who has been widely publicised for hersuccessful research into how robots can help people with dementia and their carers.
The Social and Assistive Technology Laboratory at Griffith is not only an Australian first, it is visionary in its aims. It will offer a place where the community can engage with the academic community while learning about older people, dementia and the use of technology and robotics.
“It will be a place for individuals and care providers to come for expert advice, as well as to offer expert advice, to try out technologies, and to work together on new proposals and uses for existing technologies,” says Professor Moyle.
The advancement of knowledge
“It will also be a place of research and development, where older people, individuals with dementia and carers can assist the advancement of knowledge through involvement in research. In addition, the student community will also be able to join in with these older people and the dementia community to learn from each other about individual needs and opportunities.”
Within 10 years, there is set to be one billion older people worldwide. Australia contributes to this growth where the fastest growing age group are people aged 65 and over who currently constitute 14.4 per cent of the Australian population.
“Professor Moyle and her team are currently conducting one of the largest companion robotic studies and it has received enormous interest from the international community,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor.
“To date their research has demonstrated that persons with dementia, as well as staff and family can greatly benefit from the incorporation of social robots into care. Rather than reducing the human element of care, their research demonstrates that social robots are increasing human interaction.”
“The team’s Telepresence robots have enabled families and people living with dementia to connect together no matter where individuals are in the world.”
WHEN: Tuesday 25 November 11-12pm.
WHERE: Griffith Lecture Theatre (N48, 0.14), Nathan Campus, GriffithUniversity. RSVP: Register your name and contact details to attendto [email protected] or [email protected], 07 3735 7236.
Demonstrations of the robots and a tour of the laboratory will take place.
Griffith Language students have rankedin three divisions at the 45th Japanese Language Speech Contest run by the Japan Foundation in Sydney recently.
Second Year student Callum Douglas came thirdin the Open Beginner division, third year student Emma Gallagher took out third placein the Open Division, and first year student Albert Davis scoredthirdin the Background Speaker division.
All three students won at the State level at the 2014 Queensland Japanese Speech Contest, held at the Griffith Gold Coast Campus in August, before progressing to the national finals to compete against other State and Territory winners. Competitors from New Zealand also attended theNational event.
Trophies and prize money for the Queensland contest were generously donated by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Brisbane Inc.
The Japanese Language Speech Contest is held annually to encourage learners studying Japanese to showcase their language skills, with Callum, Emma and Albert all to be highly commended on their performance.
Collaborators: Dr Ziyang Huo, QLD Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University and Professor Yawen Zhang, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University
Boosted by rapid economic development and a growing world population, global energy demand is expected to double by 2050 and to triple by 2100 and is one of the most pressing challenges facing society today. Professor Yawen Zhang and Dr Ziyang Huo are looking to find ways to help satisfy growing energy demand by developing a new catalyst to convert carbon dioxide into useful liquid fuels through hydrogenation and creating a new greener energy source.
During the project the researchers conducted systemic experiments on carbon conversion and found that when cobalt nanoparticles were deposited on certain oxide surface, it shows obvious product selectivity. More long chain alkanes could be obtained by using this metal and metal oxides interface. This finding could create a new strategy to harvest energy which will be further researched in Dr Huo’s Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) that he was awarded late last year.
His DECRA project will also look at ways to return carbon dioxide (CO2) to a useful state. By utilising sunlight as a promising and green energy input, the conversion of CO2 into liquid fuel would positively impact the global carbon balance. This project aims to prepare abundant, non-toxic and sufficiently active photoelectrodes with one dimensional nanostructure, then develop appropriate and robust photoelectrochemical devices to convert CO2 into liquid fuels. This project aims to help reduce the atmospheric CO2 concentrations and explore a new energy source.
More than 1200 Year 6 students are planning to converge on Griffith University’s Logan Campus this week for the Launch into Life at Logan careers event.
The students from 12 Logan and 6 Inala primary schools, as well as registered parents and supervising staff, will take part in three days of activities designed to help the students consider a career, and learn about life at university.
Head of Logan Campus, Professor Lesley Chenoweth, said it is never too soon for children to start thinking about these important life choices.
“For many young students, especially those who come from families where no onehas been to university before, it is the first time they realise some of the careeropportunities they have available to them,” Professor Chenoweth said.
“It is our delight and privilege to be able to introduce these children to a world of learning and career options.”
The Launch into Life at Logan careers event is being held on Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 November from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Griffith students will lead small groups of the visiting children through their day’s program, and separate sessions will also be provided for participating parents/caregivers.
Launch into Life at Logan is a Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) initiative at Griffith University.
One of Australia’s foremost historians Professor Ian McCalman AO will present the 2014 Communication4Conservation public lecture at Griffith University’s South Bank campus on Friday, November 28.
In ‘Saving the Great Barrier Reef’, Professor McCalman, who won this year’s Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Australia Prize for his book The Reef: A Passionate History, will discuss the human history of the Great Barrier Reef. The book is the first social, cultural and environmental history of the Great Barrier Reef, receiving both national and international acclaim.
In particular, he will discuss recent community action in Mission Beach that has drawn on his historical accounts of the reef, to better communicate the science and politics of reef conservation.
Amongst the increasingly predictable debates surrounding the Great Barrier Reef, Professor McCalman’s work is refreshing, telling stories that place the powers of conservation in the hands of local people and communities.
Professor McCalman is a Research Professor at the University of Sydney and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
He has been a historical consultant and narrator for a number of BBC, ABC and other TV and film documentaries.
The Communication4Conservation is an annual lecture that showcases Humanities and Social Science contributions to environmental issues.
An up-and-coming generation of school-leavers is increasingly aware of the potential dangers of binge-drinking at events like Schoolies.
A Griffith University research project involving more than 2200 Year 10 students has raised the alert at 14 Catholic high schools in Queensland during the past 12 months, while also measuring teen attitudes to alcohol and binge drinking intentions.
While early findings showed theGame On: Know Alcoholprogram changed attitudes towards binge drinking for the better, the results also showed one third of Year 10 students having had at least one full alcoholic drink in their lifetime.
The research findings were unveiled just 10 days before 30,000 high school-leavers converge on the Gold Coast for the annual Schoolies festival.
The study also found 5% of Year 10 students reported binge drinking at least once a month and 2% reported binge drinking on a weekly basis. Students who reported higher binge drinking levels reported more frequent alcohol drinking for their fathers.
Attitudes changed
Initial findings indicate Game On: Know Alcohol has successfully increased knowledge about the effects of alcohol. Students’ attitudes towards excessive alcohol consumption were less favourable after their participation in the program. Intentions to drink alcohol were lowered for students who reported alcohol drinking after taking part.
The program aimed to shift adolescent beliefs away from thinking that drinking alcohol to excess is enjoyable and fun. It included activities such as wearing beer goggles and lying in the gutter pretending to have passed out.
“As a mother of three, I want my children to be safe when they decide to go out,’’ Professor Rundle-Thiele said.
“Time spent in schools talking about alcohol is crucial to encourage a more responsible approach when it comes to drinking in Australia. It is important that young teenagers know they don’t have to drink to excess if at all to have a good time.
“This message is increasingly important around an event like Schoolies when risk taking could amplify the associated dangers.”
Game On: Know Alcohol used a range of custom-built online games such as ‘Dumb Driver’, which allows students to explore how alcohol affects control, and ‘Perfect Pour’, which shows students how difficult it is to pour a standard drink.
PhD candidateTimo Dietrichsaid most drinking still happened at home and adults need to consider their own alcohol drinking behaviour if they want their teenagers to stay away from alcohol drinking.
“Our research shows that parent drinking rates impact on adolescent drinking behaviour. Our statistics show that the more you drink as a parent, the more likely your child is to drink alcohol at higher levels.”
The festive season is upon us, and there is much to celebrate in the Arts, Education and Law Group (AEL) in 2014.
On the creative front, we’re celebrating the work of our graduating artists this month, at the QCA Showcase, where you’ll have the opportunity to view works of our graduating students, hear from successful alumni and receive a taste of the artistic endeavours we have to offer.
Internationally, our Griffith Film School is making waves, with a postgraduate film being selected by one of the most prestigious cinematography festivals worldwide.
In China, one of our Languages and Linguistics alumni, Harry Harding is setting the musical charts on fire with more than 50 million views on Chinese video sharing websites (similar to You Tube), as he pursues a successful career as a TV Presenter and Pop Star.
Itis with great admirationthat I reflect on the achievements and successes of our Group this year. Onbehalf of myself and the AEL Group, I’d like to wish you a relaxing festive season and prosperous New Year.
