Gem 'n I

Young Filmmakers Silent Movie Production Camp
Fri. June 11- Mon June 14,2004
Dangar Lodge, Dorrigo

The call went out and they came...camera operators, directors, editors, crew and would-be film-stars. The Dorrigo Film & Documentary Festival offered the opportunity for young people 16-25, to participate in the "Young Film Makers Silent Movie Production Camp" over the June Long Weekend 2004 in Dorrigo as part of their bi-annual festival. Sixteen participants were taken on a step-by-step journey by professional filmmakers through the processes of making a twenty-minute movie… a black and white silent movie in the old style … complete with a Hero, a Heroine, a dog, a gold nugget and a chase scene....'Gem 'n I'

It was a four-day journey of discovery. It was about practical skills development in film and video production, including; Script Development, Acting, Costume Design, Make-Up, Storyboarding, Sound Recording, Directing, Special Effects, Set Design, Post-Production, Editing and Subtitles while using digital cameras, and audio and editing systems. And at the end of the Festival there was a screening of the film with live musical accompaniment by The Sommers Family "Bluegrass" Band.

Utilising the awesome locations and resources of the Dorrigo Plateau the aim was to produce a high quality short film that will be entered into short film competitions and screened at other festivals and events. And we did it! A Documentary of the process was also shot during the weekend. This weekend was a great, artistic adventure and a chance for young filmmakers to meet, learn and share with other young people who were into filmmaking.

The camp was supported and subsidised by funding from "Festivals Australia".

"Gem 'n I" to screen again in Dorrigo

April 2nd 2005, sees the fully completed 'Gem 'n I' screening in downtown Dorrigo were it was made last year. Starring 'the locals' and a cast and crew of young filmmakers from all over Australia, the final version of the film, complete with special effects, will premiere at the Dorrigo Primary School. Special guests will include Mark Merritt the festival director, Adam Bowen from ABC radio and Cate McQuillen the director of the project and Shane Peninton playing his original score...live!!! Last year Dorrigo starred in the film....the baker, the firemen, the newspaper man and the pub shine alongside the incredible beauty of panoramic Dorrigo. Michael Balk, Maree Lowes and Jordan Lee shine in this silent film.

But perhaps the biggest star is a newcomer to the screen and a local too. Meet 'little gem' and let your heart be captured by one small dog.

Stills from the film

Production shots

mememe HQ

mememe productions

The imaginative and skilled team of Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace create, produce, and manage mememe (ME ME ME) productions and it's all done 'down on the farm'.

One time Melbournians, they have managed to make the successful and positive 'rural change' to the bush of Northern New South Wales. In 2003, from the verandah of their renovated church, ideas flourished and mememe productions was born.

mememe productions philosophy is to produce high quality youth and children's multimedia. The mission is to produce relevant, cutting edge, musicentric multimedia for the new millennium's child.

mememe projects

mememe's tween music project 'Hit it!' was first pitched successfully at the Screenworks 'Pitch n Punt' competition in Byron Bay, Australia. 'Hit it!' then went on to win both the judges and people's choice awards in the Holding Redlich Pitching competition at SPAA, in Melbourne. Cate then travelled to the Kidscreen Summit in New York where 'Hit it!' was awarded the 'best pitch presentation'. Burberry productions are on board to Executive produce this innovative project and are currently in international discussions

In Feb. 2007, dirtgirlworld was launched onto the world market at The Kidscreen Summit in New York where it was met with overwhelming enthusiasm.

Targeting the 4- 7year old market, dirtgirlworld is

Animated by Aria award winning, Hackett Films (Sydney, Australia), dirtgirlworld is a 40 X 7 minute episode series delivered across multiple platforms.

Currently mememe are in discussions with CBeebies, BBC Worldwide. Nickelodeon Australia and The ABC to move dirtgirlworld forward.

mememe associates

mememe has the support of a highly skilled and creative team of industry professionals surrounding them including their business mentor Daniel Besen, Ewan Burnett (Burberry Productions,) Jenny Lalor, Jenni Tosi (Macbeth, Holly's Heroes), Mark Pesce (futurist) ,Katie Salen (gameLab, NY) and Deb Cox (Sea Change ,East of everything)