Apple Box Studio

🎬 48HR INFO SESSIONS

Interested in our 48hr short film comp, but not sure what it's all about? We've got you!

Head along to Lumina in North Hobart on Weds 24, or Martini's Cocktail Lounge in Launceston on Thurs 25, to get all your questions answered.

These sessions are completely FREE. We'll tell you all about the competition, and then we'll facilitate a bit of relaxed networking to help you meet some new people (it's not as scary as it sounds, I promise!) And if at the end you realise it's not for you, that's totally fine, there is zero obligation.

This event and the competition are open to Tasmanian residents 16+. Full terms and conditions will be available on our website after these info sessions.

To join us for an info session, please register on our website (link below) so we have an idea of how many people to expect, and we look forward to seeing you there!

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🏳️‍🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH

To all our LGBTIQA+ friends, we love you, we celebrate you, and we wish you a very happy pride month!!

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s👀 TASMANIAN POLITICS & THE ARTS

I've put together a brief overview of what's been happening in Tasmanian politics over the last couple of weeks, with a particular focus on the Arts.

I hope this helps some of you understand what's happening a little bit better. If you have any questions about any of it, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I'll try and find out for you.

Here are the links to the budget estimates recordings, in case you are interested in watching (make sure to click on the ones that say Arts):
House of Assembly - Thur 4 June -https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/committees/house-of-assembly/select-committees/house-of-assembly-estimates-committees-2026/broadcasts/estimates-committee-b-thursday-4-june-2026

Legislative Council - Tue 2 June - (note Arts questions don't start until 43:36)
https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/committees/legislative-council/select-committees/legislative-council-estimates-committees-2026/broadcasts/estimates-committee-a-tuesday-2-june-2026

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🏳️‍🌈 I just came across this Pride Scholarship for Creative Industries and thought I would share it for anyone in the LGBTIQA+ community that is already studying, or looking to study fashion, interior, film, photography or art.

There's $15,000 up for grabs with this scholarship, and there are others listed on their website that are available too.

For more info, check out - https://studyworkgrow.com/swg-funds/dissh-pride-scholarship-for-creative-industries/

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🎭🎸 HADESTOWN and MASTERCLASS SERIES EP LAUNCH

Last week I attended two incredible events, 's performance of Hadestown, and 's Masterclass Series EP launch.

I've said it before, many times, but I'll say it again, we have SO MUCH TALENT in this little state!

Hadestown would have to be the best Exit Left show I think I've ever seen. The set design, lighting, costumes, choreography, and performances were all beyond expectations. And that voice! The guy (the only one in the whole show) who played Hades - Cameron - had a voice that matched the character to a tee, deep, like rolling thunder. Big shout out to Lily, Skye, Lucy and Eliza for their absolutely captivating performances, and to the Fates and the ensemble for effortlessly supporting them. Huge congratulations to everyone involved 👏

I wasn't really sure what to expect at the EP launch, held at the Founders Room at . Multi Aria award winning singer-songwriter (and judge at our 48hr short film comp last year) Monique Brumby put on a free course for teenage girls interested in a career as a singer-songwriter. The workshops ran for 16 weeks, and I can't stress enough how lucky these 4 girls were to receive such intense and exceptional mentoring from Monique, but also how deserving they were of that mentoring. Miri, Mia, Willow, and Meg all have a long career ahead of them. They are unique and excellent, all of them. Go and listen to their EP, out now on streaming platforms - just look for The Founders Room Sessions, and you can find them individually on Bandcamp too.

Support local emerging artists however you can, that support is never wasted! Thank you Tassie for another week of incredible artistic entertainment, and sorry to all those shows I wasn't able to get to ❤️

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🎬 TAMAR VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL

I just spent the most wonderful weekend in Launceston at the Tamar Valley Film Festival run by the incredibly hardworking and fabulous Racheal Leigh.

The Apple Box board agreed to Racheal's request for sponsorship and we joined the likes of Events Tasmania, Screen Tasmania , and LLDC Entertainment. The whole event took place at the utterly brilliant SOTA run by another incredibly hardworking woman, Peta 🙌 If you live in the Launceston area, and you have kids who love dance, drama, music, filmmaking, singing, musical theatre, etc, check out SOTA, you won't regret it!

There was a huge crowd at the Friday evening Opening Night, where over a dozen short films were screened, and folks were able to mingle and network during the drinks at the start, and during the well timed interval.

Saturday morning there was a Sound Workshop run by Luke from LLDC, who is very experienced in sound (held at the UTAS Library), where participants learnt the basics and then got to play with some sound equipment. This was followed, back at SOTA, by a brilliant VFX Workshop with the delightful Daniel Lê, and a very useful and informative Tax and Super for Creatives Workshop, with the fabulous Rachel Mendlik.

And the festival wrapped up with another dozen or so films screened on Saturday evening, with another huge crowd of talented and supportive people in the audience. Big thanks to Jason from Rad, Bad or Mad Movie Club for the unexpected and deeply appreciated shout out for our 48hr short film competition (coming up in July, more details will be shared very soon!!!)

The atmosphere at the TVFF was invigorating, the films were engaging, and the filmmakers were inspiring. Events like this are so important for creatives at any level of their career, but particularly emerging creatives. Expanding your networks, experiencing an audience watching your film, and appreciating the work of others is so important for budding filmmakers.

Huge congrats to Racheal, Amanda, Lou, Jason, Jolene, Peta, Luke, Daniel, Rachel, Tosha, Nathaniel and anyone else who made this weekend the success that it was 🥳

I'm already looking forward to next year's event!

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🎬 VSFF

Excited to be at the Opening Night at the 😁

Looking forward to seeing some great short films!!

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🎬 VERY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Our friends at the are getting ready to kick off this coming Friday at the !!

Friday night's Opening event has a Tasmanian Spotlight, showcasing Tassie filmmakers who have been part of the festival in previous years.

Saturday there's a Junior Premier, a Speed Networking event, National Premiere and awards, and then after party drinks.

And Sunday there's an invite only Finalist workshop, followed by a Closing Night Screening of award winning shorts, audience favourites and stand out films from across the weekend.

Check it all out here - https://veryshortfilmfestival.com.au/premiere/

I look forward to seeing you there!

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🎤 TASSIECAST PODCAST

Earlier this week, Josh from interviewed me about the current state of the Tasmanian screen sector, and part of that interview made it into their ABC TassieCast podcast titled 'Tassie's arts cuts: creative or catastrophic?'

Josh shares some interesting facts and stats in there about the current funding situation, not just for the screen sector, but for music, live performance, and more.

Give it a listen here, link also in our bio - https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/abc-tassiecast/abc-tassiecast-arts-creative-industries-funding-budget-education/106675590

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🎭 THEATRE, THEATRE, THEATRE

I've done it again, I've been to three very different shows recently, and am again in awe of the talent in this state. It doesn't matter what age you are, what stage of your journey you're on, or even where you live, there are opportunities, and passionate people supporting their communities everywhere.

The first show, presented by the incredibly hard-working Isabella from , held at the performing arts centre, was Ride the Cyclone, a dark story about 6 teenagers killed when a rollercoaster derails, and they are stuck in limbo in the attic of the theme park, with a fortune telling machine, forced to choose one person to live again. Despite the intensity of the topic, much of the song and dance routines, dialogue, and performances are very funny. The whole team worked so beautifully together to bring audiences something highly entertaining. IRSC do great work in the regions south of Hobart, providing opportunities for young people from Kingborough and the Huon Valley 🎢

Next up I saw Uni Revue's Rockliffman. A highly entertaining poke at the Liberals and the Stadium debate, filled with funny skits and catchy tunes. The costumes, the props and set design, the choreography, the lyrics to the songs, it was all so incredibly well done. The team are travelling up to Launceston and Devonport this year, so the whole state can enjoy this crude and entertaining show 🏟

And finally performed Murder on Board at the Sorell Memorial Hall. The village hall setup with the audience seated at tables and chairs, and the actors mingling with them as part of their performance, reminded me of community am-dram in the UK. No bells and whistles, just good old locals having some fun. It was actually fabulous to watch - jokes so local to Sorell and surrounds that I didn't get half of them, clever use of shadows and back lighting to increase suspense, and the best part was the audience sticking around to congratulate the cast, everyone knew each other, it was such a supportive environment. Well done to all involved 👏

Thanks Tassie, you rock(liffman 🤭)

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