Two Flat Whites recently caught up with the winner of the 2007 Flake Film Festival Tony Mason of Victoria. Tony has a passion for film & music. His short film ‘131.9 Cents Per Litre’ which was produced & directed by Tony Mason is an extremely funny mockumentary look at life as a surfer! Tony is a surfer, well sort of… he lives over 1 hour from the beach and he’s not very good! Some would even go as far as calling him a “kook”! It is fitting that we caught up with Tony, as the winner for the Flake Film Festival for 2008 is about to be announced.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

Grew up in Melbourne, a true city boy, now living in Philip Island making this surf film.

In your own words, what do you do?

I’m an artist. I like to tell stories through all facets of media. Music is such a strong passion of mine but lately filmmaking is taking over.

Where did you learn your craft?

Life…I’ve always observed people, this planet, trying to find the art of it all. I embrace everything everywhere drop it in the memory bank and use it somewhere.

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?

You know I’m such a selfish artist I try to use my previous work to inspire the next. I’m so self absorbed in it all….so anyone who is like me. My art teachers at school always said never throw out your work as art is a process…really I like any one that has success in this crazy industry. People who are passionate. People like Jamie Oliver. He always inspires me…as far as work I appreciate…gosh what a list. The French. The Japanese…Hollywood…the World!

What inspired you to create?

When I was 5 I decided I wanted to be famous. When I was 18 I decided to stick at the arts. It was always something I enjoyed. In this country I’ve felt so discouraged. Maybe that’s what inspired me. Americans I’ve met have always inspired me. Especially African Americans, they seem to embrace the arts more than the average Aussie battler who says don’t give up your day job.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – Humphrey B Bear

Hobby – Art

Food – Junk (obviously)

Fear – School

People – My Nan

Defining moment – Rebelling from School

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Hated it. Didn’t fit. Bored out of my brains. My year 11 report said Tony Mason spends too much time dancing on the tables…

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

My home.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

Sleeping then what ever art project I’m doing.

Where can people see your work?

Hopefully cinema…www.kookman.com.au, for my latest…

131.9 cents per litre

For love or money?

Love first money second…

What future endeavours are in the pipeline?

More features. A Music Album!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the media!

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

Geoffrey Rush… (need a good Aussie connection). Ricky Gervais… (need a good laugh) and Ben Stiller… (need a good Hollywood connection).

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee

As much as theatre is pure entertainment, I absolutely love when a show throws on stage characters, words and ideas that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Theatre that is about risk, theatre that doesn’t take the safe option, theatre that inspires debate, praise and censure.

Our mainstage companies usually shy away from exploring such works, so it is a blessing that deep down at the Old Fitz, Peter Morris’ play The Age of Consent is getting a second Australian run after premiering at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Directed by Shannon Murphy, who recently met with media interest over her production of My Name is Rachel Corrie, The Age of Consent has people all over Australia on internet forums fired up. Ironically, but expected, these people have not even seen or read the play.

Hot off the heels of the Bill Henson saga, we have a play that unashamedly travels the precarious line between innocent youth and adulthood. Based on the horrific murder of UK toddler Jamie Bulger committed by children, and the beauty-queen upbringing of Jon Benet Ramsey, this two-hander is a deftly handled device of intense and fascinating character study.

People love meaning, reasons and explanations to make everything pat and comforting, but this play (and the world) aren’t that reductive. It’s nice that ethical complexity, strong writing and well-directed and acted productions are still welcome, at least in some broad quarters. Catch the play before it closes this month!

Source: Aussietheatre.com

The Age of Consent
The Old Fitzroy Hotel, Cathedral St (Cnr Dowling St), Woolloomooloo.
On until 23rd August 2008
Ph: 1300 438 849
Bookings: www.rocksurfers.org

SMH
The age
Aussietheatre.com
Arts Journalist blogspot
Daily Telegraph

Two Flat Whites recently were made aware of a new Australian fashion label in town. Donna Sgro provides a range of high quality garments and accessories, designed and manufactured in Australia. Donna Sgro offers a strong attention to quality detailing, unique colour combinations and a tailored cut for a customer who appreciates quality coupled with high spirit. In the coming 12 months Donna Sgro is focused on building national brand awareness.

Donna Sgro started the eponymous label in 2007 upon graduation from the University of Technology, Sydney with the assistance of a TCF award from the NSW Business Chamber. Donna also received the Graduate of the Year Award in Textile Design 2006 from the Design Institute Australia (DIA), and is currently an Associate Member.  Donna Sgro launched the brand’s first commercial range at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, Transeasonal Collections 2008.

Donna Sgro won the Debut award for Best New Apparel at Fashion Exposed Melbourne in September 2007.  Donna’s fashion and textile work has also been exhibited as part of Threadbare (Manning Gallery 2008), Enroute Exhibition (Sydney Design 07) and Bright Flowers Exhibition (Powerhouse Museum 2004-05).  Donna has been a finalist in the  Australian Fashion Graduate of the Year  Award (MBFF 2007), Lancome Colour Designs Awards (Sydney 2006) and winner of the Fresh Fruits Competition (Powerhouse Museum 2003).

Donna Sgro Director & Designer
Studio Address: Level 3, 22 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW 2037
Mobile: 0425 297 023
Email: donna {at} donnasgro(.)com
Web: www.donnasgro.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/donnasgro

Cheese lovers are invited to indulge, tantalise and finesse their cheese tasting skills with a selection of over 300 Australian handmade specialty cheeses at the twelfth annual Melbourne Specialist Cheese Show on Sunday 17th August 2008 at Crown.

Visitors are encouraged to roam the room to find their favourite curds and whey amongst the soft oozing camemberts, creamy blues and crumbling cheddars.

Award winning Australian specialist cheeses on show will include varieties produced from cow, sheep, buffalo and goat milk, coming from prime cheese making regions across the country and includes producers from Yarra Valley Dairy, Donnybrook, Red Hill Dairy, Apostle Whey and By Eleni dairies.

Cheese enthusiasts wanting to broaden their cheese knowledge have a once in a life time opportunity to meet with 30 of Australia’s dedicated specialist cheesemakers who devote their time and energy to creating world class cheeses and will be on hand at the show to guide you through your tastings as well as answer those tricky cheese questions.

Sunday 17th August, 11am – 4pm
Location: Palladium Room, Crown Entertainment Complex
Show Tickets are $40.
Includes unlimited cheese tastings and five wine and or beer tastings.
Children under 15 admitted free.
Limited tickets are available on the door.

As the West is bracing for a recession in response to the credit crunch, the superstitious market gurus are looking to fashion fables as indicators of the uncertain future.

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It’s winter & summertime is just around the corner and the livin’ is easy. But relationships can be hard. So share your rants or kudos about MEN at TheNovelette.com writing contest — MEN.

Short stories about loves lost, he done you wrong, you done him wronger, triangulated loves, relationship ups and downs — the list is endless and so are some (but not all) love stories. In any case, MEN is the theme so let us hear your tale.

They’ve extended the deadline to enter the contest and to vote on entries, to the 30th August 2008, and they’ll have winners posted shortly thereafter.

Write an essay or short story and send it in! Professionals, freelancers, bloggers and aspiring writers are invited to submit a 500- to 750-word memoir, essay or story. Submissions will be judged in two categories — by popular online vote and by our editorial panel of professional writers.

Winners in each category will receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes&Noble.com or Amazon.com– $50 certificate if one submission wins BOTH! AND . . . a virtual blue ribbon award from thenovelette.com to post on your website and/or include as part of your email signature.

Check it out @ thenovelette.com, where you can submit your entry or vote for your favorite. And hey, dish it out girls!

Young Blood Designers Markets are back during August in Sydney. Young Blood and designboom mart will team up for SD08 to present the very best local and international design. The combined market will host over 70 designers from Australia and abroad; this is your chance to showcase and launch your creative talent onto the local and international scene.

Young Blood: Designers Market
Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo

Thursday 14 August, 6.00 – 9.00pm
Friday 15 August, 10.00am – 6.00pm
Saturday 16 August, 10.00am – 6.00pm
Sunday 17 August, 10.00am – 6.00pm

The Queensland Poetry Festival 2008: spoken in one strange word is dedicated to the promotion, presentation and professional development of poets and poetry in Australia.

There aim is to provide a launch pad for emerging writers & a venue for established and mid-career poets to showcase significant developments in their work. The festival engages and involves the broadest possible audience by providing a diversity of performances and presentations, presenting poetry in its traditional form and in ways that fuse poetry with other modes of artistic expression.

The poetry festival builds new audiences and promotes new performers through community outreach and liaison with ‘grass roots’ organizations, as well as promotes local industry (e.g. local publishers, book stores, theatre companies). This is a wonderful forum for artists to collaborate and fuse artistic mediums (e.g. theatre/poetry, film/poetry) to produce works that push the boundaries of poetry; and strengthen and build relationships between local, national and international arts communities.

Feel free to email the Festival Director Julie Beveridge at julesbev {at} yahoo.com(.)au for more information. See you at the Queensland Poetry Festival.

Sydney Teapot Show 2008
Inner City Clayworkers Gallery
Cnr St Johns Rd & Darghan St
Glebe NSW
Ph: 02 9692 9717
www.clayworkers.com.au
Open 10:30am to 6:00pm everyday

Talented Sydney based artist & good friend of Two Flat Whites Lang Leav was featured in the Good Weekend Magazine of the Sydney Morning Herald on the 26th July 2008. In 2005, Akina (Lang Leav) was selected as winner of the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards judged by industry heavyweights such as Peter Morrissey. Later, the label went on to inspire a documentary that aired internationally on ABC television in 2006. As well as critical acclaim, Akina has achieved commercial success, being sold through key boutiques in Australia and Japan. Well done Lang!