It has been three years since the inaugural FilmLab Intensive Workshop and since that time much has happened!

The eight teams have been full steam ahead, with the first of the FilmLab projects Shut Up Little Man having opened in American cinemas in August 2011 and 52 Tuesdays currently shooting every Tuesday from August 2011 to August 2012.

Our November 2010 intake of workshop participants have also been hard at work, refining scripts and experimenting with their development processes - writing, shooting key scenes, while one team made an attempt to film their entire film in 3 days.

The official FilmLab website was launched in March 2010. Users can follow the progress of each of the teams and their projects, as well as meet FilmLab advisors and mentors and find lots of useful tips and tricks on low budget filmmaking.

The SAFC have been busy running several FilmLab associated events, including a TV Mini-Lab, as well as holding a Short FilmLab in November 2010.

 FilmLab provides professional and career development opportunities for South Australian filmmakers through an intensive and bespoke development program, culminating in the production of eight low budget films. 

FilmLab is a $4.2million development initiative of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), funded by the South Australian Government. FilmLab is designed to develop filmmakers who have a track record in short form to take the next step into long form film production. Selected teams are provided with a cash budget of up to $350,000 for a feature length fiction film, feature animation or in exceptional circumstances, feature documentary, with participants selected primarily on the basis of the team members, their combined track record and the originality of their idea. 

However, eligibility for the scheme is open so anyone with a strong creative track record and the skills to deliver a feature film is able to apply.

The SAFC's approach, through FilmLab, is to create a partnership with selected teams of filmmakers and to cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration and creative energy.  Once selected for FilmLab the filmmakers are put through a rigorous creative' boot camp' involving a combination of lectures, seminars, improvisations and multimedia presentations, as well as working intensely with story developers, actors and other industry experts and mentors.

What happens each day in the lab is determined solely by the needs of the FilmLab participants and not by any preordained program.

The FilmLab website is designed to provide you with a unique insight into the journey of each FilmLab team as well as provide you with a heap of useful resources about low-budget filmmaking generally. For example, in the Lodown section you'll find notes, handouts, short screenings, links and references to explore. In the Best of Low you'll find the top five lo-bo films from the FilmLab mentors and advisors, plus in the screening room you can watch podcasts that explain what FilmLab is, plus a few fun bits showing what happens when you let producers loose with a camera.

You meet the teams and hear about their film's development as you follow them through the FilmLab journey from concept to final cut. Get the real story from their blogs. There's one for each film.  You'll also meet the mentors and the advisors behind the lab as well as the SAFC staff supporting them.

FilmLab offers a secondary avenue into the program called 'SideDoor'.  SideDoor is for teams with production ready projects that have not been developed through the FilmLab intensive workshop.

For more about SideDoor and the next FilmLab round visit the Lab section of the website where you'll find all the dates and deadlines, application forms and guidelines you'll need.  Remember to chat with an SAFC project officer if you want to find out more.

Following on from the success of last year's public screening program, FilmLab will again screen another series of low budget films. More information about this program will be available from the website shortly.

FilmLab, launched in February 2009, is just one of many initiatives the SAFC offers through its funding program. For details of the full range of funding programs available to South Australian filmmakers visit www.safilm.com.au

SAFC FilmLab Blog