launchgroup.com.au > Blog > 2013 > February
New queer-themed TV shows on Aurora
by launch-admin Feb 7, 2013 0 Uncategorized
Online channel 'Inside Out TV' heads to Aurora, along with the premiere of the Queer Fruits Film Festival, this February
7th February, 2013: Aurora, Australia's leading not-for-profit STV community channel, is supporting GLBTIQ* audiences with the launch of two new shows this month. The Queer Fruits Film Festival (QFFF) features the best films from the last four years of the festival, compiled into four episodes for Aurora. Also the online gay and lesbian channel, Inside Out TV, is going to broadcast on Aurora as a new TV series.
Aurora CEO Phyllisse Stanton said: "Aurora is passionate about showcasing diverse and inspiring content and we are so proud to broadcast the Queer Fruits Film Festival and Inside Out TV which both focus attention on the real life gay and lesbian community."
The opening episode of QFFF will premiere on Sunday 10th February 8.30pm. It features the award-winning documentary 'Undressing Vanessa' which won the Best Short Documentary at the 2008 IF Awards and stars the celebrated drag artist Vanessa Wagner (from Celebrity Big Brother, 2002).
The chosen films from QFFF are a mixture of short and experimental films, documentaries, animations, music videos and special features. They are based around the uplifting and inspiring stories which explore the serious realities and issues that can confront GLBTIQ people.
Aurora will also air Inside Out TV one of Australia's leading online, gay and lesbian video entertainment channels, which began on YouTube in 2011. Aurora approached the channel and offered to broadcast them as a new TV show.
Ms Stanton explained: "Seeing the value of the diverse content Inside Out TV had to offer online, Aurora approached the channel to broadcast them on a national platform, with the goal to help increase visibility of Australia's queer community on national television."
The new weekly gay and lesbian, lifestyle TV series will premiere on Thursday 14th February 8 pm. The show includes a look-back at the best of the summer parties, snippets from Mardi Gras 2012, and a Mardi Gras Parade Special with the team broadcasting from the Mardi Gras Kiki studio on the 2nd March, 2013 Sydney parade route.
Other highlights from the series also include episodes on the rich history of the Sydney Show Girls, scenes from some of the hottest clubs from Oxford St, honouring community leaders at the 2012 ACON LGBTQI Honour Awards plus all the highlights from the mass Marriage Equality rally held at Martin Place.
Guest hosts include Ji Wallace (silver Olympic medallist).
Stanton noted: "We aim to celebrate the lives of gay and lesbian people at Aurora, and these two new TV shows reflect that with their entertaining and innovative content."
*Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ)
About Aurora: Aurora is committed to screening interesting, diverse and innovative content to encourage awareness and understanding of community issues and interests. All Australians have the unique opportunity to have their work broadcast on a national platform. Aurora Community Channel is a partner of Australian Made and is proudly supported by FOXTEL.
Follow Aurora on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/AuroraTV
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Media Information: Laura Douglas at Launch Group: 02 9492 1002 / 0452 505 859
laura@launchgroup.com.au
Noffs Foundation use the arts to keep peers safe
Mount Druitt Street University launch real life film on the effects of alcohol use
7 February, 2013: The Noffs Foundation, a leading youth services organisation's Mount Druitt Street University are today releasing a new council and Housing NSW funded educational video around responsible drinking for youths, in an attempt to help combat bad drinking habits in the community.
The documentary style video, produced by Street University participants, offers advice from young people for young people about the consequences of excessive drinking. It also offers tactics on how to make safer, better decisions regarding alcohol consumption. The interviews also feature real life experiences witnessed by young people as a result of reckless drinking.
The project, which received $10,000 in funding from Blacktown council and Housing NSW, has been produced as a resource for fellow youth services, Juvenile Justice, Community Services as well as various other community groups.
Street University is a free educational and recreational centre available to marginalised youth seeking support, social interaction or training.
Noffs Street University Manager, Julie Dubuc, says the fact that the video was developed, edited and produced by young people makes it more effective at getting important messages about drinking and safety across, as most youths are likely to be influenced by their peers.
"Our program promotes group learning and engagement, so we felt it was only right that our young people had the opportunity to tell their friends about the realities of alcohol through this video," she said. "Plus, they have a bigger impact on young people's choices as their stories are generally relatable.
"The arts are a powerful influencer, as we've seen from our various music and dance workshops. They provide a place for young people in the community to seek support, friendship and opportunity. We hope this video achieves the same success."
The topics highlighted in the film were identified during a focus group held by Street University with youths from the programme as well as experienced shared by older peers from the community. The idea behind this process was to ensure the content was relevant and of interest to the young people. Music was written and composed by students from the regular Street University music workshop.
Whilst the production segment of the project in itself was an excellent community exercise that has produced an innovative educational tool; the film also tackles some really serious issues surrounding youths and alcohol abuse.
In Australia, 12.7 per cent of people aged 16-24 are estimated to have a substance use disorder[1]. Just recently, the Cancer Council in Victoria revealed that young people were drinking at risky levels with 37 per cent consuming more than four drinks on one occasion within the past seven days. The research conducted for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing were looking at a sample size that included 12 year olds who had consumed alcohol.
Mrs Dubuc said that although the negative affects of drinking alcohol was one of the biggest issues effecting young people, it didn't need to be that way.
"That's what this film is all about," she said. "We wanted to send a positive message to young people about the choices they have and the alternative options available to them," she said. "Whilst our aim with the video is about reducing the intake and consequences of alcohol consumption amongst young people, it's also about educating them about how to keep mates and themselves safe.
To view the video click here:
Services will also receive a questionnaire developed by Street University, which accompanies the video for use during interventions. Copies can be obtained through Street University.
Media contact: Sarah Tsiros (02) 9492 1034 / 0466 805 364 or sarah@launchgroup.com.au
About the Noffs Foundation: About the Noffs Foundation: The Noffs Foundation is one of Australia's leading youth services providers, and an advocate for best practice in drug and alcohol provision, prevention and treatment. The Noffs Foundation was founded in 1970 by the great Australian humanitarian Reverend Ted Noffs to provide essential services for young people who experience drug and alcohol problems and related trauma, and their families. Noffs has pioneered new community outreach initiatives, including the opening of free educational and artistic recreational centres to support young people who are homeless, using drugs, involved with crime or simply need someone to talk to. Other services include residential and day programs, individual and group counselling, education, training and group outdoor activities. The Noffs foundation supports thousands of people every year.
[1] Reavley, NJ, Cvetkovski, S, et al. Help-seeking for substance use, anxiety and affective disorders among young people: results from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;44(8):729-35.
More secrets are out for Sydney
Second show for Frank Warren's PostSecret Tour – 17April 2013
SYDNEY: 4th February 2013: Handsome Tours today announced a second show in Sydney with Frank Warren, creator of the PostSecret blog. The second show is part of Warren's PostSecret tour and will be held on the 17 April, 2013.
PostSecret is the world's largest advertisement-free blog with more than six million views per month. The community art project allows people to mail their secrets anonymously to Warren on a decorated postcard. More than 500,000 exclusive personal secrets have been sent to his home in recent years – spanning sexual confessions and hidden acts of kindness, to criminal activity and hilarious admissions.
Warren is touring Australia to talk about the global blog phenomenon that PostSecret has become, and the impact it has had on his life. As well as the two Sydney shows, Handsome Tours are hosting talks in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth from 14 – 20 April.
Alex Young from Handsome Tours said Warren's shows have been a huge success with Australians. "The first Sydney show sold out faster than expected, so it was great that we had the idea of a second one up our sleeve," she said. "We are really pleased to be able to announce it as Frank has a huge fan base in Australia. We've also sold out in Brisbane and there aren't many tickets left for the Perth and Melbourne shows."
Warren was listed by Forbes as the fourth most influential person on the internet and his 2012 TED talk about PostSecret ranks as one of the most downloaded talks on the popular site. Warren is also the author of five books including the New York Times number one Best Seller, PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God.
The website has received numerous awards for its community contribution since its inception in 2004. These include a special award from the National Mental Health Association for raising awareness and funds of $1 million USD for suicide prevention organisations, numerous Webby Awards and the 2012 Weblog of the Year at the Annual Weblog Awards.
Warren said: "There are two kinds of secrets, the ones we keep from others and the ones we hide from ourselves. Secrets can feel like walls inside us but if we can find the courage to give them a voice, they can become the bridges connecting us with others and our deepest selves."
Tickets for all the events are available online at http://handsometours.com
Frank Warren's PostSecret Australian Tour 2013:
April 14th at Tivoli, Brisbane – SOLD OUT
April 16th at Enmore Theatre, Sydney – SOLD OUT
April 17th at Enmore Theatre, Sydney
April 18th at Hammer Hall, Melbourne
April 20th at Astor, Perth
Media Enquiries: Laura Douglas laura@launchgroup.com.au 02 9492 1002 or mobile: 0452 505 859
Images available online at: http://postsecretpress.com/
About Frank Warren: Frank Warren is a small-business owner who started PostSecret.com as a community art project. Warren lives in Germantown, Maryland, with his wife and daughter.
About Handsome Tours: Handsome Tours is a touring company that aims to bring the finest levels of music discovery and consumption from foreign shores to your door. Bands that they have brought to Australia in their long history include Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, SBTRKT, The Shins, Okkervil River, Beirut, Foster The People, The xx, Interpol, Yeasayer and many more. The Handsome Tours team achieve this under the leadership of directors Dave Chatfield, Colin Daniels, Mathew Everett and Ashley Sellers; who have between them an entire lifetime of experience in the music and touring industry. For more information visit http://handsometours.com/about/