Love is perfect recipe for Celluloid Soup

DANNY GOCS

KOSHER Lovin’ is the catchy title of this year’s Celluloid Soup Film Festival, which is seeking entries of short films that touch on aspects of love in the Jewish community.

The festival aims to bring the community together, fostering talent and creativity through film, at the same time exploring the cultural and religious experiences of the Jewish community

This is the 12th year that Celluloid Soup has been held and it even boasts an Oscar winner among its past entrants — 2008 Academy Award winner Eva Orner had an entry in the 1998 competition.

“The idea is to have fun and present an exciting festival of films,” said producer Adam Krongold, who is guiding this year’s festival.

“All people have to do is make a film on the Jewish theme of Kosher Lovin’, make it with passion and ensure that the result is no longer than seven minutes.”

Krongold said the aim of Celluloid Soup is to promote awareness of the Jewish community through the medium of film.

On the Celluloid Soup website there are some ideas — serious and tongue-in-cheek — on the theme of Kosher Lovin’ including “Bubba, I’d love another piece of brisket”, Love thy neighbour, and Jewish relationships with the non-Jewish such as love of Kevin Bacon or just bacon.

Earlier this year Celluloid Soup held a workshop covering all facets of filmmaking to help prospective entrants learn more about the processes involved.

The course was held over five Sundays in conjunction with audiovisual resource centre Open Channel and the Jewish Museum of Australia, and was attended by 14 people.

“It’s the first time we had run a course as part of the festival. We provided all the equipment and covered everything from idea generation to editing,” said Krongold. “We received a lot of good feedback and plan to run the course again before the next festival. And two films that were made in the workshop will be entered into Celluloid Soup.”

Krongold said that anybody could be a filmmaker, thanks to the low cost of digital video cameras.

“Even if you have a mobile phone that can take video, you are a filmmaker. But with more understanding and guidance you can make a better film,” he said.

“It is important to use the medium to tell a good story and to make it engaging. It’s like telling a joke — you don’t have much time to engage the viewer. A good story is important along with good filmmaking technique.”

Krongold, 38, said he has been involved in filmmaking since he was 10 whe he borrowed his father’s Super

8mm camera to make a home movie.

“It’s fun to look at those old movies again, which are very grainy compared to today’s digital quality.”

In 2002, Krongold directed a short film titled Not Without my Sheitel, which was entered into Celluloid Soup.

“I helped write the script and directed it when the director pulled out. We

didn’t win the competition, but it was great to see it on the big screen and appreciate the fact that it was being seen by people,” he said.

In 2005 Krongold left his work in the financial sector to study drama at the Victorian College of the Arts.

“The course included editing and film production, which I found very

enjoyable.”

He also been involved in the production of several short films, works on radio station 3RRRR and appears on the community TV show, The Shtick.

In 2006 Krongold was host of the Celluloid Soup awards night, in 2008 he joined the committee and this year he took on the voluntary role of festival producer.

“It’s important for people to get involved with the festival. When Eva Orner won her 2008 Academy Award (for Best Documentary for Taxi to the Dark Side) she said it was very rewarding being creative and important to be involved in filmmaking.”

This year the Celluloid Soup finalists will be screened at a gala night at The Astor Theatre, St Kilda on October 21.

“The judging panel will pick the best films from the entries, so the bigger the pool the better the quality.”

While the festival takes place in Melbourne, Krongold encourages entrants from around Australia to send in their films.

As part of Celluloid Soup there will also be a series of lectures from people in the industry. On May 6 there will be a production and film writing workshop with producer Daniel Scharf; on July 8 Shaun Miller will discuss the legal issues involved in making films; and on August 12 a panel discussion on “Jews and Film” will feature Michael Hirsch from Working Dog filmmakers, Natalie Miller of Sharmill Films and Roadshow Films managing director Joel Perlman.

Entries for the Celluloid Soup Film Festival close on August 16. For more information visit www.celluloidsoup.com