Flinders Screen Studies graduates Bryce Kraehenbuehl and Alex Salkicevic are celebrating that their award-winning short film Carrie’s Doing Great has been released online via Horror platform ALTER, which has 1.75 million YouTube subscribers – and films on ALTER receive an average of 50,000 to 100,000 views. This film has also circulated on the film festival circuit, with highlights including being screened at two Academy Award Qualifying film festivals (POFF – Tallinn Black Nights and St Kilda Film Festival), along with being nominated for best short film at Cinefest Oz, winning best Australian short at Monsterfest and being officially selected at the Adelaide Film Festival. The film can be viewed here.
In other important Flinders Screen Studies developments, Channel 44 has launched its new television series Couch 44, being made in partnership with Flinders University and sponsored by Banks and Brown. The show, which premiered at 8.30pm on Monday May 31 – is an unscripted television series made by youths for youths. The show’s hosts – Laura Franklin, Payton Hogan, Paige Sowter and Henry Buckley – explore youth arts, culture, politics, science, LGBTQA+ and women’s topics in Adelaide.
Viewers are given insights to Adelaide’s underground youth culture through documentaries and interviews with guests including Saara Lamberg, Pink Rabbit Radio, TABOO, Jasmine Crisp, Fury Fingers and Jemah Finn. The show also includes live music performances by Adelaide bands Hey Harriett, Choosing Sides, Jas French, Holas May, Halfway Charlie, Copious Dribble, Space Socks and DUSK.
Channel 44 General Manager Lauren Hillman says, “Couch 44 not only demonstrates one of the fantastic opportunities that has been forged out of our Creative Industries partnership with Flinders University but also demonstrates the impressive initiative driven by some very talented students to create and produce such a big series with 100% volunteer student-led crew. This also highlights the importance of Community TV as a training ground to provide on air broadcast screen credits for many students and interns wanting to gain industry experience.”
Flinders screen student Maddie Siegertsz says working on Couch 44 provided her with valuable experience. “What started off as a uni assignment, turned into something much bigger,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to produce Couch 44. It was a fun set and I enjoyed listening to all of our talented guests’ stories. The biggest takeaway from the show was that this experience reminded me why I wanted to pursue a career in film and television in the first place – to make positive change. I hope that Couch 44 encourages people to see more of what Adelaide has to offer.”