Danny Mcshane - interview

One of Brisbane’s fastest rising stars in the film making industry, Danny McShane splits his time working for the esteemed JMC academy and tirelessly creating award winning movies.

It’s been an intense year for Danny, starting with the screening of his film “You Might Want to Sit Down for This” at the 2010 Dungog Film Festival, and his successful ad campaign appearing at every Birch Carroll & Coyle across Australia. While these events greatly assisted his rapid rise as a film maker, it’s his latest film “As If That Would Happen in Real Life” which he most enjoyed making.

“We entered that film for The Regent Film Festival, for its closing, and it won. That was probably my proudest moment,” Danny explained. “I used to work at the Regent as an usher, and it was my favourite cinema in Queensland. I felt really disappointed when they closed, so it was a big deal for me to win with my film, which had a bit of a go at the developers that were knocking it down. It was a good feeling to be involved with the way the Regent went out.”

Danny is also currently a lecturer and technical assistant at the JMC academy. The JMC, among other things, is one of the leading institutions educating students in the art of television and film. Hopeful filmmakers learn the fundamental skills of the movie industry, from producing to cinematography. Danny is involved with several aspects of the move making process, mastering the skills of both scriptwriter and director. “The writing is usually in your room alone. You can write a million dollar chase sequence – there’s no limit to what you can write,” Danny explains. “The best part about directing is the team aspect of it - the element of working with a crew. When you actually go to make it, you have to deal with the time and money you’ve got available to you. Directing and scriptwriting is like working with two conflicting parts, which can work very well together.”

But Danny admits he still has a long way to go in the film industry. Cracking into the mainstream movie business requires equal amounts expertise and luck. “It comes down to making that one amazing short film, that the right person sees, and gets into all the festivals, and gets people to notice that film maker has what it takes.”

The Straddie Island Singers - interview

From humble beginnings to finding themselves a regular at major festivals, the Straddie Island Singers pride themselves on their ties to the community.

Founded over ten years ago, and sourced from fellow music lovers in the neighbourhood, the Straddie Island Singers have a much stronger link to their listeners than your average a capella group. Currently the ensemble boasts an impressive twenty members, most of whom are friends and colleagues of the people they play for. Started as a way of encouraging participation in the community and nurturing a love for music, the Singers have developed into a tightly knit family.

“We came from various parts of the island,” Sean, a member of the group, told us. “We come from all sorts of backgrounds and cultures. Basically, we’ve been a strong part of the community for thirteen years now. We’re a big family.”
It’s this unity with each other and the land that produces the unique influences in their music. Being physically close to nature, songs often revolve around the local environment, relating to beaches, rainforests and the sea. “It’s a connection to the island, really. A musical connection between us. And of course the community is actually based on an island, which shows through in a lot of our songs. We get our inspiration from the island.“

While many of their songs involve their picturesque scenery, it’s certainly not all the Singers sing about. Due to the diverse taste of their members and the varied venues they frequent, their catalogue is massive, ranging from Celtic melodies to gospel tunes, and everything in between.

It’s been a long journey for the group. Being a vital part of Stradbroke Island, they have participated in numerous events for the benefit of the community. These events are many and varied, ranging from art auctions, school fetes and, most recently, major music festivals. The Straddie Island Singers have been a part of the Island Vibe Festival for three years now, and it’s a tradition that has become a highlight for the choir.

“The group has made Island Vibes a very important part of their year. We’ve put a lot of practice into it, and we’re looking forward to it.” Sean said.

THE STRADDIE SINGERS WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE ISLAND VIBES FESTIVAL, WHICH RUNS FROM OCTOBER 29TH TO THE 31ST.

The Red Eyes - interview

Having received overwhelmingly positive praise for their latest album, Red Army, The Red Eyes are fast becoming superstars in the reggae world.

Made famous by their unique take on dub, which combines hypnotic beats, penetrating lyrics and inspiration from Maori culture, the twelve piece mega band have continually made their mark on the reggae world time and time again. Touring across the Australian East Coast and even New Caledonia, The Red Eyes have steadily risen through the ranks and are now a sought after festival band. Winning best independent blues/roots album, and several AIR awards, The Red Eyes latest offering has somehow managed to translate the frenetic energy of their live shows onto a compact disc.
“Red army isn’t exactly a different direction from our other albums,” Damo, the band’s producer, says, “It’s more of an extension. We tried to capture more of our live sound in the album”.

Harnessing the force of their live performances has brought their already stellar sound to life. Those familiar with The Red Eyes are well aware of the effort and exertion the band puts in to crafting an explosive experience wherever they tour.
“Our live shows are what The Red Eyes are all about,” Damo says. “Our albums are great, and it’s good to analyse the music, but the real essence of The Red Eyes is the live band. That’s our thing.”

Throughout the years the Red Eyes have had countless memorable experiences while on the road, but Damo tells of one that stands out: “We were playing at a small pub which didn’t have much in the way of sound equipment. The bass player had to crank his bass right up, and the vibrations burst the pipes that were directly underneath us, which spewed water all over the fuse box and caused a fire! The alarm was going off but everyone was yelling, but we had so many sirens and alarms in our music, no one really noticed for ages. So yeah, everyone had to get evacuated.“

The Red Eyes already have an additional album in the works, set to be released early next year. In between then, the band is planning a tour throughout Queensland and Byron, and has confirmed a spot at the famous Ragamuffin festival next year.

THE RED EYES PLAY THE STEP INN SATURDAY OCTOBER 23. THEIR ALBUM IS OUT NOW.