Nexus Production Group is an independent film production company driven by creativity, originality, and passion. We make films, organize film festivals, produce film-related feats for pretty party people. That means you. We have fun, loving what we do, doing what we love. Check out the website and check often for updates. We're always working on something ...
News
Reckoning Screens at Angry
March 2013
Reckoning had a successful screening at the Angry Film Festival last night. Playing out of competition, the film closed out a terrific program of Australian shorts in front of a large and appreciative crowd.
Thanks to everyone who attended the festival, and congratulations to our good friend Tom Vogel and the funky Revolt Productions for putting on such a successful event.
Broken Superman by Zev Howley (right) also screened at the festival. Nexus handled post-productions duties on the short, and it was a pleasure to see it up on the big screen once more. Congratulations also to Zev, and to leading man, Cameron Douglass, who picked up an Encouragement Acting Award.
| | | | | | | | | |
Dace does Distrify!
March 2013
Our feature film Dace Decklan: Private Eye is a schizophrenic blend of action and animation and absurdity. Sharp and sexy as a donkey on acid, Dace is Roger Rabbit mixed with Rambo served with sex and an extra dollop of cheese. Now, for a limited time, Dace s available to rent and buy on Distrify, an innovative viral film distribution platform. Check it out below:
| | | | | | | | | |
Reckoning & Dace get Angry
March 2013
The Angry Film Festival features the best short films from Australia and around the world. Screening March 27th and 28th at Revolt Productions, the festival is always a sold-out event full of energy and fun.
This year, our short film Reckoning will be screening on Thursday 28th March. Kicking off at 8pm, Reckoning will play out of competition, closing the night and the festival, like a cherry on top.
Our feature film, Dace Decklan: Private Eye, will also be available for sale on DVD on both nights of the festival. At $10 a pop, and featuring DVD extras such as bloopers, trailers, and a photo gallery, make sure you grab yourself a copy before we sell out.
See you at Angry!
| | | | | | | | | |
A Hunting We Will Go
February 2013
Royal Wreck of Gold is a documentary about shipwrecks, history, and millions of ponds worth of sunken gold. In 1859 the Royal Charter set sail from Australia but was struck by the mother of all storms, sinking off the coast of Wales. Now a Welsh treasure hunter and world champion gold panner, Vincent Thurkettle, is diving the wreckage and recovering the gold, and an international production company, TiFiNi, is filming his progress as well as the history of the ship, the Australian gold rush, and the whole tragic story.
I was lucky enough to be part of this project as a production assistant and I enjoyed every moment - from the sights and sounds of central Melbourne to Welsh choirs on LaTrobe St to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat to abandoned gold mines off Kyneton - production was a non-stop adventure and has done so much to help me gain a new appreciation for the craft of documentary filmmaking.
Check out a little more of the story at 3AW here. And look out for the completed documentary on The History Channel later this year.
| | | | | | | | | |
Dark Night of Desire & Eternal & dusk
January 2013
Dark Night of Desire is a regular burlesque and variety night featuring performance artists, circus acts and fire twirling, plus comedy, music, and films.
The latter in particular pertains to us - last week our 2010 short film, Eternal, screened at the event. It was a pleasant surprise to see the old tale about love and betrayal and ghosts and heaven roll once more and have the audience chuckling. Check it out below. The venue behind the event, Club Voltaire, is always searching for more short films so feel free to contact the organiser, Lindsay Saddington, through his website and submit your work.
Further, our resident Visual Artist, Sarah Jayne, is a resident burlesque performer at Club Voltaire in her other life as Lady Kalypso. Check out the show at 7:30pm every Saturday night, 14 Raglan St, North Melbourne. Check out the pretty purple poster on the right and check out more details here.
Speaking of which, Sarah's first film as a director, dusk, is going to be rolling mid-Febraury. The actors, Genya Mik and Cory Corbett, along with the lovely crew are all set to go and now we're getting that familiar tingle of anticipation as we build up to another film. Ah, we just love this process, lights, camera, action!
Almost ....
| | | | | | | | | |
Reckoning Wins Comfy
January 2013
A great start to the New Year as our short film Reckoning won 'Best Film' last night (Jan 15th) at monthly film festival Comfy Shorts. It was a pleasure to screen the film and answer a few questions about the production process.
Thanks to the Comfy Shorts team for an entertaining night and, of course, thanks to the cast and crew for all the hard work in putting the film together.
We'll be submitting Reckoning to more festivals in 2013 so looking forward to more screenings. Already, Reckoning is scheduled to play out of competition at the Angry Film Festival in March.
We'll have more information as the festival approaches. Oh, Happy New Year too!
| | | | | | | | | |
MIM Wrap
December 2012
MIM is done for another year and it was a success. Night One was at the majestic Astor Theatre, the best films in Melbourne showcased in grand old cinema style the way only the Astor can. The atmosphere was positive and communal, the show smooth, anchored by Jeremy Kewley who did a fantastic job as host. Night Two was at the stylish Order of Melbourne, a sweltering night, but still jammed packed and pumping with more great films and wonderful energy.
The results are:
Night One Best Film
3rd - Blood on the Game Dice by Daniel Knight 2nd - Safe by Julietta Boscolo 1st - The Wilding by Grant Scicluna
Night Two Bonus Best Film
1st - Restless Legs by Billy Morrell
Thank you to all the filmmakers, the sponsors, the staff, and to everyone who attended the festival. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. MIM will return in 2013, our mini milestone fifth year, and with support from the Melbourne City Council, expect some big and bold expansion. Made In Melbourne is just getting started ...
| | | | | | | | | |
Dusk dawns
December 2012
Pre-production has begun on our latest short film, Dusk, a drama about a lonely woman, overwhelmed by image and expectation, who places her hopes and dreams in a stranger. An exploration of love, self-worth, and human need.
Sounds like a departure from our usual films about magical sex pills and vindictive domestic ghosts and deranged backyard murderers, you say? It sure is and that's because it is written by Sarah Jayne (right). Her first script and her first time sitting in the directors chair.
A challenge. Not that we would want things any other way. Stay tuned for updates.
| | | | | | | | | |
Short Cut Final
October 2012
Short Cut.
Three years, three venues, hundreds of films, thousands of people. Dozens of hosts, a rock solid team, photos galore, prizes every month, so many smiling filmmakers.
Special events - horror, comedy, burlesque, the best in local and international film. Karaoke! So much fun, networking, tasty pizzas and how many drinks?
But last night, Thursday October 25, Short Cut Monthly Film Nite wrapped for the very last time. Very close to 100 people packed the Order of Melbourne to watch the best films from our archives, two big premieres, including our very own Reckoning, and take part in all the fun.
Love was in the air. Laughs and joy and drinks in hand and ... this is getting corny. But we can't help reminisce, thinking about all the memories and all the moments Short Cut has shared over the years.
Thank you to everyone who has ever attended. Thank you to all the venues and all the sponsors who made it possible. Thank you to all the filmmakers who have screened their work and taken part in the Q & A. And thank you the behind-the-scenes crew who made sure the show rolled on. Couldn't have done it without you. Love you all.
But as one film event takes its final bow we look forward to another - the Made In Melbourne Film Festival in December. The show must goes on!
| | | | | | | | | |
Dace Wins at MUFF
August 2012
The screening of our feature film Dace Decklan: Private Eye went over a treat at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. A warm and cosy affair with a lot of laughs - thank you to everyone who joined us and thank you to MUFF for hosting our little disasterpeice.
And we picked up an award too. Tom Vogel (right), our lead actor, won Best Supporting Actor ...
Say what?
We can't figure it out either. But we love the absurdity, a perfect compliment to the film, and further proof fact is stranger than fiction.
| | | | | | | | | |
Dace dives into MUFF
August 2012
Our feature film Dace Decklan: Private Eye has been selected to screen at this year's Melbourne Underground Film Festival. Dubbed Australia's most controversial, cheeky, and fun Indy film festival, we're proud to have Dace join the ranks of MUFF depravity:
9pm, Wednesday 29th August Cinema 1, Revolt 12 Elizabeth St, Kensington
Come join us. Bring some cheese to compliment the double doses of cheddar you'll see on the screen.
Also, putting away the cheese for the moment and holding back on the crackers, congratulations to Zev Howley, who's film Broken Superman also made MUFF. Broken Superman is a film we were proud to edit.
And just want to mention another film screening at MUFF too, local feature Johnny Ghost, which stars Clara Pagone, lead actress in our upcoming short Reckoning.
Sounds like a nice family affair to us, a festival that's going to be a lot of fun. Check out all the details at the MUFF official website here.
And more details about Dace, including a trailer, here.
| | | | | | | | | |
Made In Melbourne is a Rollin'
July 2012
Rollin' and soon to be a rockin'. The Made In Melbourne Film Festival, still the only festival exclusively for Melbourne filmmakers, is back for 2012. Now in our fourth year of celebrating and showcasing the best films and filmmakers in our wonderful city by the bay, MIM is only getting bigger, only getting better.
Amazing prizes are once again up for grabs, including $1000 in cold hard cash to the film voted the best by the audience. Plus we're returning to the Astor for our opening night, a true icon, a majestic theatre screening films the way they were meant to be - maintaining the spirit, the wonder, the magic of movie-making.
So head on over to the official website of the festival and show us what you got, Melbourne!
| | | | | | | | | |
Behind-the-Scenes Photoshoot
June 2012
Recently we were privileged to help produce and direct a fun little photoshoot featuring some gorgeous girls and gorgeous cars. Led by local model Natasha Juravić the girls were a joy to work with and the photos by Mark Edwards, Joseph Sirucka, and Declan Veale were fantastic.
Check out the short behind-the-scenes video below to get a taste of the day - the laughs, the beauty, the fun! And thank you again to everyone involved.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
|
Broken Superman Wins Best Short
May 2012
Last night (May 22nd) Broken Superman, the latest film by Melbourne director Zev Howley, and edited by yours truly, Ivan Malekin, had a dazzling premiere at local film event Comfortable Shorts.
It was a fantastic night, a full house of seventy at Loop, a real sense of community and feelgood vibes flowing through the air just like alcoholic spirits. Plenty of that too for the matter.
And to top off the night Broken Superman took out Best Short as voted by the audience with leading man, Cameron Douglas, winning Best Actor.
Congratulations to Zev and the entire cast and crew. It was a pleasure to be part of such a great team and we're very pleased and proud of the film. Look forward to plenty more screenings and perhaps more awards too!
| | | | | | | | | |
Lolita La Tex Burlesque
May 2012
'After an eternity of blindness within the wilderness of the modern world Lolita has come upon the most amazing of gifts, the desire's of one's own heart, it would seem that this drive is the only one worthy of following in a world of greys!...
In addition it would seem that it is in the darkness of this world that one finds the greatest colour, so thus, Lolita chooses to dwell in darkness in search of the desires of Her own heart...
Among us there are those that choose or fall into a life of darkness, Lolita is looking for those people, if you are one of these then Lolita looks forward to engaging with you and your darkness...'
The biography of Lolita La Tex, one of Melbourne's darkest, most outrageous and decadent, neo-burlesque starlets. We were privileged to film her tenth birthday extravaganza recently starring such burlesque luminaries as kerryX and Raven and, of course, Lolita La Tex herself.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
|
Brunettes Vs Fast Cars
May 2012
Well, this was an interesting one.
Eight hot girls and eight hot cars shining and sparkling amidst the warehouse white and rusty red of a truckyard in Laverton.
A photoshoot organised by local model Natasha Juravić. Do yourself a favour and check out her site.
Something new for NPG, out of the world of film and video, into the world of pretty pouts and practiced poses and camera flash, flash, flash!
So much fun!
We were happy to help produce and direct, bringing in our photographers, bringing in our team so a big thank you to everyone involved. And photographers Mark Edwards, Joseph Sirucka, Declan Veale - dazzling work! Thousands of photos and some real stunners in the bunch too.
Just like the girls - stunning - a pleasure to work with all of you and something we definitely want to do again in the future.
And of course, it being our forte and all, we couldn't abandon video entirely.
So look out for the behind the scenes promo soon ...
| | | | | | | | | |
General Motor ... ing
April 2012
Or general update to be more precise. The other day we were reflecting on the world of NPG between stints in the world of RPG, namely, the World of Warcraft. Is that a dated reference? Do gamers still obsess with Warcraft or have do I simply watch too many South Park repeats?
Anyway, some projects currently in the works for various clients and friends and lovely folk around the world. Our world being Melbourne. Or Warcraft. Bing! Tie in!
Last week we completed the edit on the short film Center Stage by Leo Di Paola and John McConnell so look out for that at film festivals later this year.
Broken Superman by Zev Howley is tantatizlising close to done too. In the final colour grading stage right now. Clap hands! Excitment! We're very proud to be part of this one - it's a top film.
8Ball TV by Angelo Butera is another ongoing edit and can be seen every week on Ch 31. So all you cue sport enthusiasts out there - look it up and check it out. Serbs In Space by Tom Vogel is an ongoing web series which is a ton of fun and yet another project we partake in. We'll be editing Episode 10 so look out for that online soon too.
And we just returned from filming another decadent burlesque event, this time hosted by the outrageous Lolita La Tex, so another dark and twisted promo coming right up!
Well ... better get back to it then ...
| | | | | | | | | |
Reckoning Wrap
March 2012
Film sets. There is nothing quite like that sense of creativity, collectivity, and community when a bunch of like-minded crazies get together to bring a story, a character, a scene, a visual, an emotion to life and capture it in camera; moments of magic preserved into moving memories.
We have just wrapped production on our first short for the year, Reckoning, a thriller about a man returning to his family from jail to claim back his past. Over two years in devopoment, a false start last year, in pre-production since January, now shot, tagged, and bagged my friends. Happy little vegimite I be.
The entire crew, we are so proud of you all, going above and beyond the call of duty.
Almost a week long shoot, in the suburbs, in the country, long nights, in the rain and wind and cold, in the mud in a lightning storm, add death scenes, add a lot of blood, add prosthetics (courtesy of the ultra talented Jaz Henly) add a lot of patience, wow, thank you so much to everyone involved.
Now post-production begins. It's going to be a little ripper. Stay tuned for updates.
(Photos on right courtesy of Monika Mackowiak and Russell Boyd, who was also the DOP, so check out their websites and view their work. Both are superstars).
| | | | | | | | | |
|
