MERCURY CX SETS A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITS NEW SUBSCRIPTION MODEL

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The new Board of the Mercury CX today outlined a clear plan to its members to usher in a new era for the much-loved arts organisation – including the announcement of a monthly subscription model.

The Board presented its carefully considered Strategic Plan at its Annual General Meeting tonight, after the association was left in a financially precarious position in 2022.

Co-Chair, Peter Hanlon, from Mess Productions said: “We’ve worked very hard with Mercury staff, members and industry stakeholders to develop a new business model and think beyond the typical income streams for arts organisations – which are philanthropy, sponsorship and grants.”

Mercury CX is a member-run organisation founded in the 1970s and has a passionate membership base. The organisation has listened to its members and is inviting deeper engagement with the community through this ‘one-ticket-all-access’ subscription model.

Alongside unlimited access to standard film screenings, subscribers will have year-round access to workshops, upgraded production facilities and equipment, a monthly Script Club, regular networking and mentoring sessions and a creative screen culture community – all for just $25 per month (with scholarship memberships available in a commitment to equity and accessibility).

Fellow Co-Chair Kirsty Stark from Epic Films said: “The Mercury has been an invaluable organisation for South Australian screen makers and cinema goers since its inception, and at the heart of the new business plan is the opportunity for a new generation of diverse audiences and creatives to connect in a vibrant screen hub in the heart of the city.”

From a screening perspective, the long tradition of the Mercury CX’s Silver Screen and Cinematheque programs will be expanded with new offerings including Heaps Good Cinema, a program of South Australian- made short films, and Cinema Mechanica, curated by local Screen craft Guilds, which will give audiences an insight into the mechanics of filmmaking through the selection of world class movies that epitomise excellence in their craft.

In this exciting new era for the Mercury CX, Interim General Manager Lisa Bishop has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the much beloved icon.

Ms. Bishop said: “We simply could not have developed this new business model without the support of the SA Government and Arts Minister Andrea Michaels, who has backed our vision with grants of over $200,000.”

Ms Bishop also thanked the generosity of philanthropists, enabling the Mercury team to turn underutilised office space into cutting edge filmmaking facilities, including a Writer#s Room, Production Office, Edit Suite, Mini Studio, Colour Grading Suite and Sound Editing and Mixing Theatre.

Microsoft Word – Final MercuryCX Media Release AGM 30052023.docx

Also announced tonight was the significant contribution from the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), which will again provide $240,000 in project funding to deliver the QuickSilver, Launch Lab and Script Club programs for emerging filmmakers.

SAFC CEO Kate Croser said: “The SAFC is pleased to continue its partnership with The Mercury, providing funding to deliver programs and opportunities that support diverse, emerging practitioners to develop, advance and professionalise their careers in the screen industry.

The SAFC has long been committed to improving diversity and inclusion in the South Australian screen sector and boosting industry participation of people from historically under-represented groups, through initiatives such as the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and First Nations Screen Strategy.

In alignment with these strategies, and with the findings from the SAFC’s recently released South Australian Screen Industry Workforce Development Strategy, the SAFC supports The Mercury’s plans to work closely with emerging screen makers from a range of backgrounds to develop their skills and ensure businesses within the South Australian screen sector are equipped with a skilled workforce.” says Kate Croser.

The Mercury’s new programs commence July 1 and will be outlined in an event aptly named Mercury Rising to be held at the Mercury Cinema Tuesday June 27 at 6pm. Sign up to the subscription waitlist here: https://forms.gle/hwWGoSYh3oH1qkMQ6

Interviews and images please contact:

Kirsty Stark 0422 433 543 kirsty@epicfilms.com.au Mark McGowan 0419 695 487 mark@jettyfilms.com INFO ON MERCURY CX:

The Mercury was established in 1974 and is a membership-based not-for-profit incorporated association and charity. It acts as a bridging organisation that provides emerging screen makers with a pathway into a professional screen career. It is also home to screen culture communities and operates exhibition programs and events out of the Mercury and Iris cinemas. Its objectives are to develop screen makers and screen audiences, through the provision of equipment, facilities, advice, training, cinema programming, events and production initiatives. It works closely with screen partners including the South Australian Film Corporation, Channel 44, the Adelaide Film Festival, educational institutions and local screen businesses.

The new board appointed at the 2023 Annual General Meeting comprise:

Kirsty Stark
Peter Hanlon
Nara Wilson
Adrian Tisato
Lisa Scott
Daniel Tune
Maddie Parry
Kath Dooley Rebecca Summerton

Producer, Epic Films & Founder, CrewHQ Producer/Writer, Mess Productions
Arts SA Senior Project Manager, ATSI Arts Principal, GT Legal Pty Ltd

Producer, Highview Productions
Screen Student, Flinders University Writer/Director/Producer, Mess Productions Associate Professor, UniSA Creative Producer, Closer Productions

SEE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

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BRYCE KRAEHENBUEHL AWARDED THE HANLON LARSEN SCREEN FELLOWSHIP

The Mercury is delighted to announce this year’s Hanlon Larsen Screen Fellowship (HLSF) has been awarded to experimental filmmaker Bryce Kraehenbuehl.

The HLSF was established to inspire and enable aspiring experimental and surreal filmmakers to develop their distinctive voice and create bold work for the screen.
Bryce will create and deliver his ambitious experimental screen-based project, Red Earth, which will see him travel to endangered ecosystems around South Australia and photograph them on Aerochrome, an extinct film stock, to showcase the environments in an unseen way.
Bryce says “The film explores themes of conservation, with the subject being environments that will be lost due to climate change. By using an endangered medium, I want the audience to look at the ecosystems we have left in a different way and think about the need to conserve these unique environments.”

The HLSF, valued at $45,000, is a collaborative Fellowship supported by philanthropist, Peter Hanlon, The Mercury, Flinders University, Light ADL and Adelaide Film Festival. The Fellowship was established in honor of the late Cole Larsen, a Flinders University Screen Production Lecturer, who encouraged his students to think and do outside the norm of conventional filmmaking. “I’m proud to support emerging filmmaker Bryce and his project, Red Earth, which is emblematic of Cole’s dedication and passion for experimental screen-based works” Co-chair of The Mercury Board and Founder of the HLSF Peter Hanlon

$5,000 of the cash portion of the grant is contributed by Flinders University. “Bryce’s application for the HLSF presented a truly experimental project with a unique approach and great potential” Senior Lecturer at Flinders University, Tom Young.

The Mercury, Adelaide Film Festival and Light Adelaide have provided up to $20,000 of in-kind support. “Bryce’s unique approach to conservation through an endangered medium aligns perfectly with our mission at Light ADL, and we can’t wait to see the impact his project will have on audiences around the world” CEO Light Adl, Nic Mercer

Bryce and his proposed project were a standout in what was a competitive round.The CEO & Creative Director of the Adelaide Film Festival Mat Kesting was excited by Bryce’s application. Mat says “Bryce presented an exciting vision and his proposed work embodies the creative spirit of the Hanlon Larsen Fellowship. We look forward to seeing the finished work and considering it for inclusion in the 2023 Adelaide Film Festival.” 

The Hanlon Larsen Screen Fellowship is the most recent of Bryce’s accolades, which include being the inaugural winner of the Helpmann Innovator Program in 2021. Bryce also received a fellowship in 2022 for a year-long mentorship with prolific and acclaimed experimental filmmakers Richard Tuohy and Diana Barry. As well as developing his creative work Bryce Kraehenbuehl co-owns and works for production company Two Up Films which focuses on producing creative and sustainable commercial work.

The Mercury would like to thank all the applicants and their outstanding efforts in preparing their applications for this round.

For further questions, interviews or photos please contact Stephanie Jaclyn at: steph@mercurycx.org

THE MERCURY CINEMA AGM SET FOR MAY 30TH 2023

The board and staff have been hard at work developing the future of our beloved Mercury. We have pleasure in inviting you to our

Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 30th May 2023 at 6pm. 

Join us for a complimentary drink and to hear all the news, both past (Annual Report 2022) and future (Strategic Plan 2023-2025).
We look forward to your company!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

The Board invites you to view the following:
MAY 2023 AGM AGENDA and BOARD NOMINATIONS/PROXY FORMS