Tigers v Dragons

Dragons v Tigers - Round 16 : Kick Off

Pat, Luke, Phoebe and I in the middle of the army.

Brett Morris, first try scorer. Dragons 21-10.

C.S.I.O.U Live Show - Bathurst Studios

C.S.I.O.U Bathurst Newsroom Cast - Caitlyn, Luke & Cassie.

Rehearsing the Mike Munro interview in the Bathurst Studio.

Filming the Mike Munro interview for the C.S.I.O.U Live Show.

My view through the viewfinder during blocking rehearsals.

The C.S.I.O.U crew & journalists. Live record = Complete.

Dale Lewis and Mike Munro.

Photos: Maikha Ly

Dragons v Panthers - May 29

Kick off on a cold night in Wollongong.

Dragons' impregnable defence.

Dragons maintain top spot with a 38-10 victory.

Pat, Daniel & me.

Happy Dragon celebrating with Greg's Proud Dragon flag.

Parkes - The Universe: Yours To Discover 3D

The Crew in Parkes : Michael Byrne, James Ward, Jarrad Rasmussen, Maikha Ly, Chloe Willems, Nicholas Shelley, Peter Gatward, Pat Newbery, Pat Hunter & Jason Cook.

Setting up the cameras upstairs inside The Dish, ensuring both cameras' settings are exactly the same for the 3D shoot.

Filming, using the Everios, on the set of 'The Dish'.

The Dish on a cold winter's morning.

Director, Michael Byrne, with Producer, James Ward and John, covering the script and reference photographs from the day of the moon-landing that we were re-enacting.

Charles Darwin Documentary - Monte Cristo Shoot

Monte Cristo homestead..
Used for the shooting of re-enactments for the opening of Charles Darwin Documentary.

Matt Olsen and Maikha Ly position the camera for exterior re-enactment shots of Darwin, his wife and his young boy.

A young Charles Darwin (Mitch Wright) plays with his son.

Maikha Ly on camera.

Day 4 - Final Day on Changi

Mark Alexander directs the cast through the final rehearsals on Changi before filming begins.

Tanaka (Sam King) and Aso (Mitch Wright) discussing the prisoners of war, in particular their dislike of Lofty Morgan (Michael James Luckins).

Positioned on the dolly platform, assisted by Michael Byrne, filming a slow dolly as the prisoners of war gather around the dead body.

Prisoners of war gather, shocked, around the dead body of Lofty Morgan (Michael James Luckins).

Another view of the final sequence as the dolly slowly moves closer to the action.

Changi - Day Three

Mark Alexander directs the actors as the crew set up lights and cameras for the library scene where the prisoners of war make fun of Aso's pronunciation of his own name.

The changi prisoners of war, played by Michael James Luckins, William Bott, Nick Cornish, Richard Lakos, Cameron Croker and Adam O'Brien, on the library set.

...now outside the set.

Mitch Wright (Aso) during one of many rehearsal runs during Changi that would have been perfect for the blooper reel.

Sons Of Mercury Music Video

A small portion of crew begin filming the music video's opening shots, despite the freezing and rainy early morning weather.

The Sons of Mercury lead singer enjoying the filming of his individual skit, which involved being slapped numerous times.

Mitch Wright (Trendy Dancer) shows off his dancing skills.

Setting up the next shot with cameraman, Joel Isbister.

Explaining the upcoming action on the floor to the band member and actors, Mitch Wright and Bonnie Cowley.

Watching the action unfold with Mark Alexander - Joel Isbister on camera.

Alex Brown on audio - before being struck by a mysterious illness.

Nathan Howley, director, discusses the framing of the next shot with second cameraman, Alex Sovechles.
Photos courtesy: Grant Harper

Changi - Day Two

Crew collects fire wood during set-up for the night shoot.

The prisoners of war, by the fire, star-gazing (and reciting their lines).

Filming the opening scene of the Changi assessment task.

With Changi Director, Mark Alexander, checking the lighting and composition of one of many dolly shots for the night scene.

Crew keep warm by the fire on another freezing night in Wagga.

Day One on Changi

ASO (Mitch Wright) lines up his prisoners in the first scene of the day.

Filming an exterior as Japanese guards (Maikha Ly) and (Chris Davies) man the door.

ASO (Mitch Wright) confronts Gordon (Cameron Croker) after he refuses to salute. Lighting super (Aaron Taplin) considers any changes from the doorway.

Christopher Hyde receives his prisoner of war make-up, the majority being dirt and sweat.

Setting the iris on the camera as the sun disappears behind the clouds, briefly, whilst shooting close ups of the prisoner of war background extras.

The group of prisoners watch on as Aso (Mitch Wright) and his guard (Chris Davies) approach Gordon (Cameron Croker).

Aso (Mitch Wright) gives Gordon (Cameron Croker) one final opportunity to salute, before ordering his guard (Chris Davies) to hack off Gordon's little toe.

Gordon (Cameron Croker) loses his little toe.
Make-up effects at their finest!
Filming on CHANGI continues Wednesday night.

Aplonea Music Video - Saturday May 9

Filming the music video for Aplonea's new single, 'In My Heart' in the Studio.

Using the Vinten Dolly and Scissor Lift, we were able to grab tracking shots from all over the floor, and shoot from a range of angles... and heights.

Ryan enjoying his time in the Scissor Lift, setting up lights in the grid for his mates' band.
The music video is now in post-production, where it will be cut together and 'supposedly' enhanced by animation effects.
More information about Aplonea can be found here.

Dragons v Warriors - May 3

Pat, Phoebe, Luke & I managed to catch the end of the Dragons' warm up session.

The Bennett-led Dragons' incredible defence wraps up a Kiwi runner in tight low-scoring first half. A Stacey Jones field goal sees the Warriors take a 7-2 lead into the break, the first time the Dragons have been down at half-time all year!

With Jamie Soward, Matt Cooper, Jeremy Smith, Wendell Sailor, Jarrod Saffy and Ben Hornby all struggling to stay on their feet, Beau Scott tackles a Warriors defender in-goal to force a line-drop out.
Pat, Luke, Phoebe, Greg, Bruce & I are all on the edge of our front-row seats!

Thanks to the incredible speed of Brett Morris and the amazing strength Ben Creagh showed to score the match-winning try, the Dragons escape Win Stadium and the NZ Warriors with a 12-11 victory and another two competition points.
St George Illawarra sit equal first, second on differentials, with the Bulldogs, Broncos and Titans. The Dragons face the Cowboys in Townsville next week, just 24 hours after their long list of representatives play in matches in Brisbane and Orange.
Good luck with that!

Dragons v Roosters - April 25

Anzac Day 2009 - St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters @ SFS
The ode, last post and national anthem before play.

St George make the most of a Roosters' charge down in the opening minute to score the first try of the match.

Ben Hornby receives the Anzac Trophy after the Dragons' 29-0 demolition is complete.
Jamie Soward scored 21 points (two tries, six goals, one field goal), whilst Morris and Nightingale also bagged a try each.

Dad and me at the annual Anzac Day fixture.

Greg celebrates the thumping victory that maintains St George Illawarra's best-ever start to a premiership!

Dragons v Knights - April 18

Nothing positive to report from the Newcastle match at Win Jubilee Stadium. It was my first trip back to Kogarah, with its new stand. The Dragons scored in the opening and closing minutes of the half through Wendell Sailor, taking a 14-6 lead into the break.

After the break, in the space of seven minutes, Newcastle put on 18 points to take a surprise 24-14 lead with twenty minutes remaining. Saffy scored to tighten the margin, but the Dragons' poor discipline and handling cost them two points that they should have had.

The Dragon Army's flare was the highlight of a frustrating cold second half, which saw the Dragons fall out of first place (for the time being). Obviously with a loss, there were no happy-snaps...

Parramatta v Dragons - April 10

After the five-hour drive home from Wagga in the morning, I was able to join Greg, Pat and Dad for my first Bennett-led Dragons match at Parramatta Stadium.

Dad & me enjoying the performance of the first St George Illawarra side to ever hold first place on the NRL ladder in their ten-year history.

Parramatta's Nathan Hindmash laughs noticing the Dragons' supporters holding the 'Can You Feel The Finch?' banner.

Jamie Soward kicks the Dragons to a 2-0 lead.

Try time! Neville Costigan scores a magical try to extend the Dragons' lead to 14-2.
The Dragons scored in the final minute with Sailor's third attempt to get the ball down, winning 22-8.

Proud Dragons Supporters!
Since the joint-venture entered the competition in 1999, the Dragons have been notoriously bad starters, losing the majority of their opening rounds. Not this year! The Dragons sit on top of the table with just the one loss.
Bring on Newcastle next week! Soward v Rogers.. can't wait!