Category Archives: films and cinemas

HOT Chat: Pip Carroll of Melbourne Bikefest

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Finally we’re experiencing some warmer weather in Melbourne – and have you noticed the increased number of cyclists these days?

It all bodes well for the upcoming Melbourne Bikefest, a 5 day festival being held at 1000 £ Bend which will celebrate all things cycling related in our city. Today’s HOT Chat is with Pip Carroll, the director of Melbourne Bikefest. Thanks Pip!

Pip, tell me a bit more about your background and what inspired you to start Melbourne Bikefest?

My background is pretty varied, I’ve been running a business called Ambiguous Horse since 2006 that specialises in management, marketing and producing for the arts and cultural industries. So I’m always working on something different. Ambiguous Horse, supported by a volunteer committee produced the Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival from 2007 to 2009.

Earlier this year we decided to branch out from the BFF and create a new event designed especially for Melbourne – and Melbourne Bikefest was born!

We wanted to celebrate and support an emerging bike culture in Melbourne, one that is less focused on sport and recreation and more interested in bikes as a means of daily transport, integrated into other parts of life. The more people that choose a bike over a car, the better the road conditions will be for everyone, including motorists. For people to choose to ride however they need to identify as bike riders, and through Bikefest we hope to create something more people can see themselves being a part of.

What is Melbourne Bikefest all about? What can visitors expect to see or experience?

Melbourne Bikefest is about celebrating bikes in everyday life. This doesn’t mean that you need to ride one everyday to enjoy it though! In fact there are only one or two events in the entire program that actually requite you to be on a bike. Most of the program is devoted to other cultural activities – art, design, music, fashion, shopping, forums, workshops, and advocacy projects. Bikefest really is more of a cultural festival about bikes than a ‘cycling’ event.

The majority of our activities are held right in the middle of the city at 1000 £ Bend. We will offer Bicycle Valet Parking for anyone that rides, but it’s a very easy place to get to via public transport. Over 5 days the space will host events and activities from morning to night, all against a backdrop of art and interactive installations. Plus a bar!

At the end of the day it’s really just about having a good time and giving people a glimpse of life on two wheels.

What is your one must-do recommendation for Melbourne Bikefest?

I’m always reluctant to choose just one thing! We’ve programmed Melbourne Bikefest so that you have the opportunity to experience several different activities all in the one visit. However I would say that the Bikefest Great Debate will be a night to remember, we’ve got together some amazing local comedians to put a light hearted spin on the argument that ‘Bikes are the best form of transport’. It features Charlie Pickering, Hannah Gadsby, Bart Freebairn, Lawrence Leung, , and is moderated by Josh Earl.

My other recommendation, for those that like to dress up (and who doesn’t?) would be the Melbourne Tweed Ride. Leaving from the State Library steps, it’s a slow cruise in salute to times gone by. Hopefully it will help redress some of the crimes against Lycra we see all too frequently on the streets of Melbourne.

Why do you like cycling, and particularly in Melbourne?

Wow I like riding a bike for so many reasons, where do I start? First up would have to be sense of freedom I get riding. If I have a frustrating day, chained to the desk, feeling like I’m not getting anywhere, stuck in the treadmill of life, riding home just unravels all of that immobility and delivers a palpable sense of achievement.

I’m also one of those people that has subconscious punctuality sabotage syndrome – I think I can get anywhere in 20 minutes. Thankfully on a bike in Melbourne it’s mostly true.

And do I need to mention the great things it does for your butt?

Finally, what are your HOT tips for Melbourne where you like take your bike?

I like going to the Penny Farthing Espresso (206 High St, Northcote +). It’s just up the road from my house and has a welcoming and relaxed vibe. The coffee is good, the food uncomplicated and satisfying and they always seem to be exceptionally well staffed with polite and good-looking Gen Y employees. What more could you ask for?

Down the road is The Movie Reel (69 High Street, Westgarth +). It’s a great old school DVD hire place that’s good for a bit of eavesdropping on a Friday night. They have an amazing range. I reviewed some bike movies last year and they had every title I asked for. Plus they don’t mind if you tell them the fine belongs to your ‘housemate’.

I’m partial to popping down to the Ceres Organic Market & Shop (Cnr Roberts and Stewart Streets, Brunswick East +) on a Saturday morning. It’s a lovely ride down along the Merri Creek and it’s great to see the chickens that have laid the eggs you’re about to eat. There’s also something very satisfying about whipping your credit card out in the open air.

Also nearby is Fowlers Flowers (488 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill +). It’s next door to another favourite café, Mixed Business (486 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill +). Their arrangements are simple and beautiful and inspire me to clean the house so the flowers have a more fitting backdrop.

Melbourne Bikefestt is being held from Wednesday 24 November to Sunday 28 November. CycleStyle is one of the sponsors – if you see me at any of the events or speaking on a forum, please come say hi! For more program information, click here.

HOT: The Little Mule Company & Cafe, 19 Somerset Place, Melbourne

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Melbourne’s love affair with coffee and bikes continues with the new kid on the (laneway) block, The Little Mule Company & Cafe.

The Little Mule Company make colourful custom-made fixies in their small workshop and the bikes also provide eye-catching wall hangings for the airy warehouse aesthetic of their small adjoining cafe.

For bike and non-bike lovers, it’s a relaxing place to hang out, away from the bustle of Little Bourke Street and Melbourne Central, with a soundtrack of friendly barista banter and the occasional hiss of the coffee machine. There’s a high wooden communal table where people seem to like to hold casual office meetings, a couple of smaller tables and a cushy couch abutting one exposed brick wall. Water glasses and sugar receptacles are recycled jam jars. Really, it’s got ‘Melbourne laneway hideout’ stamped all over it.

I was lured to The Little Mule Company not just for the bikes, but because they were touting themselves on as having ‘the best milkshakes in town’. In their old-fashioned milkshakes ($5) they use syrup from Crows Nest Soft Drinks, a Queensland company that’s been making its drinks and syrups since 1903. Sadly, when I was there the one flavour I wanted to try, chocolate malt, wasn’t available – so I took a raincheck for next time.

I settled myself at the communal table and perused their simple lunch menu of toasted melts and sandwiches, baguettes and daily salad/soup (depending on the season), finally deciding on a baguette with smoked salmon, rocket, dill butter and avocado ($8). The menu also has a couple of breakfast options and all-day nibbly things like nuts and olives.

My sandwich came quickly and while simple, it was satisfying and fresh. Chock full of smoked salmon and with lots of crunchy greens stuffed inside. Nicely done.

The cafe also pride themselves in their coffee – sorry I can’t say anything about the coffee as I’m not a coffee-drinker, so if anyone has had the coffee would love to hear your views.

Finally, for the bike enthusiasts and cinephiles out there, The Little Mule Company are hosting Laneway Cinema as their offficial opening event (even though they’re already open). In conjunction with Melbourne Bikefest, they’ll be presenting the Australian premiere of ‘To Live & Ride In LA’  on Thursday November 25th, kicking off from 7:30pm with some pre-show entertainment followed by the movie at dusk. More information here.

The Little Mule Cycle Co. & Cafe on Urbanspoon

Giveaway: Gainsbourg

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**Update – thanks for your emails, tix are all gone!**

What better way to start off the week than to win some free stuff?

Specifically, I have some free passes to the new film Gainsbourg which tells the story of the iconic French singer, poet, writer and actor Serge Gainsbourg. Here’s a review of the film in The Guardian.

I have preview passes to admit two people for preview screenings this weekend Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October (not valid after 5pm on Saturday). Once those are gone, I have some more 2-for-1 tickets valid for Mondays to Fridays from 4 November until the end of the film’s theatrical season.

To win, all you have to do is send me an email with your name and postal address. Tickets will be allocated in order the emails are received, so be quick!

HOT Chat: Jacqui Vidal of Signed and Numbered

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Earlier this year I blogged about a piece of Melbourne artwork by Delicate Mayhem that RM and I commissioned for our wall and our wedding invitations.

I’m still on Delicate Mayhem‘s mailing list, so I was quite excited to discover that some works from this London artist are now stocked exclusively in Australia, right here in Melbourne. While you can’t buy our wonderful Melbourne picture, you can buy other works from Delicate Mayhem and other artists in a gallery space/shop in Prahran called Signed and Numbered.

This week’s HOT Chat is with Jacqui Vidal, the 28 year old owner of Signed and Numbered. Thanks Jacqui!

Jacqui, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to start your business Signed and Numbered?

Everyone thinks I must have studied art history or be an artist myself but nothing could be further from the truth. Before I started Signed and Numbered I was an event manager and avid traveller. It was whilst I was in Paris that I stumbled across a little gallery that displayed photos in hard-backed sleeves that allowed customers to flick through the offerings. I fell in love with this hands on approach to art and when I settled down in my home town of Melbourne, I decided to open up a gallery that looked and felt a bit like a record store.

How you select the artworks you sell and where do you source them from?

We ask for exclusivity within Australia, so it was a matter of getting out there to art fairs, gallery openings, hopping online and picking up great publications like Wooden Toy and Semi-Permanent to source new artist to contact. We’re really happy with the line up, which includes the likes of Vexta, Twoone, Kareena Zerofos and Kelly Smith.

Where do you turn for art inspiration?

The laneways of Melbourne. The amount of great art that’s out there 24/7 for anyone and everyone to admire for free is a testament to Melbourne’s street art scene and the City of Melbourne for knowing enough about art to classify it as a public service rather than vandalism.

What has been the most challenging thing you’ve faced in starting up your own business? What advice would you give to a small business owner?

I think the saying ‘you’re your own worst enemy’ rings true for most of us. I’ve had many panic attacks and periods of self-doubt along the way but I’m glad I forged ahead and believed in myself. Confidence in self is the key to making thing happen!

What are your next plans for Signed and Numbered?

I’m currently developing a leasing proposition for local cafes and businesses. I’d love it if my local café had different artworks for me to look at every week.

Finally, where are your HOT places to visit or things to do in Melbourne?

The Astor Cinema (1 Chapel St, St Kilda +) – the best choc tops in the world – especially the arctic banana one.

Fawkner Park (65 Toorak Rd, South Yarra) – the best off lead dog park in Melbourne.

A Shop Called Milton (153 Greville St, Prahran ) and Urban Jungle (155 Greville Street, Prahran +) – unique home wares and accessories.

Sunday Morning Rotary Market in Camberwell (Station Street, Camberwell) – the best bargain finds as long as you don’t mind an early wake up call.

Ask the Doctor: Musical Date

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Help me Doctor!: Dear Dr,  I’m hoping to make a favourable impression on a very cultured girl who enjoys classical music. Have you got any good suggestions on where I can take her in Melbourne? – Michael

Your prescription: Hi Michael, it’s great to  hear that you’re doing your research in your quest to impress a girl! My suggestions for where you could take a classical musical fan are:

A concert by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra http://www.mso.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_home.asp
A concert at Melbourne’s traditional concert hall Melbourne Recital Centre https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/
Recitals which tend to feature young artists at Australian National Academy of Music http://www.anam.com.au/
My personal favourite, Classic Jam, which takes classical music out of the concert hall http://classicjam.org/

There are other options involving opera, both live and in HD cinema such as those of the Metropolitan Opera and the Palace Opera & Ballet series.

Good luck! Joyce

Ask the Doctor: Melbourne Top 10

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One of the most oft-asked questions for the doctor is a list of must-dos for a weekend trip to Melbourne.

When answering, I assume that most visitors are either aware of or have done the usual ‘touristy’ stuff. So here are my Melbourne Top 10 to do/eat/see suggestions which are slightly more hidden, in no particular order. Most of them I’ve reviewed before so you can find further info on the site.

1. Eat at Italy 1, MoVida Aqui, Cutler & Co, Grossi Florentino Grill, The European. You may need to book…

2. Wander down Centre Place, between Flinders Lane and Collins St then Degraves St. I recommend the almond chicken baguettes and crepes at Aix, the lunch food at Jungle Juice, Hell’s Kitchen for drinks, Body for subtle, Melbourne-esque clothing. Further on try Journal Cafe at the City Library or Journal Canteen (Rosa’s Kitchen) next door. Oh, and have a waffle at Waffle On for dessert.

3. Do the Characters and Spaces free guided walk, which covers a similar area to 2. You’ll appreciate new views of Melbourne that even the locals miss.

4. Do a free guided tour at NGV International. Guildford Lane has 2 independent galleries worth checking out – Utopian Slumps and Guildford Lane Gallery.

5. Shop at GPO, Flinders Lane, Lt Collins St, Brunswick St, Smith St, Gertrude St.

6. Walk in any of the parks. My favourite is Fawkner Park in South Yarra.

7. Poke around Queen Vic Markets (or any of Melbourne’s food markets), maybe buy some food for a night in.

8. See a movie at old-fashioned Astor in Windsor or The Sun in Yarraville. Lots of shopping/eating around those areas too – Windsor end of Chapel St in particular has great vintage and designer shops.

9. Have dinner one night along Southbank and ask for a table with a river view. I recommend Walter’s Wine Bar, Tutto Bene, Rockpool, Nobu, The Brasserie and Number 8. Also heard Bistro Guillaume is very good.

10. Lunch at St Kilda on a Sunday…Donovans and The Stokehouse are institutions by the water. Otherwise head to St Kilda East which is very cool and an eclectic Eastern European/Jewish area.

There’s so much more! What are your Melbourne must-dos for visitors?

HOT Chat: Nicholas Aberle from the Environmental Film Festival Melbourne

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Today’s HOT Chat is with Nicholas Aberle, the director of the inaugural Environmental Film Festival Melbourne being held at Kino Cinemas next week (16-19 September).

A disclaimer – Nicholas is a friend of a friend, but even if he wasn’t the festival is something I want to support – anti-bottled water, food waste and rescue, not using plastic bags, organic produce are all issues which are close to my heart. Plus I like films :–)

Nicholas, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to be the Festival Director of the Environmental Film Festival Melbourne?

My wife and I had been living in the US for a few years, and some friends of ours had been involved in organising a new environmental film festival at the local university. Films are such a powerful way of getting a message across, and I found that everyone came out of the films inspired and motivated to try to make a difference. We saw Food Inc just before coming home at the start of this year, and I started thinking about showing it to a bunch of friends back here (this was before it starting screening around Melbourne).

Then I thought “oh, and there’s that other film I should show them as well”, and then it kind of snow-balled into organising an entire film festival. We roped in a few friends with the skills that we thought we’d need, and the rest is almost history.

What can audiences expect to see at the Environmental Film Festival Melbourne?

People are going to see some amazing films. These aren’t your David-Attenborough-nature-documentary kind of thing, it’s way better than that. These films are equal parts fascinating, terrifying and entertaining.

Some of the films are very hard hitting and paint grim pictures, like Climate Refugees and Sweet Crude – there’s no sunshine and lollipops when you’re talking about millions of people being displaced by catastrophic climate change or about the decimation of an entire region and its people by years of oil extraction. This is serious stuff and the film-makers don’t hold back from telling it like it is. Nor should they.

Others are more light-hearted, like Dive! and Bag It, which have their fair share of laughs, but still discuss very important issues. For example, until I’d seen Bag It, I had no idea just how much the plastics we use everyday affect our bodies in really bad ways. And that’s the key: all these films talk about issues that people should know about.

On top of the films, we’ll be having a discussion panel each night of the festival. The idea of these panels is to give the audience a chance to ask questions about the issues that come up, and to get an idea of what we’re doing in Australia to solve some of these problems. We want people to engage with these issues, and to become part of the solution. And if there is no solution right now, then let’s start a healthy and informed debate about what type of solutions we should be looking for, and how we’re going to get there.

Image from Sweet Crude

What is your one must-see recommendation for the festival?

Wow, that’s a tough one. I have a hard enough time narrowing it down to even a few. But since you ask, I’m going to say Climate Refugees, which is our opening night film. It is probably the most powerful film I have ever seen, because it gives a human face to what is the most pressing issue currently confronting human civilisation. It shows us people whose lives are being ruined right now by climate change, and it makes the very simple but critically important point that this is only going to get worse, and affect more people, including us here in Australia, unless we actually do something about it.

What do you enjoy most about working on the Environmental Film Festival Melbourne?

I enjoy being part of something that is going to simultaneously inform and entertain, and ultimately, I hope, contribute in a positive way to debates on important issues.

Most of these films haven’t been seen in Melbourne, or Australia for that matter, and so it has been really exciting getting them all together and thinking about what people are going to be talking about as they leave the cinema after having seen them.

Image from A Sea Change

What are some of the most interesting or challenging aspects you’ve encountered running a film festival for the first time?

By far the most interesting part has been watching all the films! There were plenty of great films that we saw that we just couldn’t fit in to our schedule, so it was a tough selection process. It has been a lot of work for our committee in pulling it all together, but so many people have been so enthusiastic and willing to help out. And we’ve had such great feedback from pretty much everyone we’ve spoken to about it, so it seems that this is something that Melburnians have been waiting for.

As for some of the challenges… well, lets just say it has been a steep learning curve. Doing a google search for “how to run a film festival” early on was a good move!

Finally, what are your tips for what’s HOT in Melbourne?

The Pinnacle (251 St George’s Road, North Fitzroy +) – it’s that perfect blend of laid-back and very cool, plus its just around the corner from my house, so that makes it even better.

CERES Saturday market – so much better than walking around under the fluorescent lights of a supermarket, plus, you don’t get many live jazz bands in Coles.

The inaugural Environmental Film Festival Melbourne will be held at Kino Cinemas from 16-19 September 2010 – see you there, I’ll be watching Tapped, Dive! and Bag It. You can also find out more about the festival by joining their .

HOT: The Runaways

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Today we have a guest post from Kylie, a writer for the sister blog BNE: HOT OR NOT, reviewing the rock chick film The Runaways. Thanks Kylie.

Floria Sigismondi is the director of some of the most impressive music videos of the past fifteen years. Her dark, seductive work has accompanied music by the likes of Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, Interpol, the White Stripes and even Christina Aguilera; strangely, even if you don’t like the song you can be drawn in by the stunning visuals.

It’s no surprise, then, that she’s now moved into film direction — the only surprise is that it took her this long.

Sigismondi’s debut feature film is The Runaways, which chronicles the rise, and later fall, of the band of the same name. I knew little of the band aside from the fact that it featured Joan Jett and that they had the hit ‘Cherry Bomb’.  I certainly knew nothing of the lead singer Cherie Currie, or the fact that the girls were all barely fifteen when they rapidly shot to fame in their ‘manufactured’ all-girl rock ‘n’ roll fantasy group.

The film stars teen actors Kristin Stewart of Twilight fame (who captures teen Joan Jett amazingly) and Dakota Fanning (I am Sam, Charlotte’s Web) as Cherie Currie.  And, while Stewart does a stand-out job portraying Jett’s f*** you attitude and angsty stoop, it’s Fanning’s portrayal of Currie that really makes the film. What these girls went through at such a young age is truly mind-boggling, and Currie’s downfall, with the help of her drug addiction, is heartbreaking.

There are many great things about this film. It’s not going to make anyone’s top 100 or go down in history, but it’s beautifully shot and is thoroughly enthralling from start to finish. There are other great performances as well — Michael Shannon’s portrayal of the sleazy, eccentric band manage Kim Fowley proves very entertaining, and Cherie’ twin sister Marie is nicely played by Riley Keough.

The Runaways is highly recommended if you want to want to spend two hours in a movie without feeling bored for a second.

HOT: I Love You Phillip Morris

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i_love_you_phillip_morris-reviewMIFF #5: Today’s we have another guest review from Yalin of the MIFF film (and potential upcoming general release TBC), I Love You Phillip Morris, which was released in the UK several months ago. Thanks Yalin!

The poster for I Love You Phillip Morris shows a gay couple with two pooches, Barbie-like hair and glowing skin. They carry the trademark smile that Jim Carrey is famous for. The whole thing beckons like a straight-up comedy from the wrapper, but the film’s deep and thoughtful handling of the true story of Steven Russell and Phillip Morris makes Ficarra and Requa’s film a highly enjoyable experience.

Steven Russell is a cop who does well and means well. On the surface, he is in a loving marriage with a religious wife who would make any Texan proud. But God wants him to come out, and so he does after a car accident forces him to reassess his life. He reveals to his wife that he is gay and he has been having affairs. He moves to Miami, gets a boyfriend and starts living the sex-and-the-city life.

However, as they mention in the film, being gay is expensive. Clever as he is, Steven beats the system with fraud and becomes a con man to get beautiful things for himself and his lover. All’s well until finally he gets caught and put in jail. This may sound like the end of the story, but actually, it is just the beginning.

His time in jail brings love to his life when he meets Phillip Morris, and for love, he’s ready to do anything. The following 80 minutes or so surprise, delight, depress and force the viewer into fits of laughter. This crazy, clever, romantic man does what he can to make sure they stay together despite their circumstances and to enjoy what life has to offer. It might just be the best romantic comedy for those who hate traditional romantic comedies as it is littered with dark themes that remind us we’re watching a true story.

With his performance as Steven Russell, Jim Carrey once again proves he is an actor with range. The Carrey we watch is not the same one we’ve seen in any of his screwball comedies; it’s closer to his performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. His trademark cheesy smile is still there, but his portrayal is inherently believable and convincing. Similarly, Ewan McGregor matches Carrey’s performance with his wide eyes, naiveté, and Southern accent.

The great performances of the leads are coupled with an astute script and effective editing that drives home the surprising tactics of this con man. At more than one occasion, I found myself as deceived as anyone else in the film.

I Love You Phillip Morris has the right amount of all things essential to make it a great film. This is one that shouldn’t be missed so go buy your ticket!

NOT: Picture Me: A Model’s Diary

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MIFF #4:  I am going to disclaim responsibility for choosing to see at 9:15pm on a school night.

So RM and I were flicking through the MIFF program and he surprised me by saying that he wanted to see ‘a visual diary of Sara [Ziff]’s experiences within the sometimes glamourous, often controversial, world of an international fashion model.’ He said that he’d read some good reviews about the documentary, that it was a no-holds-barred insight into the exploitation and dark side of modelling and was particularly effective because some of the people who were filmed did not realise that they were going to be part of a documentary.

It was pleasant enough to watch pretty girls wearing pretty clothes for 90 minutes, kind of like seeing Vogue come to life. But the supposed ‘insights’ included:

  • when you’re a model you get paid a lot of money to be pretty and on time, and after a while you can get used to the money;
  • a model who jumped into a hot tub with a completely naked photographer and was surprised when he made a move;
  • feeling annoyed because you often have to pay for your friends on holidays in St Barts because you earn 80-100k every time you work;
  • you are often treated like a prop, your hair gets pulled, your skin gets burnt;
  • backstage of a catwalk show is chaos and you have to get undressed in front of everyone, often within sight of the backstage photographers;
  • working as a tall, thin coathanger means you get a warped sense of the ideal body shape;
  • modelling and jetsetting around the world can be really tiring and the lack of sleep can play havoc to your skin and your emotions;
  • after a couple of years of walking up and down in a straight line and posing for cameras, modelling can start to feel kind of empty and pointless and it’s a challenge to work out what you want to do next; and
  • there are lots of too-young, too-skinny girls in the industry.

Yawn. I feel sorry for any young girl who is placed in a situation where they are likely to be exploited or even sexually assaulted, but taught me nothing new about the modelling industry and it was boring.

I did like the opening credits though. They were pretty creative.



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