CQU Business/Marketing student Jason Gibson is making his mark on the local creative arts scene, with his gangster and heist-themed short films.

Jason Gibson

Last year, he got a certificate of commendation for a gangster-style flick 'The Takers' and this year he won the $1000 first prize at the 2007 Rocky Fringe Short Film Competition and Festival for a film about a theft from a hotel, entitled 'False Reflections'.

Earlier in the screening, the audience were also enthusiastic about one of his longer films - 'The Sharkmen' - about a local gang of hitmen, including the catchphrase 'Feed him to the crocs!'.

Jason is looking to extend 'The Sharkmen' to feature length and is keen to contact potential actors for the project for shooting at the start of 2008.

"The script is in development and will be finished while production of my comedy/surfing feature film 'The Farnborough Stories' is being produced.

"The 'surfing' theme in it is just the background of the story. It is a sci-fi fantasy based comedy film that is about the fantasy fight between surfboarders and bodyboarders. (Which can be seen out in the surf on any beach - but has been exaggerated greatly in the film). It sounds wierd, but it's a fun film that I'm using to practise and experiment with visual and special effects which I will be using in 'The Sharkmen' next year.

"I'm also shooting a behind the scenes documentary 'Making a low budget epic - The How to of Filmmaking, from idea to Finished Movie for under $1000',  where I will show how I plan the film, shoot the film, and do the post-production visual/special effects".

If anyone is interested in acting in one of his future film projects, they can get in touch via http://www.thegibsonstyle.com/ or at jason@thegibsonstyle.com .

The Fringe Films event was held recently at the Walter Reid Cultural Centre in Rockhampton and was part of Rockhampton City Council's Art Services programming.

The Festival entries were judged by Kerry O'Rourke, the Executive Director of QPIX Ltd.

The bar scene from the winning film

 A range of CQU staff, students and graduates were involved in the festival entries, including staff video producer Peter Lawrence who gained a highly commended award for his entry 'Left of Centre' based on a poem by campus colleague Patrick Keleher.

A highly commended award also went to 'Off Centre', a film by Encompass Art Productions involving CQU student Tony Doak and featuring other University alumni.

Mr O'Rourke commented that the driving forces behind Rockhampton's film creations seemed to be coming from CQU and the city council.

View this year's Rocky Fringe Short Film Competition winner, False Reflections online at the YouTube website, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAoCIlkwW10

Thresher from 'The Shark Men'
Jason gets his award from the judge