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Our Short Film JACKS Screens at KKIFF!
JOEL STEPHEN FLEMING’S crime comedy short film ‘JACKS’ screened at the Kota Kinabalu International film Festival, and I was “repping” — as Joel says — for our film! Yikes! I didn’t want to let him down! So how did it go? It was a blaaast! Here’s Ronald Ng, very funny emcee and well-known Sabah Tourism… Continue reading
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Our movie JACKS is going to Kota Kinabalu!
JACKS — the crime comedy short film by Joel Stephen Fleming of 13th Street Films has been selected by CINEBALU – Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival 2022! The reason I’m ecstatic is that Kota Kinabalu is in Sabah, Malaysia — the birth place of my parents, and where I spent four years before coming to… Continue reading
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Jude Day, Festival Director — Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival
The Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF) runs September 17 – 25 in 2022. Founder and festival director Jude Day got on Zoom with me, to talk about what’s coming up. I was going to write a long post, but Jude is so effervescent, her passion for film and the people that write and make… Continue reading
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FESTIVAL NEWS: Jacks earns first laurel from International Shorts Film Festival
Short film crime comedy ‘Jacks’ has earned its first laurel, from International Shorts Film Festival. Related posts Joel Stephen Fleming, 13th Street Films Sen Shao – If Looks Could Kill Sian Laycock – creating the reality I Am Yang Tristan Barr, Continuance Pictures Continue reading
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Benson Wu, Director, Taiwan Film Festival in Australia
“The festival is edgy,” said Benson Wu, Director of the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia. On a recent Zoom call, Benson said he’s all about bringing more diversity into film, whether it’s Asian representation in Western film or LGBT films to Taiwanese audiences. “We have around 12 films in the full programme and there are… Continue reading
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Another festival selection and now we have an official poster
Crime comedy short film JACKS has been selected by Byron Bay Underground Film Festival (BUFF) and to celebrate, 13th Street Films and Visul made this poster. I am officially a gangsta mum. Continue reading
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FESTIVAL NEWS: official selection for Independent Producers Indie FF
Just when you thought I was done with Jacks… festival #15, I think? So happy for writer/director Joel Stephen Fleming and all the cast and crew. Continue reading
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How I Became an Online Piano Teacher
I originally posted this article on Medium, but have now removed it from there. If you have considered taking your services online, you might be interested in the essay below. I Became an Online Piano Teacher Because of COVID Now I am living the dream Teaching piano is a lovely way to make a living,… Continue reading
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Nita’s Borlotti Beans
My cousin Nita is Italian from a farming family in Innisfail, south of Cairns in northern Queensland, although she’s based in Brisbane these days. She recently picked some borlotti beans out of her garden – they look like this! Real Jack-and-the-Beanstalk beans! I’m so excited to grow them – my first beans and they’re Italian… Continue reading
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All about the team – Derek Griffiths, Visul
It’s about finding the right team, the right passion, and a story that’s worth telling Derek Griffiths, Creative Producer, Visul Derek Griffiths operates under the Visul banner as a solo creative producer. He wants to tell a great story and he cares about the people that walk the journey with him. Talk with him for… Continue reading
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Sian Laycock – creating the reality
In ‘Jacks’, we’re living in a stylised environment: a heightened reality in terms of the colour palette. The set is bold and the lighting is vibrant, with lots of neon. It’s almost retro-inspired and could be a set from any time in the last 20 or 30 years. Sian Laycock, Production and Costume Design, 13th… Continue reading
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Sen Shao – if looks could kill…
Actor Sen Shao plays ZHI, a cold-blooded professional killer in crime-comedy short film ‘Jacks’. Sen is tall and lean; kit him up in black and he’s the quintessential assassin. ‘Jacks’ is written and directed by Joel Stephen Fleming, and is a collaboration between 13th Street Films and Visul production company. Above: From JACKS [2020] a… Continue reading
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I am Yang
Above: From JACKS [2020] a Visul and 13th Street Films production. Cinematography: Trimedium This is my first time in a short film! My friend and actor Sen Shao called me and asked if I wanted to cast for the role of Yang in ‘Jacks’, which is a crime comedy written by Joel Stephen Fleming. Sure… Continue reading
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Joel Stephen Fleming – 13th Street Films
Award-winning Brisbane-based writer director Joel Stephen Fleming has a new short film in the works. His company 13th Street Films is in collaboration with producer Derek Griffiths, and here’s how Derek announced it on Facebook via his Visul brand. Once I have the idea I don’t write anything straight away. I let the idea tell… Continue reading
About Joanna
Joanna is British Australian. She worked mainly in financial news in London. In her forties she moved to her parents’ birthplace, Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, where she became a pianist in a hotel and wrote a blog about musicians. The blog became a book before Joanna came to Australia in 2012. In this blog she writes mostly about music, gardening, and trips to Sabah. Oh, and Wookie the Havanese.

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