Editorial by Simon Sellars: My first exposure to serious architectural discourse came from the novels of J.G. Ballard, which feature a series of failed architects. In the Ballardian universe, because architecture often utilises funds from …
Red Zone: the Regeneration of Christchurch
Originally published in Architectural Review Australia, issue 123. All photography by Simon Sellars. Expanding on the theme of the 2011 SCAPE Biennial in Christchurch, Simon Sellars reports on the possibilities for regeneration in the city …
In Defence of the Virtual: A Secret History of Ballardian Film Adaptations
Originally published in the Norwegian-language magazine Vagant, May-August 2011, pp. 10-11. In 1986, Christian Bale, as a child actor, made his breakthrough in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, a film based on the wartime …
‘Flesh dissolved in an acid of light’: the b-movie as second sight
This is an earlier version of an article published in Continuum, Volume 24, Issue 5 October 2010, pages 721-33. Both versions were based on a paper I gave at the Monash University conference, B for …
RealTime Archive Highlights: Animation
Originally published in RealTime magazine, September, 2009. I began writing about Australian animation in 2003, but only by default. I was in the queues for the Melbourne International Film Festival waiting to see various short …
Tricks and Treats
Carmen Torero. Originally published in RealTime #92 Aug-Sept 2009 p31. In its 9th iteration, the melbourne international animation festival’s programming policy continues to be brave and adventurous, and this resulted in another diverse set of programs. …
‘Architectures of the Near Future’: An Interview with Nic Clear
ABOVE: ‘London after the Rain’, by Ben Olszyna-Marzys. A film produced for Nic Clear’s Unit 15 course, ‘Crash: Architectures of the Near Future’. Originally published on ballardian.com, 24 December 2008. In recognition of the sophistication …
MIFF 2008: Lo-tech Brilliance
Daumë, Ben Russell. Originally published in RealTime issue #87 Oct-Nov 2008 pg. 23. One of the interesting things about the Melbourne international film festival is the ‘parallel world’ effect. The festival you experience may well …
Puppet Power and Scary Magic
PeursDuNoir [Fear(s) of the Dark] – Burns 06, Charles Burns. Originally published in RealTime issue #86 Aug-Sept 2008 p24. This year’s MIAF was flush with riches. Selected from over 2000 entries, there were 150 films …
Australian Animation: Quality Wins
Ward 13. Originally published in RealTime issue #84 April-May 2008 pg. 25 In compiling a program of Australia’s best animation shorts for Flickerfest, curator Anthony Lucas chose films that inspired his own animation career, including …