MOONSHINE MOVIES




Moonshine Movies is a multi-award winning independent film production company specializing in creating moving pictures that move audiences to action. Since its inception in 2010, Moonshine Movies has completed three major productions – LIFE Before Death, Jokes On You and Common Ground – generating over 13 hours of cross-platform programming that has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times online, via television broadcast internationally, at hundreds of public screenings around the world, on DVD and mobile Apps, as well as through video-on-demand services like the iTunes Store.

The company’s founder, Mike Hill, and several of the core creative team have previously worked on 4 feature films and over 20 television specials, series, live broadcasts and home entertainment releases. This back catalog produced under Whyte House Productions has won numerous awards been broadcast across over two-dozen networks worldwide and included collaborations with Eric Bana, Jason Lee, Jay Leno, Ice T, Luke Perry, Dr Phil, Jeremy Clarkson, Johnny Knoxville, Jason 'Wee Man' Acuna, Lemmy Kilmister, Larry Flynt, Matt Pritchard and elite athletes Tony Hawk, Kelly Slater and Matt Hoffman.

To explore some of our Entertainment History see the Past Projects Gallery.








LIFE BEFORE DEATH

LIFE Before Death is a multi-award winning social action documentary film series about the global crisis in untreated pain and the dramatic life-changing effects pain treatment and palliative care services can deliver to patients and their families. The project is multi-faceted and incorporates a feature film, 55 minute broadcast documentary, 50 short films and numerous social media platforms. The project is designed to generate concerned awareness and educate its audience.


The impetus for the project was an alarming World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2009 stating that 4 out of every 5 people would suffer from severe untreated pain in their lifetimes if the current situation went unchecked. However, this is a solvable problem. With inexpensive medications, basic training and public awareness the prevalence of untreated pain can be dramatically reduced in a matter of years.

The filmmakers Mike Hill and Sue Collins and the team at Moonshine have a strong interest in collaborating to tell stories about global health, social justice, human rights, pain control, palliative care and hospice care.

LIFE Before Death was developed from scratch. Mike Hill and Sue Collins raised production financing with the support of seven international foundation partners, two Australian Government screen agencies, along with private investment from Moonshine Movies. Their roles included producing, executive producing, researching, writing and directing the project. Moonshine supplied all the production and postproduction services along with the majority of graphic design, animation, web design, social media and digital marketing services.

The Short Films released over twelve months at a frequency of one per week and had received over 145,000 views at the time of writing. The feature film, which was subtitled in 13 languages, screened over 215 times in the months after its release in 37 countries to over 25,000 people. Some highlights included screenings in the Parliament House of Australia, the National Film Archives of India, the British Film Institute, as well as Harvard and Cambridge universities. The film project has won 5 international awards and has been critically acclaimed.

The project has been immensely rewarding for the Moonshine team. To have had the opportunity to spend time with such wonderful individuals in the field of palliative care and pain management and to have had the privilege of meeting so many generous souls who in the last days and weeks of their lives gave their time to candidly share their stories with us was a great honour. Moonshine hope that the work continues to help support the initiatives of organisations and individuals who strive to improve access to essential services such as palliative care and access to pain medications.

Produced by Sue Collins & Mike Hill. Written & Directed by Mike Hill. Multimedia design by Hamish Johnston.. Additional shooting by Drew Piercey.

Narrated by acclaimed British actor David Suchet CBE (Poirot, Maxwell).

Platforms include:
- Feature film (winner Prestige, Indie Fest & Accolade Awards)
- One-hour television documentary
- 50 short-films (Best of Show, Best Shorts Competition)
- 2 advocacy websites www.LifeBeforeDeath.com & www.TreatThePain.com
- Various Social media Places

Visit www.LifeBeforeDeath.com

Visit www.TreatThePain.com

Download the Press Kit

Watch the trailer below :












COMMON GROUND SHORT FILM SERIES

Moonshine was commissioned by Common Ground Canberra to write and produce a series of three short films advocating for the end of homelessness in Canberra.

The mission of Common Ground is to end homelessness in Canberra by developing permanent, high quality, supportive, safe housing for the city's most vulnerable homeless people.

The first short film, Common Wealth, explores the scale, scope and reality of homelessness in Canberra today:

In the capital city of our Commonwealth - our political community founded for the common good - homelessness is growing at an alarming rate. Between 2001 and 2006, homelessness in the ACT grew by eleven per cent. Canberra has been exposed as the worst housing market in Australia for low-income individuals and families. Why is our Commonwealth failing to protect its most vulnerable citizens?

The second short film, Common Sense, asks its viewers to imagine how they would deal with the realities of homelessness:

Australian politicians boast of our strong economic standing. The disposable household income of Canberrans is the highest of any capital city in the country. Yet in our national capital, homelessness is increasing at an alarming rate. Common sense tells us that the ACT should have the most resources at its disposal to help its most vulnerable. Sadly, this is not the case. Today, the CEO of Lifeline Canberra will see how it feels to make do with nothing but the clothes on his back.

The third short film, Common Ground, seeks to identify a potential solution to the problem of homelessness in Canberra:

Today, there is effectively no affordable housing available in Canberra. As a result, homelessness is growing rapidly. The ACT and Federal Governments urgently need to identify and support initiatives that will provide long-term solutions to the problem. One such initiative is Common Ground - an international leader in the development of solutions to homelessness.

Find out how you can help make Common Ground a reality by visiting:

www.commongroundcanberra.org.au

Approximately 20 minutes of finished materials were produced. The series launch takes place at the ACT Canberra Museum in late 2012. The films are accredited by Documentary Australia Foundation. Moonshine role included:

- Film production
- Writing
- Directing
- Producing
- Filming
- Sound recording
- Editing
- Motion graphics










JOKES ON YOU

Jokes On You is a free online comedy show & games platform starring American stand-up comedian Eddie Ifft.

Jokes On You was designed as the world's first interactive comedy show thanks to the support of Film Victoria's Digital Media Prototyping Initiative and Screen Australia's Innovation Program.

Comedy lovers can visit the website www.JokesOnYou.tv, download the iPhone App or hit the Facebook page to create totally customised comedy experiences for free.

Eddie Ifft will take your requests or heckles and deliver come-backs just for you and your friends.

You can also play along by taking the free Personality Test and Build an Avatar.

Project materials are being syndicated via the project website www.jokesonyou.tv as well as the Sydney Morning Herald, Funny or Die, College Humor, YouTube, iTunes, Blip.tv and Apple's App Store.

The experience of producing Jokes On You encouraged the Moonshine team to take bold risks, innovate and experiment in the rapidly emerging digital marketplace. The end product demonstrates the exciting interactive opportunities presented by emerging digital entertainment platforms.

Produced & Directed by Mike Hill. Innovative Multimedia by Hamish Johnston.

Platforms include:
- Innovative interactive website www.jokesonyou.tv
- 3 interactive online games - iPhone App
- 4 x 24 minute TV series
- 1 x 52 minute TV special
- 16 x 6 minute VOD series
- Interactive DVD
- Various Social media Places

Check out www.jokesonyou.tv

Download the One-Sheet

Download the Electronic Press Kit

Check out the show below :










MIKE HILL - WRITER / DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Mike Hill is the founder of Melbourne-based Moonshine Agency specialising in innovative transmedia, digital marketing, film production, photography and multimedia design. The Moonshine team is made up of a collective of multi-disciplinary creative professionals who work with producers, artists, brands, nonprofits and government organisations in Australia and abroad. Mike has been producing film, television and transmedia projects for over 10 years and is an experienced television and commercial producer and interviewer, with over 20 hours of produced credits. Recently he completed a TV series Bible and Origins Story Treatment for REPLICA, a Film Victoria supported Science Fiction project he co-created with Luke Devenish. Mike has written, directed and produced a feature documentary and 50 short films for the multi-award winning LIFE Before Death (2012), and written and directed the theatrically released documentary feature The Man Who Souled The World (2007), and four broadcast television documentaries; Jokes On You (2011), Jailbait (2008), AKA Girl Skater (2002) and Tic Tac 2 Heelflip: Australia's Skateboarding History (2001). Mike's formal training includes a Bachelor of Social Sciences (RMIT) and a Graduate Certificate in Screenwriting and Directing (AFTRS), and has been producing for film, television and transmediaprojects for over 10 years.





SUE COLLINS - PRODUCER / RESEARCHER

Sue Collins is a producer who graduated from the Victoria College of the Arts with a Bachelor's Degree in Dramatic Art Production in 2002. Since graduating she has worked in narrative film and documentary and has a strong background in theatre and events. Sue's interest in social action projects began when she was studying at the VCA. She worked on a number of productions focused on educating audiences about refugees, the stolen generation (indigenous Australians) and later working with Plan B, a renowned theatre project for men on release from prison. Sue was the producer and researcher on the multi-award winning LIFE Before Death (2012) series, comprising a feature documentary, 50 short films and a TV documentary. She has also produced TV specials such as The Global Assault (2006) and spent fourteen months working as the First Assistant Director to Oscar-winner Adam Elliot for the Melodrama Pictures stop-motion animation feature Mary and Max (2009). Sue was the cinematographer and production manager on The Man Who Souled the World (2007) and has coordinated on live action films, short films and animation. Sue is also a skilled researcher and thoroughly enjoys developing new projects.





HAMISH JOHNSTON - DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Hamish Johnston has been developing his fine art inspired design sensibilities and applying those skills to multimedia, film and print media with Moonshine (formally Whyte House) for over 10 years. Hamish has created dozens of brand logos, posters and merchandising pieces for popular Australian brands and has designed websites for numerous others including Mossimo, Mooks, Globe, Skateshop, Superdry, 1800 Reverse, Gallaz and Malvern Star. Hamish has recently completed the creative and multimedia design for public advocacy projects LIFE Before Death and Treat the Pain, and is the Creative Director on transmedia stand-up comedy project Jokes On You (2011).

Hamish is a gifted designer and motion graphics artist who has developed a knack of utilising third party popular entertainment assets from big studios like Universal, MTV and Paramount and transforming them into reimaged works of art that maintain the integrity of the originating material. Hamish has a Diploma of Arts, Graphics Arts & Design and an Advanced Diploma in Electronic Design & Interactive Multimedia from VUT.





DREW PIERCEY - PHOTOGRAPHER/ CINEMATOGRAPHER

Drew Piercey the house photographer and videographer at Moonshine. Drew is an accomplished studio photographer, having shot thousands of published stills for brands including Thurley, Anthea Crawford, Globe, 1800 Reverse and Skateshop. Drew has also shot stills at dozens of live music and sporting events in Australia. Drew's commercial photography has seen him shoot with popular personalities including Eddie Ifft, Dave Callan, Rick Kelly, Eric Bana and Phil Anderson. Drew's videography has taken him to far-flung parts of the world shooting for feature documentaries including Love The Beast (2009) and Life Before Death (2011) as well as television specials for World Championship Tour Surfing in Fiji, the Shanghai Showdown and World Cup Skateboarding.