Short Film
This page contains a collection of short films that are produced by friends of meandus.com.  These films provide an insight into Australian culture as seen by normal Australians.  

How to watch:
Download the file and save them to your computers hard disk.  Most video player programs will open them (e.g. Windows Media Player).  However, you may need to install the correct CODEC.  The required CODEC is the xvid CODEC.  You can download it from here:  www.free-codecs.com.  

Alternatively, you can watch some of the videos live streaming to your WWW browser on Google Video (see the links below).  


Rami dances on his 30th birthday [download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)
OR:
Watch on Google video

This is a somewhat bazaar clip, starting with a confused telephone call, I quickly deteriate into an eclectic dance.

Filmed by: Con Frantzeskos
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Resolution: 384 x 240 pixels
Size: 10 MB

For God's sake, get over the fence! [download]
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Miracle on Coogee Beach gone sour. Visions of the mother Mary seen by thousands. This film takes a close look at the tragedy, disappointment and dismay when hundreds of pilgrims arrive only to find that a disgruntled local resident had vandalized the fence the night before.  Has the apparition gone?
This film won 3rd place in the Coogee film festival.  

Presented by: Graziella Obeid
Produced by: Ann Megalla and Graziella Obeid
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 320 x 208 pixels
Duration: 7 minutes
Size: 36 MB

Coogee ... by night [download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)
OR:
Watch on Google video

On a warm balmy night take a walk up Coogee Bay road.  An amazing but subtle insight into Australian night beach culture. Shot from the perspective of a 9 year old, you will notice more and more each time you watch it.  At first your perception will be purely superficial, but each successive time you watch it, you will see characters develop, and notice a whole world open up in front of you.  

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 320 x 208 pixels
Duration: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Size: 26.5 MB

Preacher Man [Download]
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OR:
Watch on Google video

A lost soul who knows the answer to everyone’s problem tries to reach out and lend a hand, but everyone is just too busy waiting to listen.

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 608 x 352 pixels
Duration: 1 minutes 30 seconds
Size: 20 MB

East Edge of Australia [Download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)

Explore the most easterly  point of the Australian mainland.  Set to eclectic music, this film shows some of the most spectacular coastline in the world, then diverges to the people by day and by night that are drawn to this incredible place.  You will start at Woolgoolga just out side of Coffs Harbour before making the journey north to Byron bay and end up in Woodford.  Filmed between Christmas and New Years Day 2006.    

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Duration: 3 minutes 40 seconds
Size: 23.9 MB

Pink Thong World Record Attempt [Download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)
OR:
Watch on Google Video

Australia Day 2006.  A world record attempt was made on Coogee Beach to form the longest chain of people floating on bright pink inflatable thongs.  The world record was broken, but a nation would be changed forever.      

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Graziella Obeid
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 448 x 256 pixels
Duration: 2 minutes 09 seconds
Size: 26.3 MB

Uncle Hadi [Download]
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Freedom.  The story of the happiest man in the world. Everyone has their story.  Why does it have to mean something? Superficial happiness is no comparison to true happiness within.  Hadi is an inspiration to us all, a man that we can all learn from, a man that ultimately we all aspire to become.       

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 432 x 256 pixels
Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds
Size: 36.6 MB

Marcelo [Download]
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It all happens at Marcelo's. The tradition of the Barber shop lives on. People go to Marcelo's not only to get a hair cut, but to find work, find support when they are down, and at the end of the day have a drink and a good laugh. Filmed late one Friday night; this is just a glimpse of any typical day at Marcelo's.

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 384 x 224 pixels
Duration: 3 minutes 48 seconds
Size: 29.9 MB

Life on the 23rd Floor [Download]
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What happens to you when you live on the 23rd floor of Australia's tallest building - Eureka Tower? This is an insight into the life of one man who lives amongst the clouds - but just not high enough. Insanity? Madness? Hope? Take a journey through Melbourne to the 23rd Floor.

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 304 x 176 pixels
Duration: 5 minutes 15 seconds
Size: 29.9 MB

Water Balloon World Record [Download]
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OR:
Watch on Google Video
Another world record broken at Coogee Beach. 3000 people gather to throw water balloons at each other. Over 10,000 balloons were thrown. This is a story of struggle, passion and desire. In the end the record was taken from the Spanish.

Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 304 x 176 pixels
Duration: 4 minutes 7 seconds
Size: 30 MB

Sydney 2006 Coffee Festival [Download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)
OR:
Watch on Google Video
You don’t need to go to Melbourne to get good Coffee anymore. Sydney showed Melbourne how it was done.  The Sydney 2006 coffee festival brought tens of coffee merchants to sample their best cup at $1 each.  There was local music, dance, food and many other interesting facets to this festivity by the harbour!
Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Interviewer: Rami Mukhtar
Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 352 x 208 pixels
Duration: 5 minutes 1 seconds
Size: 30 MB

“Kevin” [Download]
(right click the link, and select save target as)
OR:
Watch on Google Video
Kevin – the story of a true Australian suburbanite.  This film tells a story yet untold about a man who is the Australian colloquialism.  Spend a typical afternoon with Kevin and take a rare journey into the life of the Australian bachelor. 
Filmed by: Rami Mukhtar
Produced by: Rami Mukhtar
Starring: Kevin

Video Information:
Container: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
Codec: Xvid MPEG-4 Compliant
Resolution: 352 x 208 pixels
Duration: 13 minutes 10 seconds
Size: 32 MB