So tell us all about the Oovie Schools Film Project.

Originally Oovie partnered with Dungog film festival to create the Schools Film Project for high school students. This year they’ve decided to expand it to the Cockatoo Island Film Festival in Sydney, so it’s really great. Each school pitches one idea for a three minute short film. Then those pitches are considered by a panel of industry experts and then three of those ideas are picked. Those three schools are invited to work with professional filmmakers and are given resources valued at a lot of money, $47600 dollars, and that includes a mentorship with writers, editors and producers and film equipment and editing equipment. What’s really cool is that kids get to come camp on the island for four days and make the film. Then they are premiered at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival.

That sounds like one cool sleepover!

Yeah it sounds like the best slumber party ever! It’s really cool, this year they have a theme and it’s “Island” and kids have to use that theme and work it into their pitch and if they get chosen then they are the luckiest kids in NSW and Victoria!

So did you ever make movies when you were in school?

Yeah I did. I was the first year that trialled the film studies subject so at the high school I went to I would study films and learn about how they were made and then we were given cameras and we got to go into the playground and make our own films. It was such a wonderful and fun subject to do at school. Now that kids are so much more tech savvy it teaches them skills they can use later on in life.

So you would have entered the film project if you could?

Absolutely, I was like, “I wish I could do this, it sounds like so much fun.”

What would you do if you had to make a film with this year’s theme ‘Island’?

Well, knowing now that there’s such diverse range of buildings on Cockatoo Island, there’s tunnels and you’ve got the jail, I reckon there will be quite a few horror stories and settlement stories coming out of the project because if you look around the island there are all these old industrial buildings. They recently had a festival of street artists which would make the best backdrops.

So what three things would you take with you if you were stranded on an island?

I would take a giant catalogue of books because I’d get bored. Even though I can’t play a musical instrument I’d take one because I’d figure I’d have a lot of time to learn and I’d probably take an avocado tree because it’s without a doubt the only food I could not live without. I would plant it on the island and have an endless supply of avocados.

The avocado tree is the strangest tree I’ve ever seen!

Yeah they are the weirdest looking trees. We had one when we were kids and it never had avocados on it and it took about 15 years and then all of a sudden it had so many on it! I think they are really temperamental, they are like “If I don’t feel like fruiting this year, then you’re getting nothing”.

Ha! So do you have any tips for aspiring filmmakers who might want to enter the Oovie Schools Film Project?

I think follow your own style and your own creativity, there’s no point in remaking someone elses stuff, let the judges see your personality of you and your school. Have fun with it too, the reason why people want to be in this industry is that it’s their favourite hobby and they get to do it everyday for a living. If you’re not having fun you’re not doing your job properly.

Do you have a message for any of our Girl Power readers who are thinking of entering?

Yeah, I’d just say I’d start sooner rather than later because this is a fantastic opportunity and I’m sure plenty of schools will be getting involved. Do it because if I was your age I’d be doing it and I hope someone gets to have all that fun!

Find out all about how to enter at www.cocktaoofilm.com or www.oovie.com.au. The pitch deadline is Wednesday February 29th, 2012.

We’ve also got the totally beautiful Taylor Swift on the cover and she’s been named GP’s Girl of the Year. Why? Well… you’ll just have to see inside! (Plus, duh, she’s so completely awesome!)

There’s also so much showbiz goss in the December issue – Victoria Justice gets put to the test, plus we give you a rundown on all the fun flicks that are hitting cinemas these school holidays!

One of our fave parts of the mag is the quiz-o-rama mini-mag – it’s BURSTING with fun quizzes that will keep you busy until Santa comes!

So pick up a copy of the December issue – it’s on sale NOW!

P.S. Have you signed up to our e-newsletter? It’s filled with the latest goss from GP HQ PLUS the chance to win cool prizes! Just enter your email address in the top right hand corner of this page where it says “join our mailing list”.

Pink has some serious girl power and so do you girls! We had a blast looking at your amazing entries for this month’s Colour My World: Pink and after many long hours we’ve finally managed to choose our top three:

Girl Power definitely rox our sox and so do you, Ashleigh!

We're lovin' the jacket in this one, Tiahna!

Wow, amazing work with the colours, Maria!

And the winner is…(drumroll please)…MARIA! Congratulations, you’ve won yourself an amazing prize! Pink isn’t afraid to be herself and we love her for it and the colours here just show how much girl power she’s got! Great job, Maria!

Stay tuned, the top three entries for Colour My World: Little Miss Sunshine will be announced soon. You haven’t got much time so send your entries to girlpower@next.com.au OR to Girl Power, ’Colour my World’, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. Don’t forget to add your name, age and address, so if you win we can send you an amazing prize!

The GP Team will standing by for your amazing creations!

Lots of love,
The GP Team
xx

Just click here to take a pic of yourself with Justin! Your pic might even be included in a JB fan video!

In other JB news - Justin Bieber’s new Christmas album Under the Mistletoe is out now! Have you got it yet?

p.s. Send your pic to girlpower@next.com.au – we’d LOVE to see it!!!

p.p.s. Scroll down to find out all about our JUSTIN BIEBER COLLECTOR’S ISSUE OF POP QUEEN!

That’s right, we’ve given Pop Queen a total Bieber makeover with JB quizzes, puzzles, Bieber bingo to play with pals PLUS we tell you how to write to Justin, why Justin makes U Smile and we find out what’s in the future for Justin!

There’s also EIGHTEEN posters of Justin for your walls including 4 GIANT JB posters – OMB! Pop Queen is much bigger than our regular mag, which means bigger, brighter, totally beautiful posters! WIN!

This SPECIAL edition of Pop Queen is available at selected newsagencies so get your copy TODAY!

p.s. Have you got it? What do you think? Share your comments below!

The GP office was once again swamped with entries for Colour My World: Willow Smith. We are always blown away with how talented you girls are!

It was a tough decision but here are our top three:

And the winner is… BRADEE! Congratulations, you’ve just scored yourself a fabulous prize! We love the bright colours because just like Willow she is fearless and one of a kind! Good job Bradee!

Stay tuned, the top three Colour My World: Pink will be announced soon. You haven’t got much time so send your entries to girlpower@next.com.au OR to Girl Power, ’Colour my World’, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. Don’t forget to add your name, age and address, so if you win we can send you an amazing prize!

The GP Team will standing by for your amazing creations!

Lots of love,
The GP Team
xx

Even if you’re not much of a book lover, there’s still lots of stuff to keep you smiling. We catch up with the boys from Big Time Rush, go Cody Simpson CRAZY and find out all about besties Selena and Demi!

If you’ve been tuning into Junior MasterChef, or you just like cooking, you’ll LOVE our Junior MasterChef special! We chat with loveable judge George, plus catch up with some of the super contestants from last year. Pierre shares his fave lunchbox recipe and sweet sisters Isabella and Sofia tell us about their new recipe book A Little Bit of This a A Little Bit of That.

We also show you how to make a difference in YOUR world and suggest some spooky Halloween ideas! Each issue comes with the CUTEST coin purse – we’ve all been putting our pennies in them in the office! So ADORABLE! You can also win a brand new summer wardrobe and many more mega cool prizes!

So get your skates on and pick up the November issue of Girl Power – it’s ON SALE NOW!

P.S. Have you signed up to our E-newsletter? It gives you the latest and greatest goss from GP HQ, plus the chance to win more fab prizes! Just enter your email in the top right hand corner of this page, under “Join Our Mailing List”.

Totally Cody Simpson by Alana Wulff

What is this book about? This is your ultimate guide to Cody Simpson! It’s got everything you need to know about this awesome Aussie superstar – his rise to fame, his awesome advice, the A-Z of Cody, quizzes, a free poster PLUS so much more! This unofficial guide is oh so great! Our fave section is the Cody trivia – there’s so many fun facts! We thought we knew everything there was to know about Cody… until we picked up this brilliant book!

Who should read this book? Cody fans, aspiring singers or just anyone who wants to read about a kid who is following his dreams… in style! We can all be inspired by Cody’s story.

How do I find out more about this book? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This book is out in all good bookstores for only $19.95. Visit Random House Australia to get more info! You can also get a sneak peek at this complete guide to the Cody-verse in the October issue of Girl Power! Our latest issue has all the latest and greatest Cody goss!

Once again there were so many entries for the Colour My World: Emma Watson comp!

As always it is a pickle to choose our top three favourites!

Emma looks amazing in blue! We totally love the background too! Great job Tazmin!

We love the diamond background and of course the bright colours! You did an awesome job Kyia!!

Kristy we love the pattern on the dress! You're so creative. Keep it up!

And this month’s winner is…..KYIA!!! You just won yourself a prize!

The colours and the patterns was so amazing! We couldn’t resist!

The next Colour My World Comp is Willow Smith! Remember to send in your creative works to girlpower@next.com.au OR to Girl Power, ’Colour my World’, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. Don’t forget to add your name, age and address, so if you win we can send you an amazing prize!

The GP team can’t wait for your next load of entries!

The GP team

XX

Our office has been swamped with fabulous entries for the Colour My World: Victoria Justice comp!

The GP Team are always impressed with the artwork that is sent in. It’s a tough job to choose our top three, but here they are:

Gemma, this is an incredible creation!

Loving the flowers, Cosette!

Victoria looks gorgeous!

And the winner is… Gemma! Congratulations! You have scored an awesome prize.

We adore the use of colours and shapes! Great job, you are so artistic!

Our next Colour My World is Emma Watson so don’t forget to send in your artwork to girlpower@next.com.au OR to Girl Power, ’Colour my World’, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. Remember to include your full name, age and postal address, so if you are the winner we can send you your prize!

The GP Team will be waiting by the mailbox to see your next creations!

The GP Team
xx