AUGUST 26, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Supplied)
The truth is out there People are being invited to ilm their reaction to a UFO sighting for a movie being made during Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdowns. Toxic Alien Zombie Babes from Outer Space, directed by Footscray’s Gerardo Chierchia, will feature people’s self-shot footage within the ilm and in the credits. The brainchild of producer David Black, the ilm is a tongue-in-cheek sci-i/horror that pays homage to cult classics such as War of the Worlds, Plan 9 from Outer Space and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Black said people were being invited to use a phone to ilm their reaction to a UFO sighting, and a UFO would later be superimposed on the self-shot footage. “It’s a simple scene: how would you react if you saw a UFO? Do they scream? Do they say, ‘Oh my God?’ “We’re going to select ive to go in the ilm but we’re also going to collect as many as possible afterwards for the credits.” People can upload their footage until the end of September to: facebook.com/ groups/UfoScreamScene/ Goya Dmytryshchak
GERARDO CHIERCHIA
Council’s COVID lifeline By Benjamin Millar Maribyrnong residents and businesses hit hard by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic are being thrown a $2.5 million lifeline from council cofers. Councillors last week voted to provide the extra assistance to those hardest hit by the economic impact of COVID-19, adding to the $6.5m in direct support and payment relief that has been rolling out since April. he council last month decided to keep a further $2 million in the pockets of ratepayers by voting not to take up the two per cent rate
rise it had earlier planned to apply over the next 12 months. he latest allocation follows almost 1500 requests for assistance from people let vulnerable due to the COVID-19 crisis. Mayor Sarah Carter said the council has provided or earmarked $11 million in resources and assistance since April 2020, through the initial COVID-19 relief packages, frozen rates, in-kind support and now the expanded COVID-19 Community and Business Support packages. “During this diicult time, it is important that we continue to provide the relief packages already in place and that we support those
who are most at risk in our community – our vulnerable residents, community organisations and local traders,” she said. “Council has received a total of 1446 requests for assistance from vulnerable people, due to COVID-19 impact on our community.” he calls for help have come through a range of avenues including 180 via maternal and child health services, 700 from aged care assessments, 230 via youth services, 310 from community connectors and 26 via community centres. Cr Carter said the council’s expanded COVID-19 Community and Business Relief
Support Packages include direct funding and material support, as well as referrals to services supporting housing, mental health and family violence. Cr Carter said meal delivery has also been increased by 60 per cent. he $2.5 million package includes $1.9 million to extend existing support such as fee waivers, rate deferrals and lease and license fee reductions, along with COVID-19-related community and arts grants. he council will also be providing a $350,000 relief package for the most vulnerable families and young people and a $271,000 business relief package.
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