Bran Nue Dae: something nue under the WA sun
A retro, indigenous-themed musical satire starring pop stars and an out-of-control Geoffrey Rush? Bran Nue Dae is all that and more, writes Paul Hayes.
They’ve started doing it again in Hollywood. They do it all the time in Bollywood. So why doesn’t Australian cinema make musicals? In terms of genre, the musical has at best been sporadically represented in Australia. Read more »
My Place: history for families
Capturing the essence of and recreating 220+ years of modern and indigenous history is no easy task, but Penny Chapman has turned a storybook My Place into a very special place for all Australians.
Trees are the oldest living creatures on earth and, in My Place, one of them bears witness to the stories of a community and, particularly, its children. Going back in time 10 years every week starting in 2008, the series presents a moment in the life of a local child and, most importantly, captures the issues and changes that have shaped our nation.
Bright Star: a southern star shines up north
Jane Campion and Jan Chapman re-teamed to tell the story of a poet and his muse in Bright Star. Chapman told Miguel Gonzalez how this quintessentially British tale has an Australian heart.
The romantic poet John Keats died in Rome in 1820, aged 25. His work would achieve posthumous recognition but, until today, the source of inspiration for his most famous poems had been largely ignored.
ABC3: 3 is for kids
The new digital channel ABC3 is a reality now that Kevin Rudd has literally switched it on, but it didn’t happen overnight. It was a long, painful birth, but one that will offer Australian children- and producers- an entire world of content.
Home entertainment: new formats, old habits
The lucrative movie rental and retail business is under siege; with increased broadband access, piracy may soon be as ubiquitous as the PC in Australian homes. Of course, industry has a plan. Laine Lister writes.
To say that the home entertainment industry has hit a hurdle on the path to profits would be something of an understatement.
While consumers have spent big on HD screens and sound systems, they have become less extravagant in their game and movie purchases. In addition, file-sharing websites are more prolific than ever before. Read more »
Blue skies for 3D
With the arrival of James Cameron’s Avatar and an increasing number of international releases, 3D is impossible to ignore. Miguel Gonzalez found that Australia is getting ready to embrace it with stereoscopic arms.
The global 3D market is reaching a stage of maturity, with the release of A Christmas Carol (November), Avatar (December) and Alice in Wonderland (March 2010), according to the president of the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, Mark Zoradi. Read more »
Documentary: both sides of the camera
For better or worse, documentary filmmaking has been plagued by the shadow of subjectivity since the first images were committed to celluloid. Trent Griffiths asks, does it even matter? Is subjectivity inevitable? Should the subjectivity of the lens be embraced? Is objectivity the (unattainable) ideal documentary should strive for? Read more »
The Boys Are Back: the long way home
Scott Hicks’s filmmaking magic still shines in South Australia, and he brought Clive Owen along to engage audiences in one of the most heart-warming films of the year. Miguel Gonzalez writes.
The Boys Are Back based on a memoir by Simon Carr was first offered to Hicks by British production company Tiger Aspect (Billy Elliott) back in early 2004. Read more »
Industry education: best of both worlds
Different schools at different levels provide vastly different experiences for their students, but there are common elements that become evident when discussing trends with the heads of the sector. Miguel Gonzalez reports.
At a time when anyone can grab a camera to create and distribute an audiovisual work, it is essential for the industry to remain rofessional and ensure that those amateur practitioners get the chance to polish and develop their natural talents and interests. Read more »
Into the Shadows / Back into the light
Everybody has an opinion about why independent cinemas are disappearing and most Australians films fail with mainstream audiences, but until today, nobody had made a documentary about it. Paul Hayes spoke with the one man who did, Andrew Scarano.
This has been a banner year for high quality Australian cinema, with one of the most impressive slates of local films in years. What would be even more impressive is if more people had seen them. Read more »