Matching Jack: Nadia Tass, hard to match
Director Nadia Tass is hard to match, with her multifaceted career and her will to pursue a project, even if it takes 10 years like Matching Jack – her first Australian film in 13 years.
Matching Jack is the story of a woman (Jacinda Barrett) whose marriage falls apart just as her child (Tom Russell) is diagnosed with leukaemia. She begins a search for potential bone-marrow donors, including the offspring that her husband’s (Richard Roxburgh) infidelities may or may not have produced. She also shares a connection with the father (James Nesbitt) of another sick child (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Read more »
Jack, no match for Salt
Nadia Tass’ new film Matching Jack (Twentieth Century Fox) opened at number eight in Australia, but still struggled to match the results expected from a wide release, earning $258,011 on 186 screens (average $1,387).
Last week Fox CEO Marc Wooldridge told Encore that “it’s been a while since we released a local movie – I’m excluding Australia. We have a clear point of view in terms of how to sell Matching Jack and who to sell it to, and we share with the filmmakers a common commercial imperative – which is really important. We’ve had great support from exhibition (185 prints), and the media and the critical response has been very positive. You do need to pedal a little harder with the local movies to get people’s attention, but it has also been very rewarding to create materials and drive a campaign from ground zero. Fingers crossed for the opening.” Read more »
Six Lovers – trailer
The trailer for Six Lovers, written and directed by Laurent Boulanger, and produced by Joel Mielle.
Weaver is the Australian Star of the Year
Animal Kingdom actress Jacki Weaver has been named Australian Star by the Year at the Australian International Movie Convention. Madman sales manager Lee Hunter received the trophy on Weaver’s behalf.
Avatar received the top honours for highest grossing film in both Australia and New Zealand, while Mao’s Last Dancer and Boy received awards for highest grossing local films respectively. Read more »
Projects, valued on their own merits: Icon
According to Greg Denning, director of Icon Film Distribution, projects need to be valued on their own merits, regardless of country of origin, as the theatrical business is about survival of the fittest.
Will the performance of recent local hits increase distributors’ interest in local product?
We, the local film industry, happen to have had a few hits locally this year. I don’t believe that this will see distributors clamouring for more Aussie films to add to their slate. However, these hit films have put a few extra filmmakers on the radar for sure. Ultimately though, we value each project on its own merits, whether it’s from Australia or elsewhere. Read more »
Brand relevance must be maintained: Disney
John Cracknell, managing director at The Walt Disney Company Australia, talks about the restructure of Disney and how the powerful studio is adapting to new platform and consumer habits.
How has Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures re-structured itself after the departure of Alan Finney?
The Walt Disney Studios continues to drive great content and exceptional films to movie lovers all throughout Australia. Having been operational for 22 years in Australia, the new structure for the entire Walt Disney Company, which was announced at the beginning of this year, means that the introduction of an integrated structure will drive continued growth across all our businesses and will provide opportunities to further deepen our relationships with consumers and our partners here.
We now have in place an integrated structure with our Motion Pictures and Home Entertainment marketing teams, working together as one team to drive our product through the windows and to provide a consistent message to our target consumers. Read more »
Mid-range failure must be addressed by either party: Screen Australia
Dr Ruth Harley, CEO of Screen Australia, says the industry needs help to address the lack of mid-range feature production – and it must be done regardless of who wins the election.
Plus, marketing manager Kathleen Drumm discusses the structure of her department and its relationship with distributors.
Ruth, you’ve openly said that mid-range features are in danger, and some distributors agree that this situation is also happening in the US. Now the Coalition has proposed a $60m fund to stimulate distributor investment in $7-30m films…
Ruth Harley: Screen Australia has made the exact same point. We and SPAA are one mind about this as a market failure, and we need some help to address it. Read more »
Jane Scott brings legal action against Mao’s distributors
Producer Jane Scott has initiated legal action against distributors Village Roadshow and Hopscotch for “non-payment of full royalties due” on Mao’s Last Dancer.
In a statement to the press, Scott explained that “despite repeated assurances that it would be done, Village Roadshow/Hopscotch failed to apply Ripguard copy protection to the Mao’s Last Dancer DVDs; a major error given that the film was still to be released in the US and many other key territories.” Read more »
International distributors have full supply chains: Sony
Sony Pictures Releasing MD Stephen Basil-Jones admits that while the company is increasing its involvement with the local industry, “there would have to be a seismic shift” for it to change its purpose: to release Sony’s US productions.
What’s stopping Sony from making local films instead of just distributing them? What incentives are necessary to take that step?
It’s not just Sony; it’s most of the MPDAA studios. Our primary reason for being is to distribute and market films that are produced by our respective studios. We are their international local distribution office.
There would have to be a seismic shift in the supply chain and business model to change that principal purpose of business. The requirement and need to bolster the studio slate and offerings does vary from year to year, but for the most, we at SPR have a very full supply chain, which is bolstered by additional films from Sony Classics (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon),Screen Gems (Resident Evil 4, Burlesque) as well as CBS films (The Back-up Plan, Faster, Beastly) and the Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group (District 9) which acquires pics from all the film markets around the world. Read more »
Mid-range fund would make decisions easier: Universal
Mike Baard, director of Universal Pictures Australia, says the $60m production fund for mid-range films would make distributors’ decisions to invest in Australian films – such as Sanctum and Dracula: Year Zero - “easier”
Will this fund really encourage distributors to invest in local films?
Talking for Universal Pictures, we’re announcing one film today, Alex Proyas’ Dracula: Year Zero today. Any fund that makes the decision easier for the distributor to either invest or come on board purely on a minimum guarantee basis is to be welcomed. It’s a very risky business and it’s a very expensive business to be operating in; once you’ve taken the production budget out of play, you always have to consider the P&A, which can exceed the production budget.
This fund will definitely help distributors come on board in a more positive way, in particular those studios that are not looking at the Australian market from an investment perspective; it will definitely make the decision easier. Read more »