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Opinion
A night at the unintentionally amusing AACTAs
Encore managing editor Brooke Hemphill attends the inaugural AACTA awards and comes away cringing.
Last night the inaugural Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards were held at Sydney’s Opera House as the Australian film and television community gathered to celebrate the achievements of the past 12 months and those who went along for the ride left vaguely amused, with little thanks to the event’s producers. Read more »
Knocking the summer television model of old
This year’s non-ratings period could signal the dawning of a new era. Steve Molk considers the It’s a Knockout model.
Normally the minute the ratings period ends, viewers switch off the television in droves. There’s usually naught on they’ve not already seen, or some extremely poor sitcom from the US. But this year, Ten have been trying a different approach as they revive a retro favourite. Welcome back It’s A Knockout.
Niche versus mass market: big just isn’t better at the cinema
Chris Murray laments the demise of independent cinemas and the rise of generic shopping centre multiplexes with their get ‘em in, bang ‘em out culture.
Punters visit the cinema for an exciting communal experience, not the ease of parking.
As the multiplex struggles to keep the candy bar traffic flowing, automated cogs pump out digital images and the passionate few who strive to make their independent exhibition houses a cultural beacon (The Ritz, The Astor, Chauvel and so on) face impending doom. It’s an education problem, to be honest. Read more »Confessions of a two screening tragic
For today’s TV viewer, one screen isn’t enough. Steve Molk tells us why networks need to take notice of two screening.
My name is Steve Molk and I like to live tweet television shows. A lot. I get a kick from connecting with people who watch the same programs I do and together we discuss, joke, and in the blood sport that is ABC1’s Q&A, compete to see our tweets on screen. Read more »
A sexy funding solution for an age-old problem
Chris Murray proposes an ingenious plan to help fund local screen productions with the naughty dollar.
It has recently come to light that the Hungarian government has some innovative ideas for supporting their local film industry. By introducing three different taxes, our European friends plan to channel funds into local productions and ailing art house cinemas.
The first tax would apply to local porn websites; another, a three per cent tax on multiplex tickets, to funnel into art house exhibition; and finally a general 20 per cent tax break on foreign productions.
According to Variety, the latter has so far generated a US$98 million injection into the local economy via the miniseries World Without End, The Borgias and feature film 47 Ronin starring Keanu Reeves. This is on top of income from Brad Pitt’s US$125m budgeted zombie flick World War Z which is currently shooting in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Read more »
No dramas, sadly
If there’s a time that Foxtel’s marketing machine outdoes itself, it’s when it comes to reveal its future year’s programming.
Last night Foxtel made the most of having its hands on the Sydney Opera House for the Australia’s Next Top Model final and announced its plans for 2012 too.
It was a glitzy upfront, attended by media agencies and trade journalists, plus plenty of Foxtel personalities.
But comparing it to last year’s affair, the emphasis appears to have shifted away from local drama. Read more »
Want more Swamp People? Then drop the local content quota
The short-sighted idea of dropping TV networks’ local content quota obligations was put back on the agenda today with ad agency CEO Mat Baxter claiming the safety net can now be removed, because we’re all loving local content.
But Australian programs rating well, and the Australian TV industry thriving are completely different.
Despite the high ratings of Packed to the Rafters and The X Factor, what is the likelihood commercial programmers would keep investing in Australian shows? Slim, Read more »
Fox Studios comes out of hibernation as the bustling screen hub we want to see
A few months back I visited Fox Studios in Sydney to view the filming of a commercial for Earth Hour.
The main thing that struck me (apart from the massively rude security guy on the gate) was how depressingly empty most of the place was.
It was desolate. It had the atmosphere of a business district on a Sunday afternoon rather than the film hub of one of the world’s great cities.
Today though, the feeling is very different. Read more »
If scripts could talk
This week the Screen Producers Association of Australia presented its list of seven projects that it will be putting in the shop window at its conference. But the SPAAmart list omitted the names of the script writers. A member of the Australian Writers Guild offers this alternative version of events.
Trouble is brewing over this year’s SPAA conference, with the scripts selected for the feature film shop window staging a sit-in at SPAA head office.
Wake Up Dead, a particularly fat script, blocked the door of the SPAA lunchroom just before lunch yesterday while other scripts phoned media outlets with a list of demands.
Sci-fi thriller The Room was clearly angry, “I mean, we all wrote ourselves, didn’t we? Read more »
The screen industry should run on ingenuity, not politics
Popcorn Taxi’s Chris Murray suggests a taxi service and pie van could keep the industry moving – an industry that should be founded on ingenuity and creativity rather than politics.
It would seem, based on serial offenders to the numerous blogs in and around the Australian Film Industry, that as a generalisation, filmmakers have a lot of time on their hands.
Jonathan Shiff announces children’s series
Producer Jonathan Shiff has announced his new children’s series Lightning Point, in association with Network Ten, Nickelodeon Australia and German public broadcaster ZDF.
The series, about two irresponsible girls from another galaxy who become galactic castaways in a quiet coastal town, will start shooting at the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, on November 8.
The producers hope to replicate the success of Shiff’s previous effort, H2O: Just Add Water. It will be his 11th production in Queensland, and the 23rd for his company Jonathan M. Shiff Productions.
International distribution will be in charge of ZDF Enterprises.
Looking for a job? Got a position to fill? Check out the Job Board.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
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Features
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- For & Against: Can a gig on community television lead to bigger and better things?
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Video
- Tropfest launches 2012 trailer
Short film festival Tropfest has launched its 2012 trailer.
Production was by company Captiv8 and features this year’s Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) a lightbulb.
- Tropfest launches 2012 trailer
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News
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Most Discussed
- A Few Best Men director slams film critic at AACTA awards - 9 comments
- Once Upon A Time in Cabramatta scores high ratings for SBS - 7 comments
- John Polson and Robert Connolly among Screen Australia funding recipients - 7 comments
- A Few Best Men takes $1.8m on opening weekend - 4 comments
- A night at the unintentionally amusing AACTAs - 4 comments
- 2011 Australian films down in box office on 2010 - 3 comments
- James Cameron opens Australian office for Cameron Pace Group - 2 comments
- Knocking the summer television model of old - 2 comments
Comments
9 Aug 10
10:17 PM
So now there will be no fourth season of H2O? Come on!
10 Aug 10
4:41 AM
We want to H2o just add water seasons 4, please!!!!
10 Aug 10
12:49 PM
I agree 100%. I feel good for him, but there REALLY needs to be more seasons of h2o. I love the show way too much to have it end like it did.
10 Aug 10
6:34 PM
4th season of H20 , I just want to see Season 3 on Ten !!!!
Oh why oh why does Jonathan persist with Network Ten ?
Ten have let H20 fans for not putting to air Season 3 , they said it
would be early 2010 , then they said it would be after Easter , then they
said late 2010 , then they said it definitely will not be late 2010 but
would be early 2011 .
I believe it will airon Ten when I see it with my eyes , Ten changes their
mind with each new day .
10 Aug 10
6:35 PM
I really want h2o season 4
19 Jan 11
5:44 AM
i really want their be a season 4 of h20 because that is the best show he ever did its full of action drama and everything that kids are going through today and it is fun to watch too! i really hope he doesn’t end it because i really would miss it if he did!
so jon i hope u wont end h20 it really is the best show i have seen on nick!
rock on!
5 Feb 11
3:33 PM
lightning point will b great cant wait to see it with jessica!!
24 Mar 11
7:56 AM
U HAVE TO MAKE AN H20 SEASON 4 I LOVE IT PLEASE PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT AND LET THE FANS OF H20 KNOW IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A SEASON 4 PLEASE I WANT ONE WITH EMMA , CLEO , RIKKI , LEWIS AND BELLA THEY ARE ALL GREAT!!!!!!! BELLA’S MUSIC IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
24 Mar 11
7:57 AM
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!!!!
26 Mar 11
6:59 AM
Heyy i love h20 i hope there was a season 4 of h20 as i think its brillinat JONATHAN IF THERE IS A SEASON 4 U HAVE TO DO ONE WITH CLEO , RIKKI , LEWIS , BELLA AND EMMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
23 Apr 11
5:20 AM
SEASON 4 SEASON 4 SEASON 4 SEASON 4 SEASON 4
3 May 11
3:42 AM
come on please just one last season with emma and the others ALL the fans want a season 4
5 May 11
7:23 AM
there will be a season 4 of h2o because i emailed the producer and he said they wrote scrips and they just need to know from all the cast members
9 May 11
10:29 PM
there is going to be season 4 because on twitter i aks claire holt is going to be season 4 and she said ther will be season 4 on 11th november 2011
9 May 11
10:31 PM
lol love h20 D!
22 May 11
12:27 PM
Paige Houden A pro surfer is acting in Lighting Point! She taught me how to surf at a Billabong Girls Get Out There day.So cool!! Cant wait!! x x sarah
4 Jul 11
5:54 AM
MY FRIEND EMAILED U AND U HAVENT COME BACK TO HER! SHE BEGGED U FOR A REPLY! PLEASE JONATHAN! WE LOVE H20 AND WE WANT A SEASON 4 WITH EMMA , CLEO , RIKKI , LEWIS , WILL AND BELLA! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!
12 Sep 11
5:28 AM
Looking forward to new H20series. I think the show is great for Nick in U.S.A.
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