All articles by Sandy George – Page 67
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Australia introduces moral rights legislation
Legislation giving moral rights to the principal director, producer and screenwriter of Australian features, television programmes, documentaries and commercials has now passed through both houses of parliament. The new legislation also gives the creators of works reproduced or recorded in these productions, such as music, moral rights over that aspect ...
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AFC launches Oz overseas film fest initiative
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) has developed a do-it-yourself film festival package for the use of diplomatic missions spread across the world. Australia's department of foreign affairs and trade has been heavily involved in the initiative, which is part of a strategy to promote the country abroad through its cultural ...
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Pearce signs on for Blood And Guts
Guy Pearce has signed to star in Australian production Blood And Guts, the directing debut of Scott Roberts, which is set to start shooting in Melbourne on July 30, 2001. The film will mark the second time that Pearce has worked with producer Al Clark, following The Adventures Of Priscilla: ...
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Portman, REP commit to Australian trio
UK-based sales agent Portman Entertainment and Australia's REP Film Distribution have boarded three low-budget features to be shot in Queensland with Chris Brown and Chris Fitchett producing. State government agency, the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC), has provided development funding and will be a significant equity investor.The first into ...
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Oz post sector to apply for infrastructure funding
Australia's post-production industry is applying for some of the $22m (A$40m) put aside by the federal government for the development of an advanced communications infrastructure. The sector hopes to improve performance by securing increased broadband access at better prices.Consultants Malcolm Long and Associates are preparing the submission, due on December ...
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FFC warns film-makers of funding shortage
The Australian Film Finance Corporation (FFC) has warned film-makers that it will only support projects with high levels of finance from other sources over the next six months.The funding body will also insist on attractive recoupment and other terms. This is because a large number of producers successfully sought finance ...
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ABC journalists protest against Shier
Some of Australia's most respected current affairs journalists and commentators declared war this week on Jonathan Shier, who took up the post of managing director of Australian public broadcaster, the ABC, in March. Maxine McKew, Kerry O'Brien and Robin Williams were among eight senior employees of the ABC who made ...
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Australia's Showtime bags rights to Star Wars pics
All four Star Wars movies will be shown on Australian pay-TV channel Showtime next year, following a deal between Showtime parent company Premium Movie Partnership (PMP) and 20th Century Fox. PMP chief executive Bob Donoghue believes it will be the first time that all four films will be shown as ...
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Village blames weak results on exhibition arm
Village Roadshow Ltd (VRL) chairman John Kirby has told shareholders that the company's unsatisfactory profits in the last two to three years are entirely due to the exhibition arm of the business, most recently because of a downturn in film quality. Speaking at the company's annual general meeting last week, ...
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De Heer's Tracker secures FFC investment
The Australian Film Finance Corporation (FFC) has approved investment in The Tracker, described as "an Australian western with attitude", according to writer-director Rolf de Heer, who is also producing the film alongside Julie Ryan. Principal photography on the film, which is set in the 1920s, begins on February 26 next ...
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Australia's WIN Television set to go public
One of Australia's largest privately-owned media companies, WIN Television, owned by former Paramount TV International president Bruce Gordon, is planning to float on the Australian Stock Exchange early next year.The regional network was sold to Gordon by Rupert Murdoch about 20 years ago and was a public company for about ...
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Murdoch, Packer tipped to back investment bank
Australia's two biggest media moguls, Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch, are to bankroll a new investment bank that also has backing from Swiss insurer Zurich Financial Services, according to Australia's Sydney Morning Herald.The Packer family company, Consolidated Press Holdings Investment Corporation, is to tip in $28m (A$55m) into the new ...
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Selwyn readies Maori Merchant Of Venice
Veteran executive producer-director Don Selwyn has accessed $0.96m (NZ$2.4m) in public funding for a Maori-language adaptation of Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice (Te Tangata Whai Rawa O Weneti).Films are rarely made in a language other than English in New Zealand and it took Selwyn three attempts in 10 years to ...
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Looking For Alibrandi finds five AFI Awards
Australia's third biggest local hit of 2000, teen flick Looking For Alibrandi, scooped five awards including best film at the AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards on Saturday night (Nov 18). The other four awards went to school teacher Melina Marchetta's adapted script, lead actress Pia Miranda, supporting actress Greta Scacchi ...
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Moulin Rouge boosts Oz production
The total value of features made in Australia in the 12 months to June 30, 2000 rose 7% to $66m (A$127m), compared to $62m (A$119m) the previous year, according to the Australian Film Commission (AFC). The rise was mostly due to the impact of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge which is ...
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Australia's Nine Network to invest in film
On the eve of Australia's annual producers conference, Kerry Packer's Nine Network has announced that it intends to commission a slate of feature films and is currently seeking both developed proposals and new strategic relationships to facilitate the plan.The enterprise is to be headed by Nine drama director Kris Noble ...
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AFC to test development scheme with Bennelong
Development agency the Australian Film Commission (AFC) will finally be able to test its "matched" development scheme on Bennelong, an epic tale to be directed by Bill Bennett and set soon after the arrival of Europeans in Australia. The scheme aims to find extra sources of much-needed development cash by ...
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ScreenCorp, Unity set sail with Batavia
Sydney-based Screen Corporation Ltd (ScreenCorp) is partnering with Michael Cerenzie's LA-based company Unity Productions for its first project, titled Batavia. The bloodthirsty epic adventure is based on the real events that occurred after the sinking of the Dutch United East India Company ship of the same name off the coast ...
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Smithies confirmed as Cinemedia CEO
Victoria's state government agency Cinemedia, based in Melbourne, has finally confirmed that John Smithies has signed a 12-month contract as CEO. The former deputy director had been acting in this crucial role since Jenifer Hooks left the post in February this year. Smithies has the twin challenges of responding to ...
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TelstraSaturn partners with TVNZ on digital TV
New Zealand telco and pay-TV operator TelstraSaturn is to partner with public broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ) on the delivery of satellite-based digital television to local audiences. Few details are available on the nature of the venture's programming although it will probably include acquired and commissioned material and be on ...