A few questions our film and TV industry are asking themselves at the moment: Why are Australian films not hitting the mark with the under 40’s demographic? Should we be making films for our own market or aiming at international sales? Does distribution of films over the internet risk losing income through piracy?
Surely asking these questions stems from fear of change rather than grappling with a new set of rules and conditions sweeping the global media industries. We should not be asking what we can do to capture young audiences – we need to give them the opportunity to create content themselves by participating in media experiences. If marketing of Australian films is an issue, we need to start using the internet to distribute and build audiences rather than saying the threat of piracy makes it all too hard. Perhaps if Australian films aren’t hitting the mark we need to make less of them and put an almighty effort into a constellation of cross media properties. Films aren’t the ‘temple’ anymore and I frankly think our industry is going nowhere if we don’t start funding projects which are platform agnostic. If there’s a strong idea out there for a massively multi-player game what better way to reach a younger demographic? And who knows, if it’s successful it may fund a promotional feature film, and a sequel.
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Platform Agnostic is a great term and it is a huge shift in thinking that is definately needed. The sole basis for recieving support, funding or financing should be a good idea and a compelling story and quality entertainment experience.
This leads back to Malcom Long’s observations in his speeches around the country that the heirachical approach to different forms of media needs to go. In WA there has been a lot of media criticism recently questioning our levels of feature film production, never mind our booming television industry and rapidly expanding computer games and animation sectors. The thing we need to value is quality production and engaging experiences whatever their delivery method.
I often wonder if some of the Government Agencies and Departments are spending more time building fences while other organisations are trying to open doors for people. The chasms between arts funding, screen funding and technology funding increasingly seem to narrow opportunity for people. The beauracratic thinking that every idea must fit into a perfect little box is going to be a growing challenge.
The worship of film though is a devout faith, young filmmakers can be heard saying that they ‘only want to work in film’ – where does this come from – is it permutated through our educational systems to primary schools?
How to you instigate a wide spread change in an industry’s way of thinking? How do you train you filmmakers for the industry of tomorrow while also making them prepared to deal with the dinosaurs of today?
The Revolution will not be televised – it will be available on a delivery platform of your choice and feel free to remix.