Everyone's Talking About...The Australian Film Industry

I've had a few opportunities this week to ask people this question:

"What is wrong with the Australian film industry?"

Now, don't roll your eyes at me because I've already placed the idea in that person's head that there's something "wrong" with the way we make films. This is indisputable. In an industry that thrives on NOT making money, there is going to come a time in the very near future where funnily enough, losing money to make money is going to be revealed as a really bad way to make films. We need to shake things up a little.

As I'm only just starting out in the industry, I've been seeking the advice of some more seasoned players amongst the field, asking for their advice on what it is our filmmakers can change to achieve a more harmonious environment for our craft. At a short film shoot I did on Tuesday this week, I managed to have a little chat with the DOP about what his thoughts were. When I suggested that all Australian films are merely extended short films (see my next post) he agreed 100%, saying it is extremely difficult for films to sustain their momentum after the first 10 minutes. Interesting note #1.

At work on Wednesday night, one of the the owners (an up and coming screenwriter graduate from the LA Film School funnily enough) again chastised the demented processes Screen Australia enforces for potential filmmakers. His comments about the guidelines being drawn up each year were that they are too focused on producing content which reflects "Australian" values and lifestyles rather than viable, commercial projects. As a result, filmmakers cannot get the funding they need merely because it doesn't feature a thousand and one stampeding cows heading towards an Aboriginal boy on a cliff. As well as this, my friend pinpointed the problem down to the fact that we have an exceptionally small fraction of talent which rests in the layers amongst Cate Blanchett, David Michod etc, and yet an extremely large percentage of crap wannabes, who follow the guidelines set out by Screen Australia, get funding for their crappy little film, which funnily enough, is never watched by anyone and they never make another film in their lives. He said that we need to start harvesting talent properly, and he attributed this observation to his leaving the VCA after just one year, realizing it would never be able to teach him the essential tools he needed to succeed.

Interestingly enough, tonight I spoke about the issue with the director and producer of the short film I am currently PM'ing on. The director (a young yet extremely talented film student at the VCA) had many things to say about the industry but the main one falls in line with my friend from work in that, put simple; we just need to stop making crap films. There is a great pool of talent resting within this industry but the gems are finding it hard to shine amongst all the false stones due to the sheer number. As a result, they pack up and move to LA where the industry does not tolerate crapness and anyone of a mediocre demeanor is immediately sent home packing.

In a nutshell (and these are very broad statements I will be expanding on so don't start squabbling yet):

1. Australia can only make short films
2. The guidelines for funding are too ridiculous for words
3. We have the talent. We just need to cut out the crap. 

Read on for more insights into the industry.