theMazed

The Australian film industry is one of the oldest film industries and it has had a glorious past. The Story of the Kelly Gang is a perfect example, which was called the world’s first full-length feature film in 1906. It was a huge success in both the Australian and the British market. The Story of the Kelly Gang ended up launching a new genre of bushranger stories. Unlike every other film industry in the world, the Australian film industry had to go through a rough time in early 1920-1960s.
A new era of filmmaking started in Australia when the Australian Film Television and Radio school was established in 1972. The school boosted the level of confidence in many Australian artists, which was significant for the industry. As a result Australia produced nearly 400 films between 1970 and 1985. This is a substantial figure in the history of the Australian film industry. But why in 21st century, is the Australian film industry is struggling to survive?
According to Australian Film Commission release of a record of successful Australian productions, we come to realize that the Australian film’s share of the box office went from 4 per cent in 1998 to 8 percent in 2001. The overall box office increased but attendance at local films slumped to an all-time low in 2004, which came as a big shock for Australian film makers. It is true that the Australian film industry is distinctively small, but it has the availability of high tech studios in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. I would say these studios are no less resourced than any American studio, and already some American movies like Mission Impossible 2, Star Wars 2, The Matrix…were made in these sutdios through casually employing Australian artists and lots of crew.
According to Stephen Corvini from Film Victoria “There is no doubt that it is difficult to finance a feature film out of Australia. Part of the reason is the lack of box office success in the last few years, which made the international market less likely to provide pre sales internationally, which previously were there for Australian filmmakers to help finance a feature film”.
The Australian Government provided direct support, training and industry development and investment agencies (a total of A$136.4 million in 2004–05). If we can only create a proper platform for our exported and local Artists then they will return and love to work here in Australia and with that couple of box office success can raise a new wave for a shiny Australian film industry in future.

At the very first class of Media Production Industry we were asked to take part in a student survey, which was about our future goals, thoughts and all that stuff. We had to answer distinct questions. It took a while for me to answer those questions because I was thinking about a lot of things at the same time. I was thinking about my passion and my reality, simultaneously. It seemed like I was writing without listening to my heart. Well… Everyone knows how difficult the reality can be, but I never thought my reality would be so different compared with other people. A person’s struggle is part of everyone’s success. I did struggle also and I do not blame anyone else for that. I guess it was probably just bad luck. Being a permanent resident was not my objective, but rather an opportunity that I saw. I wanted to work here for a couple of years and than probably earn some money so that I could support myself financially. For that, I was building my resume gradually with a lot of work experience. After finishing the bachelor degree, I could not apply for my PR (permanent residency) because my subject did provide me with enough points, but I found out that it would be possible if I did my Masters. A lot of money was needed but still I was ready to take the challenge as an international student. I started my MS at RMIT, but just after the first semester, immigration raised the point system and my door to apply for PR was closed. I needed PR to get a decent job, as I said; I saw this as an opportunity. I was applying to many places for jobs, but each and every place asked for a lot of experience and the candidate needed to be a permanent resident at least. I could probably gather lots of experience in Australia, but to get PR is still a dream for me. I was defeated, and from then on MS at RMIT has become a burden for me, because passion dies when the promise of opportunity becomes necessity without reward. Now my future goal is to find a job back home that can provide me a good salary to provide stability.

It was always a dream to visit a studio where access is not that straightforward to attain. On March 19, 2006 we went to Melbourne Central Studio as a part of our MS field trip project, which is also a part exercise of the media production industry subject. I always heard about Warner Bros or Fox studios but never saw them and it is honestly very hard to predict how big a studio is unless you have seen one. Melbourne central studio has five studios, which are not all the same size. We visited studio one which is the biggest of them all. Before I went there, I was expecting to see something inside the studio, but it was an empty place. As I visited couple of TV studios, I saw cameras on the spot, some TVs and lots of other stuff, which is needed for a production. I had no idea that a studio, especially where the big production companies come and make movies, would be just an empty place. Then I understood, because the tour guide (Rachel) said that a studio is like an apartment. Companies come and lease the studios and they bring all of their stuff, including sofa and when they finish their project they have to remove everything and leave the place as it was before. Now I know why access to a studio is almost impossible when work is in progress.

I was really surprised to know that working with a big production company does not mean that one is safe with his job. One single mistake is enough to get fired and American production companies are very strict about that, although Australian production companies are a bit flexible (nice to know that). Just out of curiosity, I went to see the rooms where Russell crow and Nicholas Cage lived during a shooting of a film. I was expecting to see a five star hotel comfortable room but it was just a simple room to live and probably I was thinking ridiculous. I never heard of sound lock doors, which was a good thing to see and experience through out the tour. At the end of the tour I was thinking that one needs to be really rich to work in this industry unless he/she is an actor/actress. At least that is how I find myself. I was listening about how this industry works from the tour guide and I was really surprised that it is all about money. For example a production company wants to have the studio and they book it, but after a long delay probably 3-4 months they may say no, then the studio owner has can do nothing about that, and simultaneously the studio owner will lose his other contracts from other production companies who were willing to have the studio at the same time. Only goodwill and the nature of business, decide if the studio owner will get or loose business.

It was really nice to have Ewan Burnett as the beginner for our guest lecturer series project at RMIT. I always wanted to listen those people who are actually working in the media industry so that I could know something that is different from the book. Each and every day is a big opportunity to hunt down experience for myself, and I wanted to listen to others’ experiences so that I do not have to wait so long to get the same experience. It was really nice to know that Ewan Burnett has survived very well in the industry though he had come a long way. The best thing that I learnt from his talk is patience. But honestly I believe sometimes patience gets defeated, especially when money is involved.
Burnett said that we all are storytellers and that is why we should engage our audience with the story whether it is an adult or children’s production. At the talk he said that some people did underestimate him because he was involved with a lot of children’s productions. I was really surprise how someone from same industry could underestimate a production, because of whether it is for children or adults. We all should respect each and every production because we all are passionate about our work and that is why we are here in the media industry. If we do not produce good productions for our children and do not engage them with media entertainment, then probably one day will come when there will be no passion for media work.

Stephen Corvini was one of our guest lecturers who came to RMIT to deliver us a delightful speech. He works at Film Victoria as an investment manager. I was supposed to record his speech in the class but I quit that idea at the last moment because I was thinking he would talk more about investment and marketing and my research paper was about the struggling Australian media industry. Surprisingly Stephen was talking about the past history of Australian film industry and eventually he gave us a lot of information in his speech. Then my lecturer Elisa Tranter gave me the idea to interview him for my research paper. Then my mission started to hunt Stephen. I did not get any reply from my first mail, so then I tried again. The second knock was successful and on the e-mail we both agreed to fix a day for a phone interview.
I had a question format that I followed to ask questions to Stephen and I also had to make some related questions on the spot while he was talking. The best thing that I came to know from the interview is that every industry has its bad times, and naturally it is now for the Australian industry. The government seems optimistic by giving more funding to this industry but wider concern is needed. We can never compete with American films, because they spend a lot of money just for marketing of the film, which is not possible for such a small industry. The most important part is, if we can create a standard platform for our exported artists to come here as they are coming and came in recent years and within that, if we could make some box office success, then faith will come back and this industry could rise again to a high peak. A new generation of film makers are coming who are called “guerrilla film makers”. I believe they will empower this industry in a positive way, but this whole process is going to take some time. And again!!! New features like Boy Town, Book of Revolution and couple of more films are coming which might give us a happy 2006 for box office success.

Year 2006! I don’t really know if this is a lucky year for me or not, because the start was not as significant as other years. Anyway, finally I am preparing to go back home after completing my MS. I have learnt a lot during these years. Especially I learnt a lot about people and I updated myself academically through study. I feel excellent because I know that now I am able and certified to do something that I always wanted to do. I believe that confidence and patience always beats academic certification and probably there are many examples that we will find in our busy life. For some reason I feel great to address myself as a guerilla filmmaker. During my bachelor degree couple of years ago one of my lecturers said that TV is the most powerful medium, but I always believed and still believe that film is the most powerful medium. And my future plan is to make film as a way of entertainment to educate people. I think people in my country need some social education in a different context. TV as a medium is very strong in Bangladesh, as lots of new channels are coming and production companies are busy making lots of drama and others programs. But as usually the parameter of the quality is going down day by day. The only thing that Bangladeshi audiences get engaged in is the latest news updates. The film industry used to be very rich in the past and currently it is booming again, which is great news. New studios are opening soon with latest technologies and hopefully more and more good productions will come in near future. I probably will start my mission two years from now. For some reason my passion for media at this time, does not glow anymore, but I know that this is just temporary. I might join in a TV channel, and the opportunity is on its way but I also might join an Airport to get some different sort of experience. Whatever I do.. I will come back again!!!