Do too many Australian films fall into a budgetary 'no-man's land' - not big enough to compete with the US studios, yet too big to stand a chance of commercial viability in a market flooded with independent films?
Robert Connolly thinks so. In his white paper Embracing Innovation: a new methodology for feature film production in Australia, Robert offers a 10-step plan for reducing production costs. Proposed measures include:
- a first dollar share for filmmakers
- fair returns for cast and crew
- more realistic budget models
- simplified reporting obligations
Many of these measures will be controversial. All of them are worth debating.
Download the paper here:
The Centre for Screen Business welcomes your comments and feedback - please forward these to david.court@aftrs.edu.au or allan.cameron@aftrs.edu.au. We would be happy to publish responses on the Centre for Screen Business website - if you're interested, please let us know.
Robert Connolly is the director and writer of the feature films Three Dollars and The Bank, and the producer of Romulus, My Father and The Boys. Robert's films have screened at over 30 international film festivals; all have been AFI Award recipients. Most recently, Romulus, My Father, directed by Richard Roxbugh and starring Eric Bana and Franka Potente, won four AFI Awards including Best Film. In 2008, Robert will direct Balibo, which he co-wrote with David Williamson and which will be produced by John Maynard.
The Centre for Screen Business works to improve the sustainability of businesses in the screen content sector by disseminating knowledge, skills, data and ideas to business owners, managers and industry professionals.
