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The history of Australian film industry

film industry cinema australian

The cinema of Australia has a long history. It has been characterised as one of 'boom and bust' due to the unstable nature of its industry; there have been deep troughs when few films were made for decades and high peaks when a glut of films reached the market.

The history beginning with «The story of the Kelly Gang» in 1906. [See appendix 5] The film traces the life of a legendary bushranger Ned Kelly. It was written and directed by Charles Tait. The film's approximate reel length was 4,000 feet (1,200 m). According to the synopsis given in the surviving program, the film originally comprised six sequences. These provided a loose narrative based on the Kelly gang story. [1, p. 86] In 2007 The Story of the Kelly Gang was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for being the world's first full-length feature film. [10]

Arguably The Salvation Army in Melbourne operated one of the world's first film studios called The Limelight Department between 1897 and 1910. The Limelight Department produced evangelical material for use by the Salvation Army, as well as private and government contracts. In its 19 years of operation, the Limelight Department produced about 300 films of various lengths, making it the largest film producer of its time. [3, p. 57]

The first «boom» in Australian film occurred in the 1910s. Between 1910 and 1912, almost 90 narrative films were made. While these numbers may seem small, Australia was one of the most prolific film-producing countries at the time. [5]

There are various explanations for the subsequent demise of the industry. Some historians have pointed to falling audience numbers, a lack of interest in Australian product and narratives, and the decision to participate in World War I. Another explanation is concerned with anti-competitive behavior between film distributors and cinemas. Between 1906 and 1912 Australia's burgeoning film industry produced more feature-length films than Britain or the USA, but in 1912 Australasian Films and Union Theaters established a monopoly over production, distribution and exhibition and shut out smaller producers. That opened the way for US distributors in the 1920s to sign exclusive deals with Australian cinemas to exhibit only their products, thereby crippling the local film industry. [2, p. 12]

The Australian New Wave (also known as the «Australian Film Revival» and the «Australian Film Renaissance») was an era of resurgence in worldwide popularity of Australian cinema. It began in the early 1970s and lasted until the mid-late 1980s. The era also marked the emergence of the «Ozploitation» style - characterised by the exploitation of colloquial Australian culture. During the 1970s, government funding for Australian filmmakers was increased. The South Australian Film Corporation was established in 1972 to promote and produce films, while the Australian Film Commission was created in 1975 to fund and produce internationally competitive films. A generation of directors and actors emerged who told distinctively Australian stories. [4, p. 8] Films such as «Picnic at Hanging Rock» (1975) and «Sunday Too Far Away» (1975) made an impact on the international arena. The 1970s and 80s are regarded by many as a 'golden age' of Australian cinema, with many successful films, from the dark science fiction of «Mad Max» (1979) to the romantic comedy of «Crocodile Dundee» (1986) [See appendix 5], a film that defined Australia in the eyes of many foreigners despite having little to do with the lifestyle of most Australians. [9] The highest-grossing Australian movie was «Crocodile Dundee». [See appendix 1]

The 1990s proved a successful decade for Australian film and introduced several new stars to a global audience. While a number of major international stars gained early prominence in Australia over the period, most of the actors began to working in Hollywood. The Australian film industry continues to produce a reasonable number of films each year, but in common with other English-speaking countries, Australia has often found it difficult to compete with the American film industry, the latter helped by having a much larger home market. The most successful Australian actors and film-makers are easily lured by Hollywood and rarely return to the domestic film industry. [5]

All in all, the Australian cinema history dates back from 1906. The world's first full-length feature film «The story of the Kelly Gang» was filmed on this land, in this country was one of the world's first film studios called The Limelight Department. It is a proof that film industry in this «green continent» is developed at the highest level.

People who love movies know about actress Nicole Kidman. But not all of them know that she is Australian actress.

Nicole Mary Kidman was born on 20 June 1967 in Honululu, Hawaii, United States, although she is Australian citizenship. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, she started to work in American film industry, which made Nicole a world-famous actress. She also is known for her 11-year marriage to Tom Cruise, with whom she adopted two children, and her current marriage to country musician Keith Urban, with whom she has a biological daughter, Sunday Rose. Early life Kidman attended Lane Cove Public School and North Sydney Girls' High School. In 1984, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which caused Nicole to temporarily halt her education and help provide for the family by working as a massage therapist at age 17. She studied at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, and at the Phillip Street Theatre in Sydney, with Naomi Watts. This was followed by attending the Australian Theatre for Young People. [8]

The movies where Nicole stared: the first movie in her life is «BMX Bandits» (1983). The most famous movies are: «Practical Magic», «Moulin Rouge!», «The Others», «The Hours», «Dogville», «Cold Mountain», «The Stepford Wives», «Bewitched», «Margot at the Wedding», «The Golden Compass», «Rabbit Hole». [See appendix 6] [6]

Kidman sang in Rob Marshall`s movie-musical «Nine», with Daniel Daylewis, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Marion Cottilard and Fergie.

Nicole has been married twice, with Tom Cruise, and now with Keith Urban.

In the beginning of 2009 Nicole Kidman appeared in a series of special edition postage stamps featuring some of Australia's best actors. She, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, and Cate Blanchett each appear twice in the series: once as themselves and once as their Academy Award-winning character.

Charitable work.

She has raised money for, and drawn attention to, disadvantaged children around the world. In 2004, she was honored as a «Citizen of the World» by the United Nations.

Kidman was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in January 2006. In this capacity, Kidman has addressed international audiences at UN events, raised awareness through the media and testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to support the International Violence against Women Act. Kidman visited Kosovo in 2006 to learn about women's experiences of conflict and UNIFEM's support efforts. She is the international spokesperson for UNIFEM's Say NO - UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative. Kidman and the UNIFEM executive director presented over five million signatures collected during the first phase of this to the UN Secretary-General on 25 November 2008.

Kidman and the UNIFEM executive director presented over five million signatures collected during the first phase of this to the UN Secretary-General on 25 November 2008. [9]

Nicole Kidman has a lot of awards in film industry.

· Academy Awards Oscar 2003 - The Best Actress (for the film «The Hours»)

· Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin 2003 - Silver Bear for best acting job (for the film «The Hours»)

· Golden Globe Award 1996 - Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (for the film «Die For»)

· Golden Globe Award 2002 - The Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (for the film «Moulin Rouge!»)

· Golden Globe Award 2003 - The Best Actress in a Drama film (for the film «The Hours»)

· MTV Movie Awards 2002 - The Best Actress (for the film «Moulin Rouge!»)

· MTV Movie Awards 2002 - The Best musical number (for the film «Moulin Rouge!»)

So, we can say that Nicole Kidman bring a lot of awards and of course glory to Australian movie industry, and as the poll among high school students show - Nicole is the most famous and successful actress in Australia. [See appendix 2] She has raised money for, and drawn attention to, disadvantaged children around the world.

Who did know about Logan in the movie «X-Men»? The actor who plays this role is famous Huge Jackman.

Hugh Michael Jackman was born 12 October 1968. He is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre and television.

Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters. He is well known from his role as Wolverine in the «X-Men» series, in addition to his leads in «Kate & Leopold», «Van Helsing», «The Prestige», and «Australia». [See appendix 7] Jackman is a singer, dancer, and actor in stage musicals, and won a Tony Award for his role in «The Boy from Oz».

X-Men

In 2000, Jackman was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's «X-Men», replacing Dougray Scott. His co-stars include Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, and Ian McKellen. According to a CBS interview in November 2006, Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness told him not to take the role, a comment she later told him she was glad he ignored.

The heightof actor is 189 sm. Hence, the filmmakers were frequently forced to shoot Jackman at unusual angles or only from the waist up to make him appear shorter than he actually is, and his co-stars wore platform soles. Jackman was also required to add a great deal of muscle for the role, and in preparing for the fourth film in the series, he bench-pressed over 300 pounds.

An instant star upon the film's release, Jackman later reprised his role in 2003's X2: X-Men United, 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which was released 1 May 2009. After 2003's X2: «X-Men United», Jackman played the title role of monster killer Gabriel Van Helsingin the 2004 film «Van Helsing». Jackman and the film were noted in Bruce A. McClelland's book «Slayers and Their Vampires: A Cultural History of Killing the Dead».

Jackman was one of the choices to play James Bond in 2006's Casino Royale, but eventually lost out to Daniel Craig.

Jackman starred in the 2006 film «The Prestige», directed by Christopher Nolan and co-starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson. As Robert Angier, Jackman portrayed a magician who built up a rivalry with contemporary Alfred Borden in attempt to one-up each other in the art of deception. Hugh stated that his main reason for doing «The Prestige» was to work with the musician David Bowie, who played scientist Nikola Tesla.

Jackman's 2008 movies included «Deception» (which he starred in and produced), «Uncle Jonny», and «Australia». [9]

All in all, Hugh Jackman bring to his motherland many well - known roles in movies such as «X-Men», «Kate & Leopold», «The Prestige», and another famous films.

Australia is a 2008 epic historical romance film directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. It is the second-highest grossing Australian film of all time, behind «Crocodile Dundee». The screenplay was written by Luhrmann and screenwriter Stuart Beattie, with Ronald Harwood. The film is a character story, set between 1939 and 1942 against a dramatised backdrop of events across northern Australia at the time, such as the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Production took place in Sydney, Darwin, Kununurra, and Bowen. The movie was released in both Australia and the United States on 26 November 2008, with subsequent worldwide release dates throughout late December 2008 and January and February 2009. [7] The poll «Which Australian film is your favorite?» shows that teenagers thought that it is the best Australian movie.

Plot

Lady Sarah persuades Drover to take the cattle to Darwin for sale. Drover is friendly with the Aborigines, and therefore shunned by many of the other whites in the territory. It is revealed that he was married to an Aboriginal woman, who died after being refused medical treatment in a hospital because of her race. Lady Sarah also reveals she is barren.

Drover leads a team of six other riders, including Lady Sarah, Drover's Aboriginal brother-in-law Magarri (David Ngoombujarra), Nullah, and the station's accountant Kipling Flynn (Jack Thompson), to drive the 1,500 cattle to Darwin. They encounter various obstacles along the way, including a fire set by Carney's men that scares the cattle, resulting in the death of Flynn when the group tries to stop the cattle from stampeding over a cliff. Lady Sarah and Drover fall in love, and she gains a new appreciation for the Australian territory. The team drive the cattle through the dangerous Never Never desert. Then, when at last delivering the cattle in Darwin, the group has to race them onto the ship before Carney's cattle are loaded.

Afterwards, Lady Sarah, Nullah, and Drover live together happily at Faraway Downs for two years. Meanwhile, Fletcher kills Carney, marries his daughter Cath Carney, takes over Carney's cattle empire, and continues to menace Lady Sarah. It is established that Fletcher was the actual murderer of Lady Sarah's husband, and is also Nullah's father.

Nullah is drawn to perform a walkabout with his grandfather «King George», but is instead taken by the authorities and sent to live on Mission Island with the other half-Aboriginal children (dubbed the «Stolen Generations»). Lady Sarah, who has come to regard Nullah as her adopted son, vows to rescue him. Meanwhile, she works as a radio operator in Darwin during the escalation of World War II. When the Japanese attack the island and Darwin in 1942, Lady Sarah fears that Nullah has been killed.

Drover, who had quarrelled with Lady Sarah and left, returns to Darwin and hears (mistakenly) that she has been killed in the bombing. Drover learns of Nullah's abduction to Mission Island, and goes with Magarri and a young priest to rescue him and the other children. Meanwhile, Lady Sarah is about to evacuate, but when Drover and the children sail back into port at Darwin, and Nullah plays «Over the Rainbow» on his harmonica, Lady Sarah hears the music and the three are reunited.

Fletcher, distraught at the ruination of his plans, attempts to shoot Nullah, but is speared by King George and falls dead. Lady Sarah, Drover, and Nullah return to the safety of remote Faraway Downs. There, King George calls for Nullah, who returns to the Outback with his grandfather. [11]

This movie has a lot of awards.

So, the movie «Australia» is historical film, the second-highest grossing Australian film of all time, behind Crocodile Dundee. The story tells about love between two people at the time of World War II. The scenes of the film show the immense nature of Australia.

International Film Festival in Australia

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for seventeen days each winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that cast a celebratory mood over the city. The Festival is one of Australia's most significant public events.

MIFF has a rich history celebrating 60 years in 2011, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Since its commencement in 1951, MIFF has developed into Australia's largest film event.

In addition to screening films from around fifty countries, MIFF has the largest program of any film festival in the Nation, is Australia's largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent.

In 2010 MIFF delivered more than $7.1 million into the local economy.

Canberra International Film Festival it is a 12-day celebration of film showcasing an exceptional selection of feature films and documentaries from around the world plus the best Australian new releases and retrospectives.

The Festival also offers additional events including Q&A's, panel discussions and workshops hosted by talented filmmakers passionate about their craft and willing to share their knowledge.

So, this is another proof which shows that the cinematography in this country is really popular.

Government support

The Federal Australian government had supported the Australian film industry through the funding and development agencies of Film Finance Corporation Australia, the Australian Film Commission and Film Australia. In 2008 the three agencies were consolidated into Screen Australia.

A recurring debate in the Australian film industry revolves around the necessity or otherwise of government support for the industry. In brief, the argument for government support maintains that a viable film industry is only possible if it is supported in some way by the government and proponents of this view hold that the industry cannot compete against the hegemony of Hollywood. The argument against government support is that the industry is viable without support and will become stronger if increasingly globalised market forces are allowed full and untrammeled play. Others argue that a film industry in itself has little value. The history of the industry in Australia is to some extent a result of the ascendancy of one position over the other. [10]

Tourism after «Australia»

Tourism Western Australia spent $1 million on a campaign linked with the release of «Australia» in the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe and South Korea that ties in with an international Tourism Australia plan. Concerned about the recession and fluctuating international fuel prices, the tourism industry hoped that Luhrmann's film would deliver visitors from all over the world in the same kind of numbers that came to the country following the 1986 release of «Crocodile Dundee», and follow the significant increase in visitors to New Zealand since 2001 after the release of the «Lord of the Rings» films. Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said, «This movie will potentially be seen by tens of millions of people, and it will bring life to little-known aspects of Australia's extraordinary natural environment, history and indigenous culture». Tourism Australia worked with Luhrmann and 20th Century Fox on a publicity campaign titled, «See the Movie, See the Country», based on movie maps and location guides, to transform the film into «a real-life travel adventure». In addition, the director made a $50 million series of commercials promoting the country. [11]

So, the main value of Australian film production is the development of tourism in the country and promotion movies on the world stage.

So, the main aim of this project is to prove that Australian films are not worse than American.

The Australian cinema history dates back from 1906. The world's first full-length feature film «The story of the Kelly Gang» was filmed on this land. Also, in this country was one of the world's first film studios called The Limelight Department. It is a proof that film industry in this «green continent» is developed at the highest level.

We can say that Nicole Kidman bring a lot of awards and of course glory to Australian movie industry. As show the poll among high school students, Nicole the most famous and successful actress in Australia. She pays much attention to the charity.

Hugh Jackman bring to his motherland many well - known roles in movies such as «X-Men», «Kate & Leopold», «The Prestige», and another famous films.

The movie «Australia» is tells about the situation in the country at the time of World War II. This movie brought the country's popularity as cinematography, as in tourism business.

A lot of film festivals in country show that the movies of Australia are popular. One of these festivals is The Melbourne International Film Festival. It is one of the oldest film festivals in the world.

The main value of Australian film production is the development of tourism in the country and promotion movies on the world stage.

So, Australian movies are not worse than American. The main problem of cinematography in this country is the lack of popular. What is the future of Australian film industry nobody knows, but the time will show.

Resources

1. Мазуров, Юрий Львович, Австралия: культ наследия, Гриф и К, 2006 // 200 стр.

2. Kuo, Liangwen, Migration Documentary Films in Post-War Australia, Cambria Press, 2010 // 328 pages

3. Murray, Scott, Australian Cinema, Allen & Unwin, 1994 // 360 pages

4. Stratton, David, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1980 // 215 pages

5. http://australia.ru/hisoty (10.2010)

6. http://australianism.ru/info/trip/cinema/ (10.2010)

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