Father Geek here with Latauro and the latest from the Southern Hemisphere far East sector...
I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed.
AICN-DOWNUNDER
There's been a bunch of debate the last week or so about the Australian film
industry and what needs to be done to fix it. Channel Seven's "Sunrise"
programme featured presenter David Kosch making some ill-informed comments.
The following day, the Film Finance Corporation had somebody on to rebut
claims that they're wasting taxpayers' money. What a mess this interview
was.
The claims made by Kosch seemed to imply that the decisions on which films
should get funding were made by boring, out-of-touch men in suits.
Brilliantly, the FFC sent over a boring, out-of-touch man in a suit who had
trouble answering stupid questions like, "Why don't you get normal people to
decide which movies get made?" (paraphrasing).
Kosch seemed affronted that Craig Lahiff wouldn't be blacklisted and
prevented from making another film after his 2002 film BLACK AND WHITE
failed to make its money back at the box office. Boring Man In Suit
responded to this argument in a fairly inarticulate, political-speak manner.
I had to slap my head. To quote Wil Anderson from a recent "Glass House"
episode, "It's like watching a debate between George W. Bush and Forrest
Gump".
That interview was probably seen by more people than any of the other
Australian film industry discussions appearing in magazines and newspapers,
and it did nothing to further the level of debate on the subject. It
probably lowered it. "Normal people"? Are you kidding me?
The entire local industry is in dire need of a shake up. It's more serious
than it's been for a while now, and there's no sign of improvement on the
horizon. THREE DOLLARS was very good, but it's not going to light the box
office on fire. Scroll down, you won't see it on the Top Five. Of course,
you won't see THE EXTRA there, either, despite it starring the very popular
comedian Jimeoin.
Nestled in the pandering, lowest common denominator arguments of David
Kosch, there was a valid point: films seem to be funded by accountants
completely out of touch with audiences, and with no concept of quality
control.
NEWS
It seems the CHARLOTTE'S WEB production can't cop a break. After the coup of
getting animatronics designed by Stan the Man Winston, it seems there's been
something of a mistake in the creature design. Here's our scooper:
"Allegedly it seems that the animatronic pigs designed and manufactured in
the USofA, based on good ol' USofA looking pigs - have arrived Down Under
only to look nothing like the local ozzie non-animatronic piggies on set.
Allegedly it seems that they have discovered the hard way that pigs ain't
pigs the world over." Thanks to the "Horse's Mouth".
BLACK SHEEP, Jonathon King's debut feature, has been snapping up interest
all over the place. Aside from Richard Taylor and Weta doing some design
work (which is all sorts of cool), distribution has already been sold to
Icon, which will distribute the film in Australia, New Zealand (its country
of origin), and the UK. The film promises to be a horror comedy, and if it
can live up to the premise (NZ's four million residents versus the country's
four million sheep after a genetic experiment gone wrong), this could be all
kinds of cool.
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
WOLF CREEK, the Australian film seen by everyone who doesn't live in
Australia (was apparently set for local distribution until they sniffed
international success and snatched it away from us!) will soon be seen by
those people who live in the magical land of Freedom. Cannes will screen
Greg McLean's WOLF CREEK as part of the Directors' Fortnight section.
INAUGURAL HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
The Human Rights Commission's first film festival will feature features,
shorts, animations, docos, all apparently designed to draw attention to
issues, as well as shock and inspire. A list of films playing as well as
other details can be found at http://humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz/, but here
are the dates:
Auckland: May 12 to May 19 at the Academy Cinema on Lorne Street
Wellington: May 25 to June 1 at the Paramount Theatre on Courtney Place
Christchurch: May 13 to May 15 at the Regent on Worcestor
BOX OFFICE
It's that awkward time of the year where nothing particularly special is
out, though it's nice to see IN GOOD COMPANY up near the top (even if it
does seem like somebody took an intelligent film and peppered it with
expositional lines so everyone got what was going on). Will the Guide take
top spot next week? What am I, Nostradamus?
1. THE INTERPRETER
2. THE PACIFIER
3. IN GOOD COMPANY
4. ROBOTS
5. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR
RELEASED THIS WEEK
Nicole Kidman finds a partner even shorter than Tom, Sam the Man does the
inspirational teacher bit, Matt Dillon completely fails to insert his member
into any character's leg wound, Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings finally gets
the joke and contacts her lawyers, and I can't even bring myself to talk
about this one.
BIRTH
COACH CARTER
CRASH
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
XXX2: THE NEXT LEVEL
NEXT WEEK
- Warner Bros. greenlights a script about an assortment of chocolates who
dream of becoming wrestlers, titled LET'S GET READY TO RUM BALL, bought for
US$7million from Shane Black
- Steven Somers signs on Jack Black as "Lou" and Will Ferrell as "Bud" for
the new MUMMY movie
- The Wachowskis will follow-up their second unit directing on V FOR
VENDETTA by providing craft services on the next Mike Leigh joint
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
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