The Worst Film Industry in the World

[@BradGryphonn]

Your closing clip made this old, straight, white, Aussie male cry. "Priscilla' was a most brilliant movie!

[@motioninart]

😭💔

[@superniger4822]

Could of just said old man

[@BradGryphonn]

@@superniger4822 Yeah, but I wanted to be as descriptive as possible to pad out the comment for the algorithm.

[@BradGryphonn]

3:20 I feel the crack-down on funding for Australian films came about because at one point, you get funding for anything. Honestly, we had some horrible stuff on screen at the peak of the 'Arts Funding For Movies' era. EDIT! OMG. After seeing the ute movie clip and the go-cart movie clip, I take back EVERYTHING I said. Movies at the peak of funding were bloody awesome!

[@motioninart]

The comparison is really stark hey

[@BradGryphonn]

@@motioninart Oh, that go-kart thing reminded me of an afternoon kid's show that I rarely saw because I was outside...it was something in the 70s.

[@REaDComicsau]

Yes something needs to overtake that top spot, we need more things to stop playing it safe and being restricted. But even so there are a lot of recent Aussie movies I love, some have been getting bigger (I don’t mean box office). I’m very advocate for our industry because this is the best place in the world to make movies. It’s great that our industry has boomed in the last few years with the government’s care package and the help of Hollywood of course. I think Luke Sparke is the director that Australia needs, he’s pushing the boundaries of what our movies can do without getting funding from the government.

[@VamshiOhgs]

I wouldn't say that I have seen a great deal of Australian films, but Jennifer Kent an Australian director is one of my favourite horror filmmaker of our generation, Babadook is a modern classic and The Nightingale is an extremely underrated and heartwrenching but a must-watch thriller title And then there are the likes of Snowtown Murders and Nitram, some of the better psychological drama revolving around mental health, gotta watch more from what that country has to offer

[@motioninart]

I’m a fan of The Babadook and Jennifer Kent is one of the shining examples in recent years. Snowtown was just brutal - still horrifies me. Haven’t heard of Nitram but I’ll add it to the list. Where can I see it?

[@VamshiOhgs]

@@motioninart It is available to watch in Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, might need to use a VPN though

[@antibuzz5152]

Check out me inbetween

[@RugerEnthusiast]

indian cinema also went through this in like 2008 - 2016 period and somehow managed to survive this stage and bled alot of creativity But atleast now its thriving and making great things ig

[@juz882010]

Backed by their huge VFX industry over there now and they starting make US films there at least post prod.

[@InvisibleFaceBass]

This was so well presented my dude! D-D-D-D-Doom city

[@motioninart]

Doom City forever

[@PMVault]

With the amount of production quality on KZbin I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before we have a renaisance of sorts where groups of young Aussie filmmakers decide Screen Australia can ⨍υׁׅ⁠ᝯׁ⁠ƙׁׅ֑ off with their mainstream nonsense for funding and do it themselves. Just my opinion, but lately I've been seeing really small channels with quality that blows me away.

[@motioninart]

I hope so. Would love to know what these channels are btw so I can check them out

[@stardust2045]

Brain drain has also a lot to do on why Australian cinema never reached the heights of even countries with smaller populatuion like Taiwan. Many of Aussie talents fled to Hollywood. If you actually look at Australian movies that do succeed to mainstream success,many of them are co produced by American such as Mad Max,Lion,Farscape.

[@matthewct8167]

To me Australian film, tv shows et al tend to look more expensive than they actually are. When productions want to save on cost, they probably film things there. If that’s true, I don’t know why

[@motioninart]

Agreed, it’s crazy how that happens

[@JamezKelly]

One Australian movie that I always think of to this day is Japanese Story from 2003. What could be seen as a "Safe" film breaks that mold and really showcases how amazing Australian filmmaking can be. Experiences you can never forget.

[@motioninart]

It’s called “Japanese Story”?

[@Pinkmen-ho3fz]

Justin Kurzel is essentially Australian Zack Snyder where everything has to be dark realistic and desaturated

[@XIGuyIX]

Australian film producers and distributors have bludgeoned audiences so many times at this point, that it seems unlikely that people will even see "risky" Australian films. I get it, if you went to see your first Australian film or hadn't seen one in a while and you saw Jasper Jones, Odd Ball, Rams or Paper Planes, you would probably never chance an Australian film again. It is a shame, Australian filmmakers are full of talent and creativity and if given the chance, they can make incredible films. I'd urge people to check out, Amiel Courtin-Wilson's body of work. He is one of the only interesting filmmakers who can make stuff in Aus right now.

[@juz882010]

We started westerns... originally bushranger films till the government banned them. They just dont tell good stories anymore there's always a side story who takes the main role - either sexual orientation, skin colour or something else.

[@freewheeler8924]

*We're Not Here To Fuck Spiders (2020)* A damn good film. Otherwise, speaking as an Aussie, I can confirm that Aussie cinema is bad, bad, bad.

[@motioninart]

Haven’t heard of this. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to give it a shot. Comedy? And yes, it’s incredibly frustrating what is put out

[@freewheeler8924]

@@motioninart Oh no! It is NOT a comedy! It's a very heavy duty drama about a bunch of drug dealers in Sydney. It's "found footage" and it really draws you in.

[@TamaraOdgaard-u4h]

The problem with a lot of films these days is that they've become way too politically correct and Australian films are no exception. That's what made classic Australian films like, Crocodile Dundee so awesome is the fact that back then during those days, when Paul Hogan was playing the role of the lovable larikan of Crocodile Dundee who was not afraid to laugh at himself and take the mickey out of others without giving a toss at what others think. Unfortunately, that is all too sorely lacking in many of todays Australian movies due to the fear of causing offense to small minority groups. If movies, such as Crocodile Dundee and The Castle have taught us anything as a Culture it is to never lose sight of `Who We Are' and `What we have' as a cultural identity to draw from. This is something which has sadly been lost to us over time and that's why I believe Australian movies aren't doing as well at the box office as they use to.

[@insertnamehere6968]

it's annoying, coming from a Film Student we are being taught about commercial viability being a key aspect in pitching, while yes commercial viability is important in some way its hindered our ability to tell stories again, it's almost like a repeat before the new wave where the films that we as australians got and went to see where american and now again the majority of our films we go to see are american, at some point we need to stop funding holliwood productions and make something of our own again.

[@KironVB]

Numerous issues, Government checklists, Australia is terrible for private funding for anything not housing, for some reason modern australian movies use the most annoying broad accents, bunch of super safe movies. You would think for a country that basically revitilized Psychedelia in arts and music in the past decade, along with how celebrated Hanging Rock is, that would be shown in modern Australian film, but it isnt. The Nightingale is the only Aussie film of note really in recent years.

[@danilogondim9300]

Brazil has a similar problem. The difference is that government funding is easier (still complex) but filmmakers spend more time studying incentive laws than the art opf fiilm

[@motioninart]

Whenever art is pushed aside in favour of something else like monetary incentives, you’re treading on dangerous territory

[@juz882010]

@@motioninart Yes and No someone like Adam Eliot could easily direct a big time hollywood movie downunder but he's much more interested in not making money and doing claymation short films. This logic will never grow the industry.

[@Br0wnCh3]

Since 2000s They are usually low budget and boring. Our tastes change also. You might get one Aussie made film that kicks the sand but rest are just Hollywood films made in oz.

[@motioninart]

Agreed

[@rattlord147]

This video essay was great, As someone currently wrapping up diploma course of film and television at uni, I can't agree more with everything your saying. I want to take risks and have the creative freedom i deserve, I hate my government

[@eddieibarra356]

Mexican cinema also went to this back in the late 1970s to late 1980s due of lack of government funding, and again recently in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

[@motioninart]

Lack of government funding?

[@johntom_fnq]

People have mentioned this in the comments, but political correctness, as cheesy as it is to say, has seriously impacted Australian media. The ABC absolutely pumps out forgettable, unfunny tv shows that are either sad attempts at dramas or comedy or the exact same "city detective investigates small town cold case" show/movie done over and over again (it's actually crazy how many there are - Mystery Road, Scrublands, The Dry, that one set in a cane town, etc.). I could legit write a 50,000 word essay on this shit. The last truly funny Aussie comedy show was A Moody Christmas/The Moodys which were about a decade ago now. The people in charge of and getting employed by the ABC all subscribe to the exact same politics, creating an echo chamber and the approval of poorly written and lacklustre material. It seems like every single Aussie tv show and movie nowadays has to have some part that pays homage to the evils of colonialism and intergenerational trauma, etc. There are so many parts of Aussie history that would be incredible to explore but sadly we get cherrypicked, TERRIBLE stuff like "Ten Pound Poms" that nobody watches. The problem is the general hatred and vitriol that recent political talking points have brought forth regarding our own country - the industry seems content to make generic, Americanised trash (see Heartbreak High attempting to be Aus's Euphoria and failing hopelessly to capture any sort of relatability or reality). Basically, I think the Aussie film/TV industry right now (misguidedly) detests our country and is either consciously or unconsciously trying to make content that fulfills their personal fantasies or emulates overseas content. I can only think of a handful of exceptions right now, but these (which are well worth a watch) include: Mr Inbetween, anything made by David Michod, The Nightingale, The Mystery Road and Goldstone movies plus the Origin tv series. If this comment seems rambling and unhinged I am happy to expand on some points.

[@boigercat]

Have you seen the rover? Brilliant recent Aussie movie

[@motioninart]

I haven’t but I’ll add it to the list. Where can I watch it

[@MonkeyJaguar]

You’ve got to be careful when drawing from McKenzie and Walls. It’s based on 20 films distributed by Studios.

[@motioninart]

Small sample size?

[@MonkeyJaguar]

@@motioninart not just that, but most Australian films are released by smaller independent distributors.

[@LeslieMorris]

Working in film distribution and have released countless Australian films, most people don't want to be challenged by films. The average people just want something nice to watch after a hard day at work. Film-type people want to be challenged but guy who is an office night cleaner just wants to watch something light and fun. 1.) Film funding. Are you talking about the off-set of production funding? Everyone gets the off-set, if you tick the boxes. Marvel gets the off-set. In terms of production, the government's role is funding things (films or otherwise) that aren't commercially viable. If someone gave them script to the 'new Mad Max' they wouldn't fund it as it's commercially viable unlike stories of minority groups. Said 'New Mad Max' will still get supported by off-set. Also, Screen Australia very rarely fund 100% of a production. They're typically want private money. A lot of time they just do post. 2.) Box office isn't really an indication of much anymore. You do a theatrical to trigger to off-set which is how you recoup a shitload of your budget; a theatrical will also help your VOD/TV sale. Sure, everyone wants to make money at the box-office but has another functions now. The real problem is the money just isn't there anymore. Think of SVOD platforms like Wallmat. You pay $10 for an unlimited about of movies. Who do you think gets the short end? The platform or the producers?

[@b.dangerfield6499]

I had $5m in private investment for a great RomCom, but an QLD executive producer screw it by pushing identity politics and made the investors pull out… the Australian industry is so obsessed with identity politics I would strongly advise any investors against investing in Australian films. The industry needs to wake up to their ‘wokeness’

[@juz882010]

@@b.dangerfield6499 Absolutely chock full of it... now Netflix is here its only going to get worse.

[@BradGryphonn]

Now just hang on one tiny minute there! When you mentioned great Aussie movies of the 2000s at around the two-minute mark, I didn't hear 'Wyrmwood: Road of The dead' mentioned. For shame!

[@motioninart]

Only because that’s 2014, otherwise I would have included that spectacular bad boy. What a hidden gem.

[@BradGryphonn]

@@motioninart Yeah, fair enough. I forgive you :) I'm yet to see the sequel. About to go hunting for it.

[@NimraShehzadi-kr2zq]

Very nice video

[@drendelous]

1:31 what is this?

[@alwinbenjamin]

👏🏻⚡️❤️

[@motioninart]

❤️

[@boigercat]

Imma be honest with ya mate straight from the mouth of an Aussie. We lost any culture that helped us make movies. We are so restricted by laws it's hard to be creative

[@motioninart]

:(

[@brownycow22]

Taxpayer money pays for commercial movies?

[@motioninart]

Genuine question or sarcasm?

[@brownycow22]

@@motioninart genuine question, it sounds crazy that tax money goes to commercial entertainment products imo

[@juz882010]

@@brownycow22 100%... they even pay for shitty shorts that will never make money... its insane.

[@b.dangerfield6499]

I had a RomCom, and was told by and Australia executive producer that I was not allowed to direct my own movie because I was not a women, and I had to hire a women to re-write my script, and all the jokes had to be removed… yes read that again. The political agendas have destroyed Australian movies… they’re not movies… they’re propaganda. And as for them banging on about gender equality…funny that the film bodies are 80-90% female staff! And we had private finance… didn’t need the govt money… and they still interfered.

[@robertboyle2573]

Brilliant comment.

[@Lilweh]

People cut a lot out of a film because they’re forced to.

[@motioninart]

I hate when this happens

[@robertboyle2573]

Political correctness hurt Australian cinema in my opinion.

[@t1ll316]

PC ruined every cultural aspect it came in contact with

[@OzzyAusborn]

Have you even seen furiosa or talk to me? Bloody awesome Aussie movies with good Aussie actors.

[@antibuzz5152]

Mr inbetween

[@motioninart]

Huh?