‘LOOK’ AND LOOK BACK: Using an auto/biographical lens to study the Australian documentary film industry, 1970 - 2010
Date
2018
Authors
Davies, Llewellyn Willis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University
Abstract
While much has been written on the Australian film and television
industry, little has been presented by actual producers,
filmmakers and technicians of their time and experiences within
that same industry. Similarly, with historical documentaries, it
has been academics rather than filmmakers who have led the
debate. This thesis addresses this shortcoming and bridges the
gap between practitioner experience and intellectual discussion,
synthesising the debate and providing an important contribution
from a filmmaker-academic, in its own way unique and insightful.
The thesis is presented in two voices. First, my voice, the
voice of memoir and recollected experience of my screen
adventures over 38 years within the Australian industry, mainly
producing historical documentaries for the ABC and the SBS. This
is represented in italics. The second half and the alternate
chapters provide the industry framework in which I worked with
particular emphasis on documentaries and how this evolved and
developed over a 40-year period, from 1970 to 2010.
Within these two voices are three layers against which this
history is reviewed and presented. Forming the base of the
pyramid is the broad Australian film industry made up of feature
films, documentary, television drama, animation and other types
and styles of production. Above this is the genre documentary
within this broad industry, and making up the small top tip of
the pyramid, the sub-genre of historical documentary. These form
the vertical structure within which industry issues are
discussed. Threading through it are the duel determinants of
production: ‘the market’ and ‘funding’.
Underpinning the industry is the involvement of government, both
state and federal, forming the three dimensional matrix for the
thesis. For over 100 years the Australian film industry has
depended on government support through subsidy, funding
mechanisms, development assistance, broadcast policy and
legislative provisions.
This thesis aims to weave together these industry layers, binding
them with the determinants of the market and funding, and
immersing them beneath layers of government legislation and
policy to present a new view of the Australian film industry.
Description
Keywords
Australian Film Industry, Australian documentary industry, Arts and Entertainment Network, Australian Broadcasting Authority, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, Australian Content Standard, Australian Film Commission, Australian Film Development Corporation, Australian Film Institute, Australian Film Television and Radio School, Australian International Documentary Conference, Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, Australian Performing Rights Association, Australian Taxation Office, Audiovisual Copyright Society (Screenrights), Australian Writers Guild, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Commonwealth Film Unit (Film Australia), Department of Information, Experimental Film and Television Fund, Film Australia, Film Finance Corporation, Film Licenced Investment Company, Film Victoria Free to Air Film and Television Office (NSW) Homes Using Television Independent Communications Associates Independent Programme Producers Association Independent Television (UK) Los Angeles PBS Television Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Marché International des Programmes de Télévision (April) Marché International des Programmes de Communication (October) Memorandum of Understanding National Association of Television Program Executives National Film Board of Canada National Films Council National Film and Sound Archive National Geographic Television National Interest Program Oregon Public Broadcasting Public Broadcast Service (USA) Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television Provisional Certificate Pacific Film and Television Commission Post Office Film Unit South Australian Film Corporation Special Broadcasting Service SBS Independent Significant Australian Content Screen Producers Australia The Discovery Channel The History Channel Washington PBS Television Boston PBS Television New York PBS Television
Citation
Collections
Source
Type
Thesis (PhD)
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access
License Rights
Restricted until
Downloads
File
Description