A Lovely Day

State Of The Australian Film Industry Part X
Here's a tip-off from Pleiades; Miranda Devine has this article today.

Box office receipts for Australian movies plunged to an all-time low in 2004, to 1.3 per cent of total box office, down from almost 10 per cent a decade ago. They have only recovered slightly since, with the help of Kenny.

Of course, 2004 was the year Somersault scooped the pools at the AFI awards - 13 awards in all, on top of rave reviews, for a movie that was simply unwatchable.

Box Office Mojo says Somersault took just $92,214 with no foreign sales, making it another big loss maker for the taxpayer, though the Australian Film Commission maintains box office receipts were more like $2 million.

The Australian Government, which pours $140 million into the local film industry each year, is looking at changing tax incentives for film investors so films can be funded outside the government system.

Variety magazine says private investment in all Australian films last year amounted to just $8 million - seven per cent of total production cost.

The best thing the Government could do is turf out all Film Bulgaria social engineers from the movie business, or at least get them to do it with their own money, instead of using mainstream budgets funded by taxpayers to create unoriginal film school dogs that say nothing about our culture.

You know, when even Miranda Devine can see the problem, then it's time the current government-led system be pulled apart. They really should let the market dictate what gets made and what does not.

Go Home Aussies?
Arab nations are upset that Australian Soccer has joined the Asian Football Federation.

Sheik Talah al-Fahd Al Sabah, president of the West Asian Games committee, echoed earlier comments by his brother Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, the Olympic Council of Asia president.

"We are against Australia joining the Asian continent, even in soccer," Sheik Talal said. "This is the biggest mistake made against Asian soccer. This will kill the ambitions of Asian soccer."

Australia reached the second round of the World Cup before losing on a last-minute penalty kick to eventual champion Italy. The Aussies had qualified for the World Cup through the Oceania group and beating Uruguay in a playoff for the last spot.

The Australians are among the 16 qualifiers for the 2007 Asian Cup, which is being hosted by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

"What are we going to benefit from Australia's soccer team when it plays a game with Asia? Is it the experience?" Sheik Talal said. "We might play with them once every four years, not more."

Earlier, Sheik Ahmad said Australia should not be part of the Asian group for any Olympic sports.

"If Australia will come to Asia, we are killing about 16 other nations," he said.

I think what's realy got them worried is that Australia is a strong sporting nation and this move will inevitably blow them out of the water. Whiners and whingers. :)
Australia would go back to Oceania if it actually had a berth of its own at the World Cup table.