Eric Samulski1975 Changed Everything
November 6th 2006 13:05
Australian film industry
As an Australian genre film-maker I have long held the belief that 1975, particularly the release of Picnic at Hanging Rock, was a watershed for Australian films and art culture in general.
Picnic at Hanging Rock was, in my view, the catalyst for how the promotion of art culture moved from an art-industry to a “boy in the bubble” bo-hoo mentality that is now so prevalent. It was seen by some as an opportunity to create a new way forward. A way of chasing off the entrepreneurs and instilling the art cry-babies. This mentality is both the cause and affect of the mess we now find Australian art culture currently in.
I don’t dislike Picnic at Hanging Rock, I dislike the attitude that has come from its mythological podium – that all films must promote an Australianness, must have “artistic merit” regardless of any commercial obligation and subscribe to a contrived sense of sophistication. We now find ourselves with an art-industry (predominately films, but also theatre) that seems relaxed with the concept of loosing money and exists only by being propped up by government subsidies. What other industry survives on that? And it’s not like Australians don’t watch films – they do.
It’s as if everyone who fell under this “mentality” spell in 1975 now hold positions of funding control and teaching and actively promote this. To our detriment.
I happily follow this understanding and although may never produce a government funded film that looses money to such applause, I see myself creating for a lot longer than many and isn’t that the whole point?
I think Stone and The Man from Hong Kong, produced at the same time, are great films but were caught up in this sad lah-lah vacuum. Their shunning not only proves my point but also is a stunning murder-one inditement of the situation Australia finds itself in.
Australia can make successful and entertaining art, there just has to be a big-time attitude change.
Until next time and happy film-making.
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