We finally saw the release of Sean Byrne's horror film The Loved Ones on November 4th, having played at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July of 2009 and at the Toronto International Film Festival shortly after. I'm not going to attempt to explain, or even to understand, film marketing but it took over 12 months from its MIFF showing to reach Australian cinemas. After only a few weeks it disappeared, apparently Aussie cinema goers just weren't interested. Whether it was the marketing; Wolf Creek meets Pretty in Pink might have deterred more than one, or whether it's the climate, who knows. But one thing was for sure, Australian critics were not happy!
You may interject at this point and say "Hey Lomas pipe down you book editing nerd" to which I'd reply "Hear me out!" Sure I may not be employed full time as a "film critic" nor do I actually get paid for any of the sites I write for, but I do try and see as many films in a year as I possibly can - Australian or otherwise. My commitment to cinema, whether or not you would call me a "critic" or even a "reviewer" is irrelevant to my ability to voice my opinion. And here's where I get to my fantastic Kevin Smith impersonation.
How many film critics went and saw The Loved Ones once it was released? How many paid for their ticket? Excluding when it played at MIFF, when the film was released November 4th and was, so to speak, murdered at the Australian box office, how many "critics" or "reviewers" went out and supported the film by buying a ticket? If you all come back to me and say, "Well Jess I did actually" I'll be happy to shove that in my pipe and smoke it ... or just accept that I am wrong. Perhaps Twitter has twisted my perception of things but I heard a lot of complaining that Australians weren't supporting an Aussie film, yet critics are Australians so how did they support this film beyond telling people to go see it?
I don't agree with Kevin Smith that critics should pay to see films just because they trashed his latest (Cop Out), I see the importance of having people review films, spread the word, make everyone else extremely jealous they saw a much anticipated film months earlier than everyone else, that's cool. What I don't agree with, or really understand, is, as I've said above, the drive to attack or question those who don't support or go see a film primarily because it's Australian. Pauline Hanson is Australian; it doesn't mean we have to support her.
My comments here are not meant to ostracise those I have come to know through Twitter, for without you I wouldn't be writing for such great sites as Watch Out For and the Quickflix blog (free plugs!), but I would like to hear someone explain why this occurs.
A film critic's job is an important and essential element in the business we call show, but it's mighty easy to sit back in your comfy cinema seat and question why the average Australian doesn't pay to see a film you've just watched for free.
Written for the Oz Film Blogathon hosted by Dark Habits
I may have paid and saw it again if I had the money, but alas - as you say - most of us don't get paid. I think I gave enough back to that film, for allowing me to see it early, in terms of blog and Twitter coverage. But you are right in a way. Still, out of the 20 or so regular critics I see at Melbourne media screenings that wouldn't have equalled all that much extra box office, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteGood point, well made, Jess. I was just having this discussion the other day with our favourite Ricky Hollywood - a lot of people who actually go and see Australian films are critics/part of the biz, none of whom pay for tickets!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm not sure the "Aussies don't support Aussie films" lament pivots on the issue of free tickets. If critics/bloggers/reviewers didn't see preview screenings and spread the word (however stridently!), a lot of these smaller films with minuscule marketing budgets wouldn't make it on to anyone's radar.
For my money (sorry), the issue is less about the free tickets than it is a mounting frustration at trying to find a way to entice audiences to take a punt on local fodder.
When critics can get all up in arms about people failing to see Aussie films - particularly one that works its genre so well like The Loved Ones - I think it's more about knocking heads against the proverbial brick wall. Come on team! This is a good film - can we all get over our cultural cringe already and just go enjoy it?
Then again, perhaps you're right and it's a classic case of: do as I say, not as I do!
I personally cringe when I hear the phrase "go and support Oz cinema" whenever a new Aussie film comes out. As you allude to in your article Jess, just because a film is Australian doesn't mean it's worthy of our money. And critics should be imploring people to see GOOD movies, regardless of its nation of origin.
ReplyDeleteStill, I don't know if critics returning to cinemas to pay for Australian films they've already seen for free will boost grosses, or reignite the systemic apathy of the Aus movie-going public. I mean, are we talking an extra 100 or so tickets, at most? That equates to about $1500 at the box office. I figure a distributor surrendering $1500 of potential b/o gross for 100 reviews (potentially positive) is probably a worthwhile investment.
Lord knows they're not going to get much of a marketing budget outside of that.
P.S. Awesome write-up ;-)
Couldn't agree more, I too am bored of this conversation. Not that I don't think there's merit to the premise, just than bleeding on about it is going to change much at all. As Alice says, money is not the issue, it's about getting people inspired and excited about Cinema.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, whether films are good or not isn't even the issue. The reason I go to the cinema and why I got into the racket is I love films. Great films, shit films, genre films, kids films – generally I can find something to take from most, and the rest I clock up to re-enforcing my knowledge of various filmmakers bodies of work or simply what's out there.
This conversation HAS to start moving forward. We need to start figuring out how we film writers, as a community, can help grow the industry and get people excited about Cinema as a product. Once people start to see film as something more than merely E! on the big screen they might soon get hungry for more. If their palate simultaneously becomes broader then all the better.
I suppose it's what I hope we would achieve from this exercise, to identify some issues sure, but more to find solutions. Or maybe that comes in Oz Film Blogathon Reloaded...
I think you raise some interesting points, but I think you're coming at it from the wrong angle. A film reviewer does more for a film by encouraging others to see it, rather than sending a meagre $16 its way.
ReplyDeleteI get frustrated that people don't see great Australian films, but not because they're under some moral obligation to support our local industry. My frustration stems from the fact that we're making great films, but nobody's seeing them because of this stigma about Oz movies! When I urge people to see Summer Coda, Red Hill, The Loved Ones, Animal Kingdom or The Horseman, it's because they're great films and people will enjoy the hell out of them.
The crux of this sort of argument comes down to responsibility. A film's responsibility is to entertain its audience. A reviewer's responsibility is to the audience, not the film, and any praise I heap upon a film is purely for the benefit of any poor sap who might be reading my ramblings...
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ReplyDeleteIsn't it the role a critic to encourage people to see films - ie. the films that they deem to be superior, worth seeing? And to discourage audiences from seeing those that they deem not worthy of such support?
ReplyDeleteOkay, critics (in which I also include reviewers) may not spend as much money on seeing movies as other people, but they do invest a significant amount of time in the cause of cinema. This is not always fun, and the writing that results is more than likely not well paid. This, to me, represents an investment that is every bit as important as a financial one.
This "go see Australian films" discussion is not about giving Australian films special treatment or some kind of handicap, despite what so many people seem to think.
It's not about patriotism or boosting the economy or loyalty or anything sentimental.
Sadly, we are now at the point of needing to ask audiences to simply not discriminate against a film BECAUSE it is Australian.
That is all any Australian filmmaker is asking for, just that. Why is that so hard to understand?
If Australian film critics don't recognise that the future of any kind of film industry in this country depends on people actually paying money to go and see our movies at the cinema, then we are truly in a bad way. It is frightening.
For critics who do understand this, why wouldn't their responsibility be to encourage people to go and see good films that, for whatever reason, have failed to capture an audience?
This does not mean only Australian films, but any films that are being wrongly overlooked. In a world where marketing budgets for mainstream movies have become obscene, critics are more important than ever in serving this function. That is their job!
So some critics are seduced by marketing and recommend heaps of crap films. Perhaps they recommend every film they get a free ticket to, that could happen... But these are not good critics; they have little credibility. Why base any argument on what people like that may or may not do?
The critics that I respect are capable of maintaining integrity and not being 'corrupted' by the fact that they get free tickets to movies.
For the record, I am an occasional film critic, a film journalist, a filmmaker and someone who both paid to see The Loved Ones as well as receiving a free ticket.
Wow everyone thanks for taking the time to read my article and offer your opinions!
ReplyDeleteClearly everyone has differing views on the subject but I think you've all raised valid points and you've given me more to think about on the topic.
I think in general the push to see Australian films isn't necessarily because they're Australian but as a few mentioned because they're great films. And of course the focus would be heightened because being Australians we have an interest in and a duty to support our industry, as with any creative field.
I think the issue is a lot more complicated than my brief piece gets into and without dedicating thousands of words I can't get into the many areas of discussion you have all raised. I think one of the main points is that while critics don't pay to see films they do support them if they believe in them and the low pay is indeed a restriction.
The argument made by Brioni about film critics having to sit through all sorts of films, good or bad, doesn't really strike me as valid however. Film criticism is a job and as with many jobs there are things you have to do which aren't as enjoyable as others. I really don't enjoy editing David Koch's books but hey I don't have a choice! On the same note, the amount of time a critic invests in films doesn't strike me as supporting the Australian film industry - again this is their job, in any job you have to spend time "working".
To offer a comparison - I get many free books at work and the opportunity to get review copies. I do, however, buy many books - probably too many. I know my purchase doesn't count for much - an author will probably get a maximum of $2 for a book I buy but it's still supporting the book, the author and the publishing industry. An author is more likely to get a further book deal based on the sales of their current book so while a few dollars seems insignificant it's actually quite important. Obviously this doesn't directly transcend to films, but it's something to consider - every little bit counts!
Anyway - again I want to thank you all for taking the time to read and comment!