Movie Bias?

[Demon Angel]

I have noticed something in the media of late. There as been a lot of spoff about the 'Cruisy Movie' Australian chanel 9 seems to be doing a bit of advertising... When the movie trailer was going to be on the super bowl... Seems that the 9 news and the chanel 9 'A Current Affair' had a 'special' on the movie or shall we say we will show you the trailer and tell you nothing really...

I am wondering if they are aware of the other pending films Pendragon and the Other guy... Jeff Wayne... Are they being told about the other pending films... are they being paid off only to advertise one product... is it bias to big bussiness...

Because in my opinion it would be better news to tell us about the whole variety of whats going on with 'War Of The Worlds' Hmm?

This is the worse type of advertising... I have seen films that have been so over publisized and when I have gone to see them I have walked out going 'what was all the hyp about'...

Fair Advertising FOR ALL!

[paco417]

the problem with the movie industry today is that it is all geared to the USA!
virtually everything is "hollywood" and other countries/ indie producers have a hard time in getting a foot hold to show what they have achieved!
Many brits remember the time when films were produced by companies such as "the hammer house of horror", yes ok some are laughable even in those days but we have made some great and may i say it disturbing films!
Take for example " a clockwork orange" this was only shown again after the guy who made the film passed away! a great piece of british film.
maybe if the british goverment had put more money into the UK film industry it would be more than a match for the Americans? maybe it will in a few years!

[HTT]

There's a bit more to the Clockwork Orange story. After a copycat gang rape, Stanley Kubrik couldn't believe the mentality, and refused to let it be shown in the UK. Only after his death whas the film then shown.

I think the problem with the British film industry is that we don't have the means to raise the massive budgets that America seems to be able to raise for a movie. Probably because there's a lot more people with a lot more cash in the US!!

Also, you need to factor in our British reserve. We're not as willing to throw money into projects - we just don't like to take the risk of losing our investments if the film flops!! A flopped film would have much more of a negative impact on the UK economy than it would in the US.

[themotile]

To be fair Jeff Wayne will get his exposure when the time comes, its still years off.

Pendragon havent exactly released anything worth raving over have they? I mean if they got their act together early on maybe it would be all over the place as everybody cashed in on it but up to now nothing is worth a mention, even though its WOTW.

[maniacs]

The problem with our industry is that to make real money it needs to do well in the states. The population is a lot smaller and the investment needed in filming is very high and thus needs to have a high return to succeed. American made films probebly cover their costs and then release the film here.

[McTodd]

I agree with Motile.

Look at it this way, you’re a meejah type, WotW and/or H G Wells mean doodly squat to you, what are you going to cover?

Steven Spielberg, one of the most successful movie directors in history, a veritable box-office God, and Tom Cruise, major (if diminutive) Hollywood sex symbol and Titan of the cash register, collaborating on a $250m blockbuster that comes out in a few months?

Faded concept-album impresario working on an animated film with no named stars that comes out in a couple of years?

Semi-art-house, never-actually-released-a-finished-movie yet toytown producer making a quasi-amateur version with his mates which may or may not be released theatrically/on DVD/as a flick-film booklet/God knows?

Gosh, what’s a girl to do…?

[Topaz]

paco417 said:

the problem with the movie industry today is that it is all geared to the USA!

Do recall that while Pendragon's TWOTW was shot in the UK, the company itself is based in the US. Seattle, to be specific.

Writing this off as a bias towards American film-making misses the mark. The bias is towards big movie studios, regardless of nationality. It just so happens that most of the really huge studios are based in the US, and the US was/is the largest single market for films until the consolidation of the EU. The studios tune their films for, and advertise in, what they consider the market that will generate the most profits.

Peter Jackson's Company (LOTRings) is based in New Zealand, if memory serves, and that film didn't have much trouble with publicity.

The problem with PP is that they're an indie studio with a very small budget compared to the big boys. The rest of the media generally ignores such, because there usually isn't much profit in reporting about their projects.

In the end, it's all about the money. Who has it, and where you can get more of it.

[timeship2]

I agree with Topaz it's biased towards the Goliaths of the film industry.

Having said that, even though LOTR was filmed in New Zealand, it was still ultimately an American money backed movie.

I don't think we should put all the blame on UK film studios for being to reluctant to take on the American Market. They have a very good reason since it is well known for being very picky in what they'll accept from the rest of the world. Quite often they'll only accept movies or shows from other countries if they are completely redone with American Actors and producers. Classic examples being Comedy shows from the UK. The idea that the US public doesn't 'get' British comedy is absolute rubbish I have found. Shaun of the Dead and even ancient cult classics such as 'Are you being served' have proven they can be very British and still popular.

I was reading about the new Red Dwarf movie and how they were told at one point by an American backer they'd only do it, if they replaced the entire cast with American Actors!! What's the point of the movie then I ask? After all, they have shown the original TV series in the USA. I'd find it extremely odd if the movie characters were totally different actors to the TV show. You grow with the characters and expect them in a movie, otherwise it's not the same and simply becomes another unrelated movie in my opinion. Luckily this is not the case with this movie now as they stuck to therir guns and passed on that offer.

[Topaz]

Could it have to do with Screen Actor's Guild membership for the actors? The SAG has a strangle-hold on the US studios on actors and extras, as far as I know. Defy them, and all of a sudden you have a heck of a time getting your movie done, as all the other unions will suddenly find they've got a 'previous engagement'.

[BrutalDeluxe]

Don't fret Demon Angel, I'm sure at least one of the independent cinemas in our country will pick up Tim Hine's version of WOTW. These at least four of them in Melbourne alone which screen some really obscure films. Once it is released in the UK, I might ring around and harass them.

[Demon Angel]

EXACTLY the point I was making Topaz It's all about money... Money makes the world turn now days and people like to say it doesn't matter... But I would like to see them live with out it...

If we are lucky BrutalDeluxeour local cinema will show the Hines movie. They do on ocassion play 'Art House' type films they have some kind of master something rather where the give one or two showings of low budget and overseas type films... I am hoping they slip through the cracks and make it here...

[Topaz]

I think the best thing that can happen for this movie is what already appears to be happening - grass-roots buzz. I believe a lot of people are stumbling upon Pendragon's venture while looking for material on Spielburg's. In that sense, Hines is a full-on genius for releasing the movie when he is - what better way to get people to the web site about your project? Free wide-scale advertising, riding the studio-funded media blitz for the 'big-ticket' movie.

Large-scale buzz about the project will get the distributors seeing $$$$. When that happens, we get to see the movie! ;D

[dudalb]

"Semi-art-house, never-actually-released-a-finished-movie yet toytown producer making a quasi-amateur version with his mates which may or may not be released theatrically/on DVD/as a flick-film booklet/God knows?"
That sadly, is what the Pendragon WOTW seems to be ending up as.
"I think the best thing that can happen for this movie is what already appears to be happening - grass-roots buzz"
What Grass root buzz?
At most websites all the discussion is about the Spielberg version. A few hundred fans on a fan website does not amount to Grass Root Buzz.
There is no "wide scale Buzz" about the film.
If anything a lot of people, including me, who were intially excited about the project seem are getting more and more pessimistic about it. And the total lack of information from Pendragon is not helping matters any. I don't buy the hoax theory, but I think that Hines and company have simply got in over then heads. The guy has never made, marketed, and distriubted a film before, for heaven's sake. He might be Orson Wells hitting a home run first time out with another "Citizen Kane", but I doubt it.
If you think this film is going to in any way compete with the Speilberg version,you are living in another dimension of reality.
Let's get real, folks. Pendragon is not coming off as a professional level company, even on the Indie level, and
you should not let enthusiam for a project blind you to reality.

[dudalb]

"Could it have to do with Screen Actor's Guild membership for the actors?"
No. SAG has a agreement with the main British Actor's union in which they extend privilages to each other.
If you have not noticied, an awful lot of British actors appear in films made in the USA....

[Demon Angel]

It's all about the dollars... Well I hope the Pendragon film finds some saving grace... word of mouth maybe to make it a sucsess... Well thats not so bad.. it would save em some money

[x200]

Demon Angel,

one thing you might be overlooking is that.. well channel 9.. is just being channel 9.. the channel owned by an "australian" now based in america.. with its HQ in america also these days..

but on the plus side, especially of recent, independant / international /small house films have been shown on alot of australian cinemas, I think the SBS has some say in this... or atleast can be thanked for exposing people to movies other than holywood "standard" (low) movies

if all else fails.. SBS will put pendragons film on when its out on DVD.. and I wouldnt put it past them showing the previews either good old SBS..its wierd.. but its a good wierd .. and most of the time doesnt do what every other station does

[themotile]

Yes it is about money and if Pendragon had released anything that could actualy make enough money to warrent covering it along side the Spielberg version im sure it would be everywhere by now but the cut of it is they havent, its all been laughable so far, almost impossible to take seriously out side of the fan base.


Its Pendragons own fault, no point trying to lay blame at anyone elses door. They should have released something half decent.

[timeship2]

one thing you might be overlooking is that.. well channel 9.. is just being channel 9.. the channel owned by an "australian" now based in america.. with its HQ in america also these days..

ah! so now we know! It's Mr Murdoch who is behind this conspiracy ;D

Seriously how is this guy viewed in Australia? Is he a hero, or are people sort of indifferent to him?

[Demon Angel]

x200, I am aware of the "Australian owed and based in America" After all what now days is Australian...

Even Greg Norman and Paul Hogan " Still call Australia home..." But should we call them Australian seeing how long they have been American...

Why does this dumb ass country have to see out to another dumb ass country... *Sigh* We will never be a republic... we will just add 7 states to America... This country as lost it's balls...