The problems of an international-Australian filmBalibo

Dr Steve GaunsonAustralian Cinema, COMM1033, RMIT University

Distribution is an important part of international-Australian cinema

“Cinema is one of the major institutions of internationalism and/or cosmopolitanism in Australian culture, yet Australian film policy has been habitually discussed, and Australian film history customarily formulated, within a culturally nationalist framework… The founding presumption and conclusion of this approach — the doomed, romantic struggle of Australian film produces — limits the definition of the Australian cinema industry to its smallest and least powerful section, production, at the expense of incorporating distribution and exhibition”.

— Mike Walsh, 2007

Good film ≠ good box officeSmart distribution = good box office

Ruth Harley (then) CEO Screen Australia, 2008

The distributors know their business, that they know what to spend on the release of any particular film and they know that

because they’ve got an expectation of box office and an expectation of ancillary rights. So I’m not inclined to think that

Screen Australia should meddle in that business model.

Balibo was a box-office failure

• Budget: $4.8m• Opening weekend:

$206,290• Overall Box office:

$1.3m • needs $6m to break

even

• What happened? Opening Overall Required

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

206290

1300000

6000000

Balibo – Box Office

Balibo did everything required:

Major Awards and Screenings• Brisbane International Film Festival

(2009)• IF Productions Pty Ltd (2009)• London Film Festival (2009)• Melbourne International Film Festival

(2009)• Pusan International Film Festival (2009)• Toronto International Film Festival (2009)• AWGIE Awards (2010)

• Critical success:– Positive reviews– Good word of mouth– International distribution

AFI - 10 nominations (wins 5)• Best Supporting Actor

– Oscar Isaac• Best Lead Actor

– Anthony LaPaglia• Best Screenplay, Adapted

– Robert Connolly• Best Achievement in Editing

– Nick Meyers

Successful Australian Films in 2009 – the year of Balibo

Mao’s L

ast Dan

cer (R

oadsh

ow)

Australi

a (Fo

x)

Knowing (Ico

n)

Char & Boots

(Parmount)

Sam & Del (P

aramount)

Balibo (F

ootprint)

02,000,0004,000,0006,000,0008,000,000

10,000,00012,000,00014,000,00016,000,00014,991,787

10,643,250

7,588,162

3,857,7433,188,9311,300,000

Box-office

Box-office

• Balibo’s problem was its distribution in various exhibition fields– In some places - it played in multiplexes – In others - it played in independent cinemas

• Its national opening was simultaneous – not staggered

• Relied on auto-piloted press and promotion• Failed to consider DVD and online arenas – as much as

theatrical ones

Aug. 6–9 Aug. 13–16 Aug. 20–23 Aug. 27–30 Sept. 3–6 Sept. 10–13 Sept. 17–20$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

$140,000

$160,000

$180,000

$200,000

Balibo

Axis Title

Australians involvement in the ‘myth’ of International place

Doesn’t explain why place is important

‘international’ doesn’t automatically mean extra box office