Definitions

What makes a film or TV program ‘Australian’? What’s the difference between a short, a feature and a telemovie? When is a ‘series’ defined as a ‘mini-series’? Such terms have particular definitions in the context of data gathered by the Australian Film Commission, and these definitions are reflected in Get the Picture.

‘Australian’

Format definitions

Release data

‘Australian’

The Australian Film Commission Act 1975 defines an Australian film/program as one:

1. that has been made wholly or substantially in Australia and that, in the opinion of the Commission, has significant Australian content; or
2. that is to be made wholly or substantially in Australia and that, in the opinion of the Commission, will have significant Australian content; or
3. that has been, or is to be, made in pursuance of an agreement or arrangement entered into between the Government of the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth and the Government of another country or an authority of the Government of another country.

In interpreting this definition, the AFC considers a number of factors. These include where a film or program is shot, its con­tent, the nationality of cast and crew, the country of origin of the production company and the people who are the beneficial owners of the copyright, and sources of finance, including Aus­tralian federal government money.

For data-gathering purposes, projects are categorised as follows:

Australian: A project under Australian creative control (i.e. where the elements are predominantly Australian and the project was originated and developed by Australians). Includes projects with these characteristics but which are 100 per cent foreign-financed.

Co-production: A project where creative control is shared between Australian and foreign partners, and where there is a mix of Australian and foreign elements in the creative posi­tions. Includes projects made under the Official Co-production program, i.e. pursuant to an agreement between the Com­monwealth Government or the AFC, and a similar authority or government of another country. For example, Green Card (an official Australia/France co-production) and Black Robe (an offi­cial Australia/Canada co-production); Farscape (an unofficial Australia/US co-production).

Foreign production: A project under foreign creative con­trol, originated and developed by non-Australians. Includes projects with an Australian production company operating in a service capacity. (For a foreign project to be included in the AFC’s survey of feature film and TV drama production, a sub­stantial amount must be shot in Australia; foreign productions post-produced only in Australia are not covered.)

Format definitions

Animation: Using single-frame filming of objects to create the impression of movement. Most animations will also belong to other categories – for example, drama, pilot.

Anthology: Generic name given to a collection of titles which can be screened or sold either separately or as a group.

Documentary: The AFC’s definition of documentary follows that used by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): specifically ‘a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine infotainment or light entertainment pro­gram, and corporate and/or training programs.’ The AFC data covers documentaries intended for cinema or TV release. Non-broadcast documentaries are not included, nor are online documentaries.

Drama: A scripted screenplay in which the dramatic elements of character, theme and plot are introduced and developed so as to form a narrative structure. Does not include sketches within variety programs, characterisations within documentary programs, or any other form of program or segment within a program which involves only the incidental use of actors. Usu­ally identified by the producer's intention.

Feature: A film which is 60 minutes or longer.

In-house production: Production by an Australian TV sta­tion where no external production company is credited as producer or co-producer.

Mini-series: A limited series of drama which is less than 13 hours in total length, and which is either made to be broadcast in several sequential parts featuring a major continuous plot for which there is an expectation of an ending resolving the major plot tensions, or an anthology of drama works for televi­sion made to be broadcast under one generic title. Individual episodes must be 60 commercial minutes or longer, unless the program is for children, in which case episodes must be 30 commercial minutes or longer, or, if animated, 15 commercial minutes or longer.

In categorising titles as either mini-series or series, the AFC follows the definitions used by the Department of Communi­cations, Information Technology and the Arts for Division 10BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. This occasionally means that a mini-series which might be classified as a series according to industry definitions is defined as a mini-series in order to retain parity with data from other government agencies.

Pilot: A program made as a trial for a series or serial. It can sometimes be screened as a telemovie, prior to the screening of the series or serial, or as the first episode of a series or serial.

Series: Comprises a potentially unlimited number of episodes, each being a self-contained plot which can be screened in any order. Documentaries in more than one part can also be series.

Serial: Comprises a potentially unlimited number of episodes and contain a number of interweaving and overlapping plots continuing from one episode to the next.

Short: A film which is 59 minutes or shorter, excluding docu­mentaries or telemovies.

Telemovie: Drama made for television. Usually the pro­ducer's intention prior to release is the main indicator. Telemovies can be 52 minutes (commercial TV hour) or longer.

Telemovie version: Telemovie produced by editing footage from mini-series, series or serial.

Release data

The AFC tracks release data for Australian productions includ­ing official and unofficial co-productions and in-house projects.

Theatrical (cinema) release: A theatrical release is defined by the AFC as a commercial screening for one week in a cin­ema (or where it is intended that the film will screen for at least a week). Published data is generally based on first release only. Data is compiled from AFC monitoring of trade maga­zines, and with the assistance of national agencies, producers, agents, distributors and the MPDAA.

Australian TV release: Prime time (6.00 pm to 10.30 pm) screenings of Australian features, mini-series and telemovies on Sydney television have been monitored by the AFC since mid-1986. National data has also been extracted from AGB Movie Monitors 1982–1990 and Mini-series Monitor 1977–1990. From 1990, AFC monitoring has been extended to cover all time slots. Documentaries and shorts have been monitored since 1988; series and serials since 1990.

Sydney TV is monitored via the TV schedules, Channel High­lights and Nielsen and OzTAM ratings. Melbourne TV is monitored via the Nielsen and OzTAM ratings. In addition, individual stations have supplied lists of Australian titles screened, and lists of drama and documentaries screened on Australian TV published by ACMA are also cross checked.

Australian subscription TV has been tracked since 1 May 1995.

UK TV release: Monitoring of UK TV schedules started in 1983. In 1993, the data was extended back to 1980.

US TV release: Monitoring of Australian films/programs screened on US cable (pay) television started in 1984. Data is extracted from the Los Angeles edition of TV Guide. Screenings have been included regardless of timeslot. Information on Aus­tralian films screened on US free-to-air TV is scant. Data has been included where available.

Video release: Monitoring of Australian video started in 1982. UK video releases are tracked on an ongoing basis. Data on other countries is supplied by national agencies and refer­ence texts.

Repeats: The second screening of a title on the same or sepa­rate channels in the same market is considered a repeat (subscription TV and free-to-air TV are separate markets).

– Research sources
– Abbreviations.