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:
- that has been made wholly or substantially in Australia
and that, in the opinion of the Commission, has significant Australian
content; or
- that is to be made wholly or substantially in Australia
and that, in the opinion of the Commission, will have significant Australian
content; or
- 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 pay 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 (pay TV and free-to-air TV are separate markets).
