1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2002   
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Contents >> Culture and Recreation >> Film and Video

Film and video production

Australia has a well developed audiovisual production industry which is composed, for the most part, of small specialised companies. They produce programs ranging from feature films to sports coverage, documentaries and television commercials. A relatively small number of companies engage exclusively in film and television drama production. The majority specialise in the production of commissioned programs such as commercials and corporate communications.

The major market for Australian audiovisual producers is the domestic television broadcast industry. Export markets are important mainly for feature films and television dramas, some high-budget documentaries and some commercials.

The film and video production industry comprises businesses mainly engaged in the production of motion pictures on film or video tape for theatre or television projection. Services such as casting, film editing and titling are also included.

A survey of the film and video production industry was conducted by the ABS in respect of 1999-2000. At the end of June 2000, there were 1,975 businesses in the film and video production industry, employing 15,195 persons. In 1999-2000 these businesses generated $472.2m from the production of television programs, $233.1m from the provision of production services to other businesses, $262.6m from the provision of post-production/laboratory services to other businesses, and $505.9m in other income.

During 1999-2000, businesses in the television services industry, film and video production industry, and film and video distribution industry incurred total film and video production costs of $1,791.7m. Of these costs, $1,315.4m was spent on productions specifically for television, $243.0m on commercials and advertisements, and $233.4m on productions other than for television. These businesses completed, or were working on, 5,410 productions other than for television, of which 4,727 were corporate, marketing or training videos and 51 were feature films. Additional information on these industries is shown in Service industries.

The Commonwealth Government provides assistance and encouragement, through measures such as the investment program of the Australian Film Finance Corporation, the development program of the Australian Film Commission and the Australian content regulations of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, for the production of high cost feature films, television dramas and documentaries. Table 12.20 shows the number and value of both Australian titles produced in Australia and overseas and foreign titles shot in Australia from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.


12.20 FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION INDUSTRY, Number and Value of Titles(a)

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

Type of film
no.
$m
no.
$m
no.
$m
no.
$m
no.
$m

Features
30
221
36
198
41
246
45
292
34
412
Adult TV drama & mini-series
9
70
6
69
3
12
4
62
3
23
Series and serials
19
100
20
158
20
165
20
234
20
228
Telemovies
18
38
12
26
12
41
16
59
24
76
Childrens TV drama
20
115
12
72
16
109
8
52
12
86

(a) Includes production budgets of Australian, coproduced and foreign features and TV drama shot in Australia, and inhouse production by television stations.

Source: Australian Film Commission.


Film and video distribution

The film and video distribution industry comprises businesses mainly engaged in leasing or wholesaling motion pictures on film or video tape to organisations for exhibition or sale. Agents mainly engaged in leasing and wholesaling films and videos to organisations are also included.

At 30 June 2000, there were 58 businesses in the industry, employing 1,426 people. In 1999-2000 these businesses generated $1,141.8m in total income and had an operating profit before tax of $103.6m. The main sources of income were $841.1m from the sales, rental or lease of prerecorded video tapes, disks, films and interactive software, and $169.2m from the provision of channels to pay television broadcasters. Additional information on the industry is shown in Service industries.


Motion picture exhibition

The motion picture exhibition industry comprises businesses mainly engaged in screening motion pictures on film or video tape. It also includes businesses mainly engaged in drive-in theatre operation, cinema operation and film or video festival operation.

The ABS conducted a survey on the motion picture exhibition industry in respect of 1999-2000.

At the end of June 2000, there were 173 businesses in the industry, employing 9,282 people. The motion picture exhibition industry had an operating profit before tax of $113.3m for 1999-2000, which represented a profit margin of 11.4%.

At the end of June 2000, there were 326 cinema sites and 17 drive-in sites in Australia. For 1999-2000, there were 79 million paid admissions to cinemas.

More findings of the survey are shown in Service industries.


Cinema attendance

The 1999 Survey of Attendance at Selected Culture/Leisure Venues found that almost 10 million persons (67.0% of the Australian population aged 15 and over) attended a hardtop cinema, drive-in or other public screening of a film at least once in the 12 months ending 30 April 1999 (table 12.21).


12.21 ATTENDANCE(a) AT CINEMAS - 1999

Attendees
’000

Sex -
- Male
4,715.6
- Female
5,272.0
- Total
9,987.6
Age -
- 15 to 24 years
2,374.2
- 25 to 34 years
2,244.2
- 35 to 44 years
2,105.2
- 45 to 54 years
1,604.8
- 55 to 64 years
836.1
- 65 years and over
823.1
Birthplace -
- Australian-born
7,577.9
- Overseas-born
2,409.7

(a) Attendance in the 12 months prior to interview.

Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues, April 1999 (4114.0).



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