We’ve been taken by surprise this week at the response to Anthony Morris’ Australian Gangster review. The two-part miniseries is airing on Seven and inspired by real-life events, though it apparently needs to skirt around a lot of the actual details. But even though Anthony thinks it suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, it’s obvious that we can’t get enough of the idea of true-crime drama that happened on our own (relatively) sleepy streets. Good thing Underbelly is coming back!
Elsewhere on the site, we take another look at the question we’re all fascinated with – the battle between linear TV and streaming services, and how the global pandemic has thrown even more booby traps into that battleground by pushing theatrical release into homes. David breaks down some new global data to see what the latest story is.
And while the eternally celebrated Jane Campion tears it up at overseas festivals with The Power of the Dog, we also had a chat to Nadia Tass, whose documentary about the stories Russian actor Oleg Vidov appeared to make a significant impact at Moscow Film Festival.
Finally, Rochelle explores the idea of what screen productions can achieve with a sustainability consultant, chatting to Tanzy Owen who worked with the ABC production of Fires to make the shoots as eco-friendly as they could possibly be.
PEOPLE BEHIND PRODUCTIONS
- Sustainability and ABC drama ‘Fires’: a case study
Tanzy Owen talks about her work as sustainability consultant on Fires, and the free resources available to all productions wanting to go greener.
- Oleg Vidov: how an Australian director’s film touched the Moscow Film Festival
Oleg Vidov, Russian metinee idol, fugitive and Los Angeles animation distributor, is the subject of Nadia Tass’s feature documentary.
- Your games career as a: 2D artist and illustrator
In this column, Screenhub shines a weekly spotlight on the highlights, skills and specificities of different game development careers. This week: What does a 2D games artist actually do?
- Strong Female Lead: An interview with director Tosca Looby
Adopting the archive-only approach of The Final Quarter, Looby and editor Rachel Grierson-Johns created a powerful and enraging one-off doc for SBS.
ON THE EVENTS SCENE
- XR:WA celebration tempts Perth to surrender to new worlds
Perth’s XR:WA breaks down the barriers between linear, interactive and games storytelling over one weekend of play. Like now.
- The annual Korean Film Festival is back with the latest films Koreans love
Presented in cinemas, the 2021 Korean Film Festival is a joyful bridge between cultures with a dynamic range of genres.
- Jane Campion wins Best Director for The Power of the Dog at Venice
The director’s Silver Lion win for Netflix Original The Power of the Dog is sure to provoke conversation.
ON OUR SCREENS
- Covid, streaming, and linear TV – Who’s winning? We hunt the numbers
Dinosaur death battle? Triumph of the scavengers? New data sources track the fight for eyeballs in Covid.+
- Australian Gangster doesn’t fulfil ‘instagangster’ promise
Legal complications made this true story about Pasquale Barbaro tricky to tell. Writer-director Gregor Jordan works hard to inject energy.
- You should watch… Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
In the blokey world of football, Ted Lasso offers a different kind of masculinity – and showcases sterotype-busting women too.
- ‘The Power of the Dog’ and Jane Campion triumph overseas, attracting piracy
Toronto triumph for Jane Campion, but wowsers may be after Phil Noyce for ‘Lakewood’. Can’t we have fun any more?
- Box Office: snoring through September
Sleepy box office here, but China and the US are locking horns over Shang-Chi.
IN VIDEO GAMES
- Serene narrative game ‘Lake’ reclassified after Australian ban
References to soft drugs caused the narrative-focussed game ‘Lake’ to initially be banned from sale on Australian console storefronts.
- Freeplay announces 2021 Parallels showcase lineup: a celebration of personal games
Freeplay’s Parallels showcase is an annual celebration of heartfelt games and the people who make them. The 2021 lineup is here.
- MIGW21 shines a spotlight on Victorian game composers
Composer Dan Golding speaks to the amazing work being achieved in video game music composition in Victoria.
- Australian horror indie ‘Dap’ wins big at Bitsummit
Winning the Grand Prize and Best Sound Design at Bitsummit, Dap might be the most celebrated upcoming Australian game you’ve never heard of.
- Review: ‘Deathloop’ proves that your creative wits are the best weapon
Designed around building your confidence and agency, Deathloop succeeds showing you that the most powerful weapon is your ability to improvise.
