Documentary production in Australia, 21 A collection of key data www.screenaustralia.gov.au
CONTENTS 2 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 SUMMARY......................................3 PRODUCTION Documentary as a proportion of audiovisual production.... 4 In Australia, 26/7.............................. 4 In Australia, Canada and New Zealand............... 4 Production activity...................................... 5 Businesses involved in producing documentaries...... 5 Hours produced and production budgets............. 5 Budget ranges..................................... 6 Cost per hour...................................... 6 Activity by state.................................... 7 EMPLOYMENT Documentary filmmakers: Number.................. 7 Documentary filmmakers: Activity................... 8 FUNDING Sources of finance...................................... 8 Sources of finance in Australia, Canada and France... 8 Government funding.................................... 9 Federal............................................ 9 State.............................................. 9 Sales................................................. 1 Domestic non-theatrical sales...................... 1 ON SCREEN Cinema............................................... 11 Theatrical release................................. 11 Top documentaries at the box office..............12 Video................................................. 13 Sales of documentaries on video.................... 13 Top documentaries on video.....................13 Television............................................. 14 Free-to-air TV release............................. 14 Programming by public broadcasters............... 15 Program spending by commercial broadcasters..... 15 Top documentaries on TV........................16 Cover picture: SALT: Lake Eyre, South Australia. Courtesy Jerrycan Films Pty Ltd. Screen Australia 21 Screen Australia is grateful to all those that contributed data to the compilation of this report. ISBN: 978-1-92998-1-3 Also available online via the Screen Australia website at: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/docos See also Get the Picture Online at: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp This report is based on key data from Get the Picture Online, Screen Australia s comprehensive web-based statistics collection. ABOUT THE DATA Data in this section is based on documentary production by Australian production companies, including those productions filmed wholly or partially overseas. These are projects under Australian creative control (i.e. where the key elements are predominantly Australian and the project has been originated and developed by Australians). It includes official and unofficial co-productions with foreign partners (i.e. where creative control is shared between a mix of Australian and foreign partners and there is a mix of Australian and foreign elements in the key creative positions). It also includes projects that are 1 per cent foreign financed if they are under Australian creative control. It does not include productions made in Australia by foreign production companies, or foreign projects where an Australian production company is operating in a service capacity. Although programs made by New Zealand companies are counted as local by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for compliance with the Australian content quota, they are not included in Australian production figures. In-house production by free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters is included only where indicated. Figures are based on when principal photography commenced, even though series, in particular, may be shot over more than one financial year. What is a documentary? Screen Australia's definition of documentary follows that used by ACMA, specifically a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment or light entertainment program, and corporate and/or training programs. Screen Australia data covers documentaries intended for cinema and/or TV release. Non-broadcast documentaries are not included, nor are online documentaries. In practice, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish documentaries from programs such as infotainment, travelogue or light entertainment programs, which adds to the difficulty of gathering data on this area of Australian production activity. ACMA released guidelines on the interpretation of its definition of documentary in December 24; see www.acma.gov.au Data sources Screen Australia has collated research from a number of sources, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Screenrights, the freeto-air and subscription broadcasters, GfK Retail and Technology Australia, OzTAM and state film agencies. Screen Australia continues the monitoring of documentary production previously undertaken by the Australian Film Commission throughout the year via an extensive range of sources, including funding agency announcements, production reports and media monitoring. Many titles are located through the monitoring of Australian documentaries screened on Australian free-to-air and subscription TV. A point of contact first needs to be established; then data can be requested from the filmmakers, including details of the producer, director, writer, production company, sales contact, synopsis, duration, budget, location, sources of finance and subject headings. The agency also monitors festival screenings, awards, cinema and Australian TV screenings, ratings and box office. Documentary production is also included by the ABS in its Services Industry Surveys of the film and video production and post-production services industries. Variations between Screen Australia and ABS data are due to differences in survey methodology. Data limitations Because of the difficulties involved in monitoring documentary production, particularly in-house production by the television broadcasters, Screen Australia includes some estimates in the number of titles, hours and budgets for some years. Data updates This report includes data from Get the Picture Online. Data on Get the Picture Online is updated as it becomes available, which may lead to discrepancies between this report and Get the Picture pages.
SUMMARY DOCUMENTARY AS A PROPORTION OF AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION Documentary makes up 2-3 per cent of audiovisual production in Australia, compared to 11 per cent in New Zealand and 21 per cent in Canada. HOURS PRODUCED AND PRODUCTION BUDGETS Documentary production in Australia peaked in 27/8. A total of 59 hours (239 titles) were produced, with production budgets totalling $138.6 million, compared to an annual average of 331 hours and $74 million. For the last three years, activity by production companies has been well above average, largely due to documentary series, whereas in-house production by broadcasters has remained relatively steady over the 13-year survey period. BUDGET RANGES Not including broadcaster-produced titles, 85 per cent of single documentaries made between 1996/97 and 28/9 had budgets of less than $5,, with nearly half made for less than $2,. ACTIVITY BY STATE Most documentaries (55 per cent of titles, 64 per cent of hours) are made by production companies in NSW. EMPLOYMENT Around 22 producers, 17 directors and 14 writers have made two or more documentaries in the last five years. However, the majority of documentary filmmakers (66 per cent of producers, 67 per cent of directors and 71 per cent of writers) made only one. SOURCES OF FINANCE Government sources have provided the highest proportion of funding to the annual documentary slate in Australia over the last 1 years (46 per cent), with broadcasters providing 27 per cent and foreign finance 13 per cent. PRODUCER OFFSET 153 provisional and 64 final Producer Offset certificates have been issued to 18 February 21. DOMESTIC NON-THEATRICAL SALES Around $9 million was collected from educational institutions for off-air copying and retransmission of documentaries in 29. THEATRICAL RELEASE Eight Australian documentaries were released in cinemas in 29. SUMMARY 3 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 SALES OF DOCUMENTARIES ON VIDEO Of the top 5 documentary titles sold on video in 29, 12.2 per cent were Australian. The three highest-selling Australian documentary titles were Love the Beast, Fat Belly: Chopper Unchopped and First Australians. FREE-TO-AIR TV RELEASE A total of 428 hours of first-release Australian documentaries were broadcast on Australian free-to-air TV in 29 significantly higher than the annual average of 312 hours. TOP DOCUMENTARIES ON TV Eight of the top ten documentaries in 29 were Australian, with World s Strictest Parents at no. 2.
PRODUCTION DOCUMENTARY AS A PROPORTION OF AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION According to the ABS, documentary production made up 2 3 per cent of total audiovisual production in Australia in 26/7. SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 PRODUCTION 4 IN AUSTRALIA, 26/7 Quiz, panel and game shows 4% TV and other documentaries 2% Light entertainment and variety 16% Feature films 1% Commercials 13% Sport 14% Corporate/marketing/ training videos 4% Other TV programs (includes children s) 5% Other 2% News and current affairs 22% TV drama (excludes children s) 8% Type of audiovisual activity No. businesses Production value ($m) Share of value (%) News and current affairs *63 411.5 22% Situation and sketch comedy 8 15.1 <1% TV drama (excludes children s) ^22 152.9 8% Sport *5 268.4 14% Commercials n.a. 243.1 13% Feature films 78 183.8 1% Light entertainment and variety *84 36.1 16% Quiz, panel and game shows 8 74.8 4% TV documentaries ^67 ^39.8 2% Other TV programs (includes children s) n.a. 97.5 5% Corporate/marketing/training videos ^454 *71.7 4% Other non-tv programs *74 ^4.1 <1% Documentaries (other than for TV) **46 4.8 <1% Short films ^33 1.4 <1% Music media *27 ^1.3 <1% Educational media *17 *6. <1% Total 1,882.4 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Television, Film and Video Production and Post-production Services 26/7 (cat. no. 8679.). Includes film and video production and post-production businesses, free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters and subscription television channel providers. Unlike previous years, includes significant non-employing businesses. ^ Estimate has a relative standard error of 1 25 per cent and should be used with caution. * Estimate has a relative standard error of 25 5 per cent and should be used with caution. ** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 5 per cent and is considered too unreliable for general use. n.a. Data not available. IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND % $m (local currency) $m (Aus) Australia 1 2 45 45 New Zealand 2 11 45 39 Canada 3 21 44 56 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Statistics New Zealand, Statistics Canada, Documentary Organisation of Canada and Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). 1. Documentary as a proportion of total production costs for film and video production and post-production businesses, free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters and subscription television channel providers in 26/7. 2. Documentary as a proportion of funding received by screen production companies in 26/7. RBA s annual average of daily exchange rate with New Zealand in 26/7: AUD$1. = NZD$1.15. 3. Documentary as a proportion of total content production in 25/6. RBA s annual average of daily exchange rate with New Zealand in 25/6: AUD$1. = CAD$.87.
. PRODUCTION ACTIVITY BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES In 26/7, according to the ABS, there were approximately: 67 Australian businesses involved in producing documentaries for TV, down from 98 in 22/3, and 46 businesses involved in producing documentaries other than for TV, up from 21 in 22/3. PRODUCTION Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). See Documentary as a proportion of audiovisual production (page 4) 5 HOURS PRODUCED AND PRODUCTION BUDGETS Documentary production in Australia peaked in 27/8. A total of 59 hours (239 titles) were produced, with budgets totalling $138.6 million. Average annual documentary production in Australia is estimated at around 331 hours (364 broadcast hours), with a production value of approximately $74 million (based on combined production budgets). Although television broadcasters play a significant role in Australian documentary production, most documentary activity occurs in the independent sector. An average of 226 hours, totalling $61.3 million, have been produced annually by production companies in the 13 years from 1996/97 to 28/9, compared to 15 hours, totalling nearly $13 million, by broadcasters. After a peak in 199/, boosted by titles made for the Centenary of Federation, independent documentary activity fell in both 2/1 and 21/2, but subsequently rose again to an 11-year high in 26/7, and higher again in 27/8. That year saw the continuation of many series including Mythbusters, RSPCA Animal Rescue and Family Footsteps, as well as the introduction of several new titles with high budgets and/or long running times to the production slate, such as Two in the Top End, Find My Family, Outback Wildlife Rescue, Voyage to the Planets and Snake Crusader. The generally high levels of production since 23/4 have been due to an increase in documentary series. Apart from the peak in 27/8, production of single documentaries (in titles and hours) has remained at lower levels since 23/4; however, there was a strong increase in their total production value in 25/6 due to several high-budget titles made that year. Activity by broadcasters has remained relatively steady over the surveyed period, with a peak in hours and production value in 26/7. HOURS MADE Documentary hours 4 3 2 1 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 PRODUCTION BUDGETS Production budgets ($m) 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 Hours made by production companies Hours made by broadcasters Documentaries made by production companies Documentaries made by broadcasters Source: Screen Australia. Figures include some estimates. Duration calculated on actual running time of program in minutes rather than broadcast hours. Figures are based on year when principal photography commenced; this also applies to series, even though series are often shot over more than one financial year. Activity by broadcasters refers to productions where television broadcasters are the only production companies involved. Includes free-to-air and subscription broadcasters. Does not include subscription television channel content providers; these are included with production companies. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). Includes IMAX documentaries but excludes magazine-format documentaries, current affairs, news, information programs, online documentaries, and corporate and training films/programs. For comprehensive data, see Get the Picture Online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp This report online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/docos
BUDGET RANGES SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 PRODUCTION 6 Eighty-five per cent of the single documentary titles made by production companies over the 13 years between 1996/97 and 28/9 had budgets of less than $5, (in 29 dollars), with nearly half made for less than $2,. For series, budgets vary with the number of hours produced, but on average 3 per cent of titles were made for less than $5,, and 37 per cent for more than $1 million. BUDGET RANGES FOR SINGLE DOCUMENTARY TITLES 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 Percentage of single documentaries in these ranges Under $2k $2k $499k $5k $1m $1m+ Source: Screen Australia. Current dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation using the Non-farm GDP Deflator. This index has been used in preference to the Consumer Price Index as it more accurately reflects the cost increases experienced by the film industry. COST PER HOUR % 2% 4% 6% 8% 1% BUDGET RANGES FOR DOCUMENTARY SERIES 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 % 2% 4% 6% 8% 1% Percentage of series in these ranges Under $2k $2k $499k $5k $1m $1m+ For single titles, the average cost per commercial broadcast hour initially rose from 1996/97, then fell in 21/2 and subsequent years when no large-format titles were produced, before rising again in 25/6 with the production of several high-budget titles, such as The Secret, Bom Bali and Night. For documentary series, the average cost per commercial broadcast hour has ranged between $11,173 in 1997/98 ($161,83 in 29 dollars) and $262,952 in 1998/99 ($384,893 in 29 dollars). Over the 13-year period since 1996/97, 74 per cent of series hours have been made for less than $3, per hour (actual running time) and 16 per cent for less than $1, per hour. Only 6 per cent cost more than $6, per hour. AVERAGE COST PER COMMERCIAL BROADCAST HOUR FOR SINGLE TITLES AVERAGE COST PER COMMERCIAL BROADCAST HOUR FOR SERIES Average cost per b cast hour ( $ ) 5 4 3 2 1 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 Average cost per b cast hour ($ ) 5 4 3 2 1 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 Source: Screen Australia. Current dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation using the Non-farm GDP Deflator. This index has been used in preference to the Consumer Price Index as it more accurately reflects the cost increases experienced by the film industry.
ACTIVITY BY STATE In the 13 years between 1996/97 and 28/9, most documentaries (excluding in-house productions by broadcasters) were made by production companies based in NSW (55 per cent of titles, 64 per cent of hours), followed by Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. SHARE OF DOCUMENTARY TITLES BY STATE NSW 55% Queensland 9% South Australia 3% SHARE OF DOCUMENTARY HOURS BY STATE NSW 64% Queensland 7% South Australia 2% EMPLOYMENT 7 ACT, NT & Tasmania 5% Source: Screen Australia. Documentaries may have two or more production companies; where the production companies are located in different states, each state is counted. Productions with foreign partners are allocated to the Australian production company s state of residence. Calculated as a 13-year average, 1996/97 28/9. Hours are calculated on actual running time of programs in minutes. Overall total may be less than 1 per cent due to a small number of titles of unknown origin. EMPLOYMENT Victoria 2% The main sources for film industry employment data are the ABS Census and Service Industries Surveys. Unfortunately, these don't categorise occupations by genre. However, some data is available from other sources. DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS: NUMBER Western Australia 8% ACT, NT & Tasmania 4% All credits, 24/5 28/9 Based on Screen Australia analysis of 914 Australian documentaries, including broadcaster-produced titles, shot between July 24 and June 29: 641 people produced a documentary (46 per cent of these were women) 525 people directed a documentary (38 per cent women) and 489 people wrote a documentary in this period (39 per cent women). Victoria 15% Western Australia 8% Source: Screen Australia analysis of the credits of 914 Australian documentaries, including broadcaster-produced titles, shot between July 24 and June 29. Sex unknown for 11 producers (2%), 8 directors (2%) and 6 writers (1%). SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 Two or more credits, 24/5 28/9 Analysis of filmmakers who have made two or more documentaries in the last five years indicates that there are around 22 producers, 17 directors and 14 writers currently making documentary films/programs in Australia. 5-year profile: 2 or more credits Men Women No. % No. % Total no. Producers 112 51% 15 48% 218 Directors 17 61% 67 38% 175 Writers 89 63% 5 35% 141 Source: Screen Australia analysis of the credits of 914 Australian documentaries, including broadcaster-produced titles, shot between July 24 and June 29. Percentages may not total exactly due to rounding. Sex unknown for 1 producer (<.5%), 1 director (1%) and 2 writers (1%). For comprehensive data, see Get the Picture Online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp This report online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/docos
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS: ACTIVITY Analysis of the producer, director and writer credits for documentaries made in the five years between July 24 and June 29 shows that a high proportion of documentary filmmakers made only one title over this period, with producers the most likely to have multiple credits 34 per cent, compared to 33 per cent for directors and 29 per cent for writers. SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 FUNDING 8 Producers Directors Writers Production companies Source: Screen Australia analysis of the credits of 914 Australian documentaries, including broadcaster-produced titles, shot between July 24 and June 29. FUNDING SOURCES OF FINANCE SOURCES OF FINANCE IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND FRANCE Government sources (excluding public broadcasters) provide the highest proportion of funding to the annual documentary slates in Australia and Canada (46 per cent and 34 per cent of the slate respectively), and the second highest in France (2 per cent), where producers provide around the same proportion. The largest contribution to the French slate comes from broadcasters (including public broadcasters) 42 per cent, compared to 3 per cent in Canada and 27 per cent in Australia. Australia has the highest level of foreign finance 13 per cent, compared to 11 per cent in Canada and 8 per cent in France. SOURCES OF FINANCE FOR DOCUMENTARY SLATE (% SHARE) Percentage of documentary filmmakers with: 1 credit 2 credits 3 credits 4 credits 5+ credits % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Foreign Other local Producers 1% 8% Distributors Broadcasters Private Government 6% 4% 2% % Australia Canada France Source: Australia: Screen Australia, ten-year average 1999/ to 28/9. Canada: Getting Real Volume 2, 24 and Volume 3, 27, Documentary Organisation of Canada, CFTPA Profile 25 and 26, ten-year average 1996/97 to 25/6. France: CNC Results May 28 and Production Audiovisuelle 29, 11-year average 1998 to 28. Includes Screen Australia estimates. Australia government includes direct funding from federal and state film funding agencies and other non-film government sources such as the National Council for the Centenary of Federation and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). Australian producers includes Producer Offset from 27/8.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING Government funding for documentaries is available directly, through the federal and state government film agencies, and indirectly, through federal tax incentives. FEDERAL FUNDING The federal funding landscape has undergone substantial change in recent years, with the creation of the new agency, Screen Australia a merger of the Australian Film Commission, the Film Finance Corporation and Film Australia in July 28, and the 27 introduction of the new Australian Screen Production Incentive, comprising three streams the Producer Offset, Location Offset and Post, Digital and Video Effects (PDV) Offset which supersedes earlier incentives such as 1BA. In addition, SBS Independent (SBSi), which commissioned Australian documentaries from the independent sector for screening on SBS Television, was incorporated into SBS s Content (Television and Online) Division in 27/8 and no longer receives separate funding. Screen Australia Screen Australia provides direct funding for documentaries through various development and production funding programs, continuing many of the programs of the Australian Film Commission, the Film Finance Corporation and Film Australia, including Film Australia s National Interest Program and Making History Initiative (now incorporated into the National Documentary Program). In 28/9, Screen Australia provided $1.1 million in documentary development funding, and committed $17.6 million in production funding to 61 new documentary titles, both one-off and series. Producer Offset The Producer Offset is available to producers of projects with significant Australian content or official co-productions. This refundable tax rebate is accessed via the Australian production company s income tax return once the project is completed. For eligible non-feature documentaries that meet the qualifying Australian production expenditure (QAPE) threshold of $25, per hour, it is worth 2 per cent of QAPE. While the Location and PDV Offsets are open to documentary series, it is rare that a documentary would meet the required thresholds. CERTIFICATES ISSUED FOR NON-FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES TO 18 FEBRUARY 21 PROVISIONAL Number of certificates issued 153 Total budgets FINAL Number of certificates issued 64 Total QAPE Total Offset Source: Screen Australia $138.53 million $48.72 million $9.74 million Federal funding to the 28/9 documentary slate 28/9 is the first full year of simultaneous operation of Screen Australia and the Producer Offset. Below is a snapshot of the number of documentary titles starting production in 28/9 (including titles made in-house by broadcasters), broken down by cost per hour, indicating those with direct funding via Screen Australia and indirect funding via the Producer Offset. Many of the titles under $25, per hour with no government funding are documentaries made in-house by broadcasters. Titles with the Offset comprise those that had applied for provisional or final certificates by 17 February 21 rather than to all eligible titles. As some producers don t apply for a provisional certificate, ultimately, the number of titles in the 28/9 slate with the Producer Offset may be higher. No. documentaries 1 8 6 4 2 None ineligible for Producer Offset None no Offset certificate to date Producer Offset only Screen Australia only Screen Australia and Producer Offset Source: Screen Australia STATE FUNDING While the majority of direct funding for documentaries comes from the federal agencies (now Screen Australia), the state and territory film agencies also provide development and production funding. Annual production funding from this source has grown from around $1 million in the mid-199s to around $5 million since 23/4. ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY FUNDING BY STATE/TERRITORY FILM AGENCIES $ million 14 12 6 5 4 3 2 1 <$25, $25, $5, Production Development Cost per hour $5, $1 million >$1 million 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 27/8 28/9 Participating state/territory agencies are: ArtsACT; ACT Department of the Environment and Cultural Heritage; ScreenACT ; Arts Tasmania; Screen Tasmania; Screen NSW; Northern Territory Film Office (NTFO); Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC); South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC); Film Victoria; ScreenWest. FUNDING 9 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21
SALES DOMESTIC NON-THEATRICAL SALES 1 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 FUNDING Documentaries are distributed non-theatrically by small educational distributors that specialise in supplying educational institutions, libraries, community groups and other niche markets. It is a labour-intensive and low-returning activity. However, documentaries often have a long life. For example, many popular older titles, such as The Back of Beyond (1953) and Exile and the Kingdom (1994), have continued to sell to educational users and in niche markets looking for Australian content. Another source of revenue for documentary makers is off-air copying of programs for educational use. Screenrights promotes documentaries to the education sector via its website, enhancetv.com.au, and collects and distributes royalties for the copying of programs from TV and radio by schools, TAFEs and universities for teaching purposes. Documentaries comprised 26 per cent of audiovisual material copied by educational institutions in 28/9. In 29, $34 million in royalties was collected by Screenrights, including $25.4 million for educational copying throughout Australia and New Zealand and $5.1 million for retransmission. An estimated $8.8 million of this will be allocated to documentaries. Royalty returns from the off-air copying of programs for educational purposes can be substantial for documentaries. For example, Screenrights returns to date for the three-hour Film Australia Federation series, which first screened in 1999, have totalled more than $285,, higher than the $24, domestic free-to-air television licence fee. The one-hour documentary Seeking Asylum (22), made by Piper Films with a budget of $26,, generated $5, in royalties through Screenrights, or 35 per cent of its total returns. And Screen Australia s Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery has so far earned more than $16, in Screenrights royalties since its initial 27 broadcast, with further royalties expected. Royalty returns from the off-air copying of programs can vary greatly. For resource centre copying, royalties can typically range from $9 27 for schools to $6 139 for universities for a 6-minute program. For survey copying reported through the annual sample, royalties for a 6-minute program typically vary from $9 to $8,. Factors that affect the value of a royalty payment include the type of program, the format used to make the copy and the type of educational institution. SHARE OF EDUCATIONAL OFF-AIR COPYING BY TYPE, 28/9 Infotainment and light entertainment 13% News and current affairs 33% TV drama 5% Radio 6% Feature films 2% Music and variety 1% Sport 1% Dedicated educational 12% Documentary 26% Source: Screen Australia, Screenrights. Includes Australia and New Zealand educational institutions. For comprehensive data, see Get the Picture Online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp This report online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/docos
ON SCREEN CINEMA THEATRICAL RELEASE Eight Australian documentaries were released in cinemas in 29. Between 1988 and 29, an average of seven Australian documentaries (including co-productions) were released annually in Australian cinemas, totalling 159 titles. A total of eight Australian documentary titles were released in the UK over this period and 18 in the US. ON SCREEN BASTARDY: Filmmaker Amiel Courtin-Wilson with Jack Charles. Courtesy Film Camp Pty Ltd. No. Australian titles released in Australian cinemas 25 2 15 1 5 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Source: Compiled by Screen Australia. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). 11 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21
TOP DOCUMENTARIES AT THE BOX OFFICE 12 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 ON SCREEN Large-format films dominate the top Australian documentaries at the Australian box office. There are two Australian-made IMAX titles in the all-time top 2 to December 29: Antarctica and Africa s Elephant Kingdom. The most successful non-imax Australian documentary is Bra Boys, which has grossed $1,698,976 since its release in March 27. TOP 1 FROM ANY COUNTRY (AUSTRALIAN TITLES LISTED IN BOLD) Rank Title Distributor Release date Box office ($) 1 1 Michael Jackson s This Is It Sony 29 Oct 29 9,574,115 2 Fahrenheit 9/11 Hopscotch 29 Jul 24 8,44,378 3 Everest IMAX 18 Mar 1998 6,334,124 4 Space Station 3D IMAX 6 Jun 22 5,457,957 5 Deep Sea 3D IMAX 6 Apr 26 5,189,744 6 Extreme IMAX (CPL/Extreme) 18 Mar 1999 5,152,785 7 Bowling for Columbine Icon/Hopscotch 26 Dec 22 4,852,31 8 Mysteries of Egypt IMAX (CPL/Destin) 21 Jan 1999 4,57,547 9 Titanic 3D: Ghosts of the Abyss IMAX 4 Sep 23 4,477,494 1 Antarctica IMAX 26 Sep 1996 4,475,438 TOP 1 NON-IMAX (AUSTRALIAN TITLES LISTED IN BOLD) Rank in top 5 Title Distributor Release date Box office ($) 1 1 Michael Jackson's This Is It Sony 29 Oct 29 9,574,115 2 Fahrenheit 9/11 Hopscotch 29 Jul 24 8,44,378 7 Bowling for Columbine Icon/Hopscotch 26 Dec 22 4,852,31 12 March of the Penguins Roadshow 3 Mar 26 4,345,437 13 An Inconvenient Truth UIP/Paramount 14 Sep 26 4,19,159 17 Touching the Void Hopscotch 24 Jun 24 3,8,689 19 Super Size Me Dendy 3 Jun 24 2,97,24 22 The Travelling Birds Hopscotch 19 Jun 23 2,564,215 23 In Bed with Madonna Columbia 13 Jun 1991 2,241,64 32 Bra Boys Hopscotch 15 Mar 27 1,698,976 TOP 1 AUSTRALIAN Rank in top 1 Title Distributor Release date Box office ($) 1 1 Antarctica IMAX 26 Sep 1996 4,475,438 15 Africa s Elephant Kingdom IMAX 21 May 1998 3,491,995 32 Bra Boys Hopscotch 15 Mar 27 1,698,976 56 Australia: Land Beyond Time IMAX 6 Mar 23 887,251 6 Love the Beast Madman 12 Mar 29 777,351 62 Sydney: Story of a City IMAX 18 Aug 1999 79,231 67 Cane Toads: An Unnatural History Ronin 1 Mar 1988 613,91 87 ABC of Love and Sex Australia Style Roadshow 29 Mar 1978 447, 9 Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst Dendy 24 Aug 26 429,243 94 Forbidden Lie$ Palace 13 Sep 27 41,27 Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (MPDAA), Nielsen EDI (Australia) and Ronin; compiled by the Screen Australia. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). World Safari 2: Adventure Bound (released 1984) is not included as national box office figures are unavailable. 1. Cumulative box office, reported on 3 February 21 in current dollars (i.e. not adjusted for inflation). These figures may include revised MPDAA box office earnings.
VIDEO SALES OF DOCUMENTARIES ON VIDEO GfK Retail and Technology tracked approximately 47, video releases sold in Australian retail outlets in 29. These sales accounted for around 7 million units at a value in excess of $1.3 billion in revenue. Around 4,3 of these were documentary titles, with a combined value of over $54 million, compared to approximately 4, titles worth $5 million in 28. When ranked by value, the proportion of sales achieved by Australian titles within the top 5 documentaries sold on video during 29 was 12.2 per cent (just over $5.3 million). Although the Australian proportions have remained steady over the last two years, they have fallen significantly from the 26 peak in units sold and sales value and the 27 peak in the number of titles. Contributing to this have been the growing dominance of the foreign Top Gear titles while sales of popular local series Mythbusters and Crocodile Hunter have softened. Nevertheless, the value of 29 sales remains above the six-year average of $4.9 million. The highest selling Australian titles in 29 were the DVD editions of Love the Beast and Fat Belly: Chopper Unchopped, while First Australians made the top three for the second year. Since 24, among Australian documentaries, the top-selling individual titles have been The Secret, Wild Australasia and Bra Boys; the top-selling series when sales of all seasons and editions are combined are Mythbusters, Crocodile Hunter and Food Safari. AUSTRALIAN SHARE OF TOP 5 RETAIL DOCUMENTARIES ON VIDEO (DVD, BLU-RAY AND VHS), 1 24 29 Share of retail video (%) 3 25 2 15 1 5 24 25 26 27 28 29 Titles Units Value TOP DOCUMENTARIES ON VIDEO TOP 1 AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY TITLES ON VIDEO (DVD AND BLU-RAY), 1 29 Source: Screen Australia analysis of GfK Retail and Technology Australia data. Includes DVD and VHS in 24 27, DVD and Blu-ray in 28 29. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). 1. Documentary does not include reality, light entertainment, music performance, sports coverage, infotainment or instructional titles. It does include documentary features, TV series and made-for-video titles. 2. Refers to the number of titles sold during each calendar year (firstrelease titles issued that year and continued sales of previously issued titles). This may include multiple editions of the same movie or program. 3. Although box sets are counted as a single title for ranking purposes, their units and value are proportioned according to the origin of discrete titles included in the collection. Rank2 Title Distributor Release date 1 Love the Beast Madman 15 Jul 29 2 Fat Belly: Chopper Unchopped Aztec 5 Oct 29 3 First Australians SBS 3 Dec 28 4 Bombora: The Story of Australian Surfing ABC 2 Apr 29 5 Gangs of Oz: Season 1 Universal 3 Jun 29 6 Food Safari: Series 3 SBS 18 Mar 29 7 John Safran s Race Relations ABC 3 Dec 29 8 Not Quite Hollywood Madman 3 Dec 28 ON SCREEN 13 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 9 The Howard Years ABC 5 Feb 29 1 Bra Boys Hopscotch 16 Aug 27 TOP 1 DOCUMENTARY TITLES FROM ANY COUNTRY ON VIDEO (DVD AND BLU-RAY), 1 29 Rank2 Title Distributor Release date 1 Top Gear: The Great Adventures Collection (The Helmet Edition) BBC 5 Nov 29 2 Top Gear: The Complete Series 1 (Steelbook Edition) BBC 6 Aug 29 3 Planet Earth: The Complete Series BBC 7 Nov 27 4 Top Gear Collection 2.: Challenges, US Special and Polar Special (Steelbook Edition) BBC 6 Nov 28 5 Top Gear: The Great Adventures Vietnam Special BBC 4 Jun 29 6 Long Way Round: The Three Complete Series (Collectors Edition) EMI 2 Oct 28 7 Grand Designs: Series 5 Fremantle 2 Aug 29 8 Top Gear: Challenges Volume 3 BBC 5 Nov 29 9 Top Gear: Challenges Volume 2 BBC 6 Nov 28 1 Planet Earth: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) BBC 5 Dec 27 Source: Screen Australia analysis of GfK Retail and Technology Australia data. All titles DVD unless stated. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). 1. Documentary does not include reality, light entertainment, music performance, sports coverage, infotainment or instructional titles. It does include documentary feature, TV series and made-for-video titles. 2. Ranked by value of retail sales (value ranking has been adjusted to reflect Australian proportion of collections).
TELEVISION FREE-TO-AIR TV RELEASE 14 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 ON SCREEN A total of 428 hours of first-release Australian documentaries (including productions with overseas partners) were broadcast on Australian free-to-air TV in 29, significantly higher than the annual average for the 12 years back to 1998 (312 hours). HOURS OF FIRST-RELEASE AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARIES ON TV, 1998 29 Hours broadcast 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 ABC SBS Nine Seven Ten 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Source: For commercial broadcasters, Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) Compliance Reports to 28; Seven, Nine and Ten Networks for 29. For public broadcasters, Screen Australia databases, ABC and SBS. Includes Australian productions and productions with overseas partners where creative control is shared (i.e. with a mix of Australians in key creative positions). Figures may not total exactly due to rounding and, for ABC and SBS, may not match previously published data due to subsequent adjustments by the broadcasters. Hours are broadcast hours rather than actual running time of program in minutes. 1. Commercial free-to-air networks hours calculated using five-city average for the relevant year. HONEY BEE BLUES: Julian Wolfhagen with hives. Photograph by Stefan Moore. Courtesy Mitra Films Pty Ltd.
PROGRAMMING BY PUBLIC BROADCASTERS On ABC1, 566 hours of documentaries (including repeats) were screened in 28/9 (6.5 per cent of total hours broadcast). Australian documentaries comprised 2.1 per cent (185 hours) of total programming in 28/9, compared to 4.3 per cent (381 hours) for foreign titles. In addition to this, ABC2, one of ABC s digital-only channels, broadcast 425 hours (including repeats) of documentaries in 28/9 (6.8 per cent of total hours broadcast on ABC2). Australian documentaries accounted for 6 hours (1 per cent of total programming), compared to 365 hours of foreign documentaries (5.9 per cent). The ABC is required to report across numerous genres and therefore some documentaries screened in genres such as arts and culture, education, Indigenous, natural history, religion, and science and technology are not included in these documentary genre figures. On 1 June 29, SBS Television's main channel was renamed SBS ONE, and SBS TWO a digital-only, free-to-air channel began broadcasting. On SBS ONE, 1,39 hours of documentaries (including repeats) were broadcast in 28/9 (15 per cent of total hours broadcast). Australian documentaries accounted for 286 hours (4.1 per cent of total programming), compared to 753 hours (1.9 per cent) of foreign documentaries. In addition, in its first month of broadcasting, SBS TWO broadcast 2 hours of foreign documentaries (3.4 per cent of total programming). Source: ABC Annual Report, SBS Annual Report. PROGRAM SPENDING BY COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS There was $9 million spent on Australian documentary programming by commercial free-to-air broadcasters in 26/7, down from a high of $12.4 million the previous year. EXPENDITURE BY COMMERCIAL FREE-TO-AIR BROADCASTERS ON AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMMING, 1996/97 26/7 Program expenditure ($m) 13 12 11 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1996/97 Source: Broadcasting Financial Results, Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). 1997/98 1998/99 1999/ 2/1 21/2 22/3 23/4 24/5 25/6 26/7 ON SCREEN 15 SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 For comprehensive data, see Get the Picture Online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp This report online: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/docos
TOP DOCUMENTARIES ON TV SCREEN AUSTRALIA: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA: A COLLECTION OF KEY DATA, FEBRUARY 21 ON SCREEN 16 Australian productions have dominated the free-to-air television ratings for documentaries in recent years. Eight of the top ten documentaries in 29 were Australian, with World s Strictest Parents in the no. 2 position. Between 25 and 28, the top three documentaries each year were local titles. Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia. 2 24 based on Sydney only. Since 25 based on five-city averages. 1 January-31 December of each year, except 29 which is Weeks 1-48. TOP-RATING DOCUMENTARIES ON TELEVISION, 29 (AUSTRALIAN TITLES LISTED IN BOLD) Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia. No. of Australian documentaries in top 1 Rank of top-rating Australian documentary 2 5 * * * * * RPA (no. 1) 21 2 * * RPA (no. 1) 22 2 * * RPA (no. 2) 23 3 * * * RPA (no. 2) 24 4 * * * * Australian Story Into the Forest: Part 1 (no. 3) 25 5 * * * * * Border Security Series 3 (no. 1) 26 8 * * * * * * * * Border Security: Australia s Front Line (no. 1) 27 9 * * * * * * * * * The Force: Behind the Line (no. 1) 28 7 * * * * * * * Find My Family (no. 1) 29 8 * * * * * * * * World s Strictest Parents (no. 2) Rank Title Network Viewers (') 1 A Lion Called Christian 7 1,587 2 World s Strictest Parents 7 1,51 3 Border Security: Australia s Front Line 7 1,499 4 Miracle of the Hudson Plane Crash 7 1,49 5 Find My Family 7 1,488 6 Border Security: Australia s Front Line (Monday) 7 1,48 7 The Zoo 7 1,475 8 RSPCA Animal Rescue 7 1,433 9 Surf Patrol 7 1,415 1 Triple Zero Heroes 7 1,389 Tel: +61 2 8113 58 Freecall: 18 213 99 Fax: +61 2 9357 3714 Level 4, 15 William Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 211 Australia GPO Box 3984, Sydney NSW 21 info@screenaustralia.gov.au www.screenaustralia.gov.au