The recently released 1979 Cabinet documents revealed details of a plan to set up a Territory based film industry , a proposal which still has not come to fruition. Cabinet , headed by Chief Minister, Paul Everingham, decided to engage Film Australia , for an initial outlay of $32,000, to get some camera action rolling . It also okayed the establishment of a steering committee to coordinate and rationalise NT government film and audio-visual production.
That committee would be responsible for deciding priorities among requirements submitted annually by individual departments and authorities and have responsibility for all NT government film and audo- visual production.
In the long term, the goal would be to encourage and support a private enterprise film industry in the NT. Everingham said it was hoped to get the burgeoning film industry to a stage where it could stand on its own feet and get work from the private sector as well as government.
Both the South Australian Film Corporation and Film Australia put up proposals . Films could be made on a wide range of subjects, such as : NT history , a series ; the workings of government; Aboriginal affairs; drugs and alcohol; VD; trachoma ; education; police and , in the case of tourism , promote an image of the Territory other than “beer bloated bellies and rusty beer cans.”
That committee would be responsible for deciding priorities among requirements submitted annually by individual departments and authorities and have responsibility for all NT government film and audo- visual production.
In the long term, the goal would be to encourage and support a private enterprise film industry in the NT. Everingham said it was hoped to get the burgeoning film industry to a stage where it could stand on its own feet and get work from the private sector as well as government.
Both the South Australian Film Corporation and Film Australia put up proposals . Films could be made on a wide range of subjects, such as : NT history , a series ; the workings of government; Aboriginal affairs; drugs and alcohol; VD; trachoma ; education; police and , in the case of tourism , promote an image of the Territory other than “beer bloated bellies and rusty beer cans.”
Film Australia offered to place a director in the Territory for an extended period to handle productions locally and to assist Darwin based film-makers. It would be an open ended commitment, with Film Australia phasing itself out in favour of the local industry. An old train carriage situated behind Block 8 , it suggested, could be refurbished and set up as an audio-visual centre.
The government was advised that the steering committee , going on experience elsewhere, should be small, otherwise it could be bogged down with bureaucrats . One of those suggested for membership of the committee was journalist, Lindsay Ellis, Director of Information in the Chief Minister’s Department .
Elis ,an enterprising photo- journalist ,had worked on the Centralian Advocate in Alice Springs where he became a legend over his performance covering a Royal visit. As he dashed about diligently taking photos and notes , not only did he cut into the Royal procession in his car , he, horror of horrors, showered the entourage with dust. In olden days, when monarchy had absolute power , an act of les –majeste such as casting dirt of the realm at Royals and their courtiers would see you hung, drawn and quartered . In more civilised times you were merely flogged , then sent to Botany Bay or Van Diemen’s Land
Organisers, police , flunkies and the establishment were gobsmacked - long before anybody knew the meaning of the expression. A film of that event , capturing his crimes and the expressions on the faces of all those connected with the Royal visit, would have won an Oscar or two and have pride of place in the archives tracing the history of the campaign for an Australian republic.
The government was advised that the steering committee , going on experience elsewhere, should be small, otherwise it could be bogged down with bureaucrats . One of those suggested for membership of the committee was journalist, Lindsay Ellis, Director of Information in the Chief Minister’s Department .
Elis ,an enterprising photo- journalist ,had worked on the Centralian Advocate in Alice Springs where he became a legend over his performance covering a Royal visit. As he dashed about diligently taking photos and notes , not only did he cut into the Royal procession in his car , he, horror of horrors, showered the entourage with dust. In olden days, when monarchy had absolute power , an act of les –majeste such as casting dirt of the realm at Royals and their courtiers would see you hung, drawn and quartered . In more civilised times you were merely flogged , then sent to Botany Bay or Van Diemen’s Land
Organisers, police , flunkies and the establishment were gobsmacked - long before anybody knew the meaning of the expression. A film of that event , capturing his crimes and the expressions on the faces of all those connected with the Royal visit, would have won an Oscar or two and have pride of place in the archives tracing the history of the campaign for an Australian republic.
