Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 12—Culture and recreation 513
12.20 FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION INDUSTRY, Number and Value of Titles(a)
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
Type of film no. $m no. $m no. $m no. $m no. $m
Features 20 113 30 221 36 198 41 246 45 291
Mini-series 11 54 15 117 10 97 10 52 9 85
Series and serials 18 113 22 103 23 179 27 213 21 244
Telemovies 22 53 18 38 15 36 12 40 15 58
Total 71 333 85 479 84 510 90 551 90 678
(a) Includes co-productions, foreign titles shot in Australia, and Australian titles shot overseas.
Source: Australian Film Commission.
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
1994–95 to 1998–99.
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 1997, there were 66 businesses in the
industry, employing 1,341 people. In 1996–97
these businesses generated $973.9m in total
income and had an operating profit before tax of
$3.1m. The main sources of income were
$687.3m from the sales, rental or lease of
prerecorded video tapes, disks, films and
interactive software, and $156.0m from the
provision of channels to pay television
broadcasters. Additional information on the
industry is shown in Chapter 21, 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 1996–97.
At the end of June 1997, there were 188 businesses
in the industry, employing 7,739 people. The
motion picture exhibition industry had an
operating profit before tax of $119.9m for
1996–97, which represented a profit margin of
almost 15%.
At the end of June 1997, there were 325 cinema
sites and 28 drive-in sites in Australia. For
1996–97, there were 73 million paid admissions
to cinemas and drive-ins.
More findings of the survey are shown in
Chapter 21, Service industries.
Cinema attendance
The April 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
15–24 years 2 374.2
25–34 years 2 244.2
35–44 years 2 105.2
45–54 years 1 604.8
55–64 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).