Avatar, boo hoo

There are all these folks crying about Avatar not getting Best Picture. I like Avatar, it's visually stunning, and technically brilliant, but to me Best Picture should also include the script, which in the case of Cameron's film had some serious issues.

Of the films I had seen in the Best Picture category, I would have rated District 9 significantly higher. The story wasn't one we'd seen variants of thirty-seven times before, and the main character wasn't charismatic or likeable. That's a brave movie-making choice right there.

As for people complaining about Bigelow winning Best Director, and them saying she only won because she's a woman, here's a can of shut-the-fuck-up, drink deep.

She won in spite of being a woman. If you can't accept that little fact, you're part of the problem.

So how much is Australia bringing in?

Just grabbed the following from this article

"The film industry pumps $NZ285 million ($220 million) into Wellington each year."

Which has me wondering what Australia's film industry manages to turn over.

I'm partially wondering because I know that Peter Jackson's company is one of the one's that has helped create this number. And a fair chunk of that company's output has been genre based.

I just can't help but wonder about the claims that Australians aren't interested in Aussie produced SF&F film/tv hold up against this. So we won't accept Aussie genre product, but NZ is okay?

No point behind this, just thinking out loud.

Oh, for the record, I think the Wellywood sign is a bad idea. If there's a need to explain the humour to the locals, it's a problem. Plus if the industry slides down the track, it becomes a painful and embarrassing sight.

That said, I think a sign that just says Wellington would be great!

Tweety-things

( Tweets below cut for those not interested... Aren't I a sweetie? )