Robert N EmersonA Resurgence of Australian Drama on Television?
September 21st 2007 00:03
According to News.com.au, Australians are once again developing a taste for Aussie drama.
It's no secret that scripted television produced down-under has a tendency to die a quick and painful death - over the last seven years, sixteen dramas have made brief and forgettable appearances on network TV, costing said networks millions of dollars. However, perhaps Australian drama was never really dead - was it simply bound and gagged in a car boot the whole time?
Two series have managed to buck the trend - Nine's Sea Patrol and Seven's City Homicide. The former is currently in production for its second season, which is set to include Ugly Betty's Alan Dale. A second season of the latter was commission after only four episodes were aired.
Despite not being a viewer of either of these shows, I think it is a pretty fair assumption that neither is particularly ground-breaking. However, at the core of a drama should be the relationships between the characters. The fact that people are tuning in indicates, to me, that the writers must be fulfilling that requirement well.
I did watch the premiere episode of City Homicide, and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. It was another procedural cop drama, but it seemed to work because the characters had personalties and quirks. I tend to only be an occasional viewer of shows in this format, so I admit that I won't be making any particularly effort to be tuning in again. Regardless, it seemed the show was well put together, and unless the quality has taken a drastic downturn since the pilot, I think the programme could hold its own against American and British shows of the same ilk.
Who out there has been watching these programmes? What are your thoughts? Is the Australian market ready for more shows like these? Can something that is more risky make it onto our screens?
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing to illustrate the subject matter in question.
City Homicide Cast*
Two series have managed to buck the trend - Nine's Sea Patrol and Seven's City Homicide. The former is currently in production for its second season, which is set to include Ugly Betty's Alan Dale. A second season of the latter was commission after only four episodes were aired.
Despite not being a viewer of either of these shows, I think it is a pretty fair assumption that neither is particularly ground-breaking. However, at the core of a drama should be the relationships between the characters. The fact that people are tuning in indicates, to me, that the writers must be fulfilling that requirement well.
I did watch the premiere episode of City Homicide, and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. It was another procedural cop drama, but it seemed to work because the characters had personalties and quirks. I tend to only be an occasional viewer of shows in this format, so I admit that I won't be making any particularly effort to be tuning in again. Regardless, it seemed the show was well put together, and unless the quality has taken a drastic downturn since the pilot, I think the programme could hold its own against American and British shows of the same ilk.
Who out there has been watching these programmes? What are your thoughts? Is the Australian market ready for more shows like these? Can something that is more risky make it onto our screens?
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing to illustrate the subject matter in question.
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Comment by katyzzz
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It's nice to think I may have a little more to choose on the TV, my watching is negligible, becoming less.
katyzzz
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I watched a bit of 'Sea Patrol'..because I miss 'Water Rats' and thought this could fill the void.
I found 'Sea Patrol' a little bland but I only watched 2 episodes so that's not a fair assessment. Bland because the 2 leads were too stiff...again not a fair assessment.
I do believe that the Australian market is ready for home made drama...and watching Parliament Time is a comedy! We used to have a fair few to choose from. Don't quite understand how the 70s and 80s produced better Aus shows.
I also feel that when an Aus production 'copycats' an American production sans accents...the audience won't buy it.
How are you hon? Everything well I hope.
Dusk
Comment by Louie
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
City Homocide has a good cast, and I've heard good things about it. But I don't really watch these kind of shows. If I did, I'd probably watch Law and Order and the like instead.
Comment by postmoderncritic
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Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
I'm well, although still quite busy. How is everything in your neck of the woods?
Nina
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
I'm not a fan of procedural crime dramas either, but for those that are, I think that City Homicide seems like it can compete with the franchises out there.
Comment by Anonymous
I hope to bring an equally interesting perspective on the subject?
I am Canadian by birth, but have lived in Australia now for nearly 6 years. I came to Australia after spending nearly twenty years in the entertainment industry, as one of the worlds most prolific celebrity bodyguards.
In 2001 I partnered with an entertainment lawyer and one of the writers from Everyone Loves Raymond - to produce an action drama series based loosely on my real life experiences as a celebrity bodyguard.
It is written as a Bourne Identity, meets 24, meets the Transporter and moves at a good pace.
I am in the midst of pitching the project to the major networks and I feel it is a project that would do well in this market - and capable of being sold back to the American market in an international distribution deal.
The one page pitch looks like this - perhaps you could comment and let me know if you feel this is something that would interest the domestic television audience?
Andy’s job used to be simple – “protect the client” at all costs. Don’t judge them, just keep them safe...Then all that changed...
Chance: (n) that which falls out or happens without assignable cause
The easiest thing to do is cross the line; it’s getting back that’s virtually impossible.
Andy was the best Bodyguard money could buy – competent and professional. Until the one thing that should never happen, happened - his client died in plain view of whole world.
Unknown to Andy, he had already been manipulated into taking the first step into a world he couldn’t control. He’s become a pawn for an organization so powerful, yet so anonymous that Andy fears for his own life...
Saviour…is ‘The Bourne Identity’ meets ‘24’ meets ‘Transporter’
This program is a purely fictional one-hour action/ drama, appropriate for ages 16-65. In particular, because of its dark edge the show will be attractive to the so-called ‘Millennials’ (Generation-Y Echo-Boomers) between ages 18-30.
Occasionally, the show may have a basis in the real life experiences of Capt. Andy McCutcheon, a former professional Bodyguard and considered one of the most prolific celebrity Bodyguards in the World.
The show has similar elements and style to some earlier programs and motion pictures - for example, Entourage, Magnum P.I., and James Bond. However, Saviour has a more contemporary, shadowy, sinister feel.
Nothing like, “Saviour,” exists on current TV, where drama programming is incessantly good guy versus bad guy crime dramas or hospital shows.
Better quality programming recognizes that the lines of truth and morality are much more blurred and multi-dimensional for example, The West Wing and 24.
Saviour will offer a provocative alternative to formulaic programming because the viewer will never really know who the heroes and villains are. In this television drama as in life, the lines keep moving.
WHY DOES TELEVISION NEED THIS DRAMA?
It’s a sexy, voyeuristic look at the underbelly of the rich and powerful with original stories and extraordinary characters...
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
With the demographic you're targeting, I would think the best commercial networks to pitch to would be Seven or Ten, as Nine tends to skew to an older audience (although Ten probably doesn't have the production resources that Seven would have, as it is a smaller network).
My only concern if produced in Australia would be the 'celebrity' aspect, as the cult of celebrity is far more prevalent in America than it is here. Would it be set in Australia, or simply produced here?
Anyway, keep us updated with how you get on; I'd love to know whether it gets picked up.
Comment by Nina
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I always try to support the Aussie stuff, even when it's a bit of a let down. The best Aussie shows ever made were the ones that dared to be different and not just formulaeic US reproductions.
I had to let Sea Patrol go. It was good for a laugh for a while, but soon the continuity problems and poor writing - not to mention unrealistic dialogue - started to get to me.
City Homicide was better, but it annoyed me immediately when the officers in the first ep all sat around late at night working on a case - eating chinese takeaway from the box with chop sticks. WHY?! How many times has that been done in US shows and movies? Why copy something that isn't good to start with? Couldn't they have expended themselves and had an original situation?
The best Aussie series ever, and I believe, one of the best shows in the world - is SeaChange.
Nice one Nina,
Michaelie
Comment by Andy McCutcheon
SAVIOUR
Lavida Lifestyle
Thanks for that...
As you read through the series a bit further, the main character Andy [ironically] works on a demanding schedule with uncertain travel itineraries.
As such, he finds it difficult to manage a traditional romantic relationship and grows weary of the ever present opportunistic relationships backstage.
He resorts to internet dating and meets an Australian CG, who becomes his online love interest. The twist, is that CG is the daughter of a famous rock drummer and one of Andy' former clients.
Since CG isn't completely aware of what Andy does for a living - they never put two and two together and make the connection?
nearly 6 years ago now - I moved to Australia and married CG.
Having said that, I think the series could be produced here or produced there - the only obvious difference in budgets I suppose?
If you want to review the 'SAVIOUR' package send me an email address and I will have my solicitor forward a preview of the script.
Comment by Nina
As for the Chinese takeaway, perhaps the director thought it would be more visually appealing than a greasy pizza box?
Comment by Nina
Budgets could certainly be an issue. A bit of investigating with the networks could give you more of an idea whether the budgets here will do the show justice. If not, you could try further afield.
I'd love to have a look at the preview, and I will PM you with my email address.
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Sea Patrol really didn't impress me much. I watched 5 episodes (mainly because a friend of mine had a role in Ep 5), and it didn't get any better. The production values were pretty grand, and it looked great (makes a great on-air promo!), but the characters I found weak, the writing poor, and for the most part I found the casting uninspired (with the odd exception of actors like Josh Lawson).
Aussie TV does need more drama, so it's great that shows like this are getting to the screen and people are watching. The sad part is, that the quality of these shows from a dramatic point of view isn't fantastic.
To me, it says that Aussies are gagging for good drama, and will take anything they can get - average or not.
The mentality of those producing was very different. Now it tends to be profit before ratings, and drama is always more expensive than another countdown clip show.
Why would a network pay out close to $1 million per episode to make another Sea Patrol when they can buy an entire season of 'Ugly CSI Housewives get Lost' for the same price, and far less headache?
There is a definite niche in the market now (which I'm hoping to help fill
Nice post, Nina - as usual.
Comment by Nina
I'd love to see you full that niche, yoda! If you ever need any help with it just let me know
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Hate to say...as much as I love...there is such a thing as one two many...
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
We'll get there...
Never has this been more evident to me than now