Writer, Thinker, Speaker, Stirrer
Since the 1970s the argument for government subsidy to the local film industry has been made in terms of the opportunity it provides for Australians “to tell our own stories”.
What isn’t clear in this aspirational statement is that, from the outset, these stories have been told almost exclusively in monotone.
I join ABC commentator Jon Faine on The Conversation Hour to speak with feminist activists Dr Helen Pankhurst and Renee Carr on December 1, 2015 Continue…
An article written with Ben Eltham and published in The Conversation on March 29, 2015. We use evidence of cultural consumption and production in Australia to refute claims claims made by Senator Brandis in his justification of severe Federal government budget cuts to the arts. Continue…
The Cinema and Audiences Research Project (CAARP) database is an online encyclopaedia of cinema-going in Australia and aims to promote research into, and a deeper appreciation of, the history of film exhibition and cinema going in Australia. CAARP holds information about film-related events, capturing where and when individual screenings took place and the relationship between film distribution,…
Article written with Alwyn Davidson and published in The Conversation on December 11, 2014 in which we discuss the seasonal obsession with Top 10 movie lists and why the calendar year is such a poor basis for measuring movies. Continue…
An article launching the Film Impact Rating (FIR) which is designed to expand how we evaluate success in the film industry. Instead of relying on domestic box office as the only factor indicating success or failure the article show how a combination of commercial and critical factors can be used to measure value. Published in The Conversation on December 3, 2014. Continue…
TUGG stands for The Ultimate Gig Guide and it tracks the history of the live music scene in Melbourne from organised dance hall events, to discos and the thriving pub music scene of today. On TUGG you will find data about: 7500+ gigs 600+Venues at over 500 locations 1500+ Bands and performers Maps of where the…
As Melbourne wins yet another Liveable City Award, Brian Morris and I take a look at what these rankings really mean. Published in The Conversation on August 20, 2014. Continue…
An article published in The Conversation on August 15, 2014 that makes a case for the usefulness of big data as a new evidence base for examining global film industries. Continue…
An article written with Bronwyn Coate and published in The Conversation on April 29, 2014. This article, about the cost of cinema attendance in Australia, created an enormous amount of commentary and was picked up by a number of media outlets. Continue…
