Joni eccentricproductions.com.au

We recently had a well known Australian Producer Ewan Burnett come and speak to us about both his career and the ins and outs of the entertainment industry. Ewan started his career producing Documentaries and corporate video’s, I have to admit I have never given much validity to people who are involved in corporate videos so it was interesting for me to hear that this is where Ewan’s career began. After a well rounded career for almost twenty years Ewan decided to start Burberry Productions in 1999.

I found most enticing Ewan’s little pieces of advice interspersed in his lecture. Although it was not the first time I have heard this phrase it never looses its importance, the entertainment industry is “the business of creativity”. Despite how exciting the entertainment industry can be, and the “artistic” nature it is associated with we can not forget that it is a “business”. It should be treated as a “business”.

Business is not always something associated with the entertainment industry when people are starting out. However, it is apparent that the people who do well in the industry are very business savvy. The three main areas that Ewan highlighted as being a big part of his job were Marketability, Distribution and Contracts. Its not good enough anymore to just make a great film or TV show you should try and have all your business agreements arranged before the completion of the project. Contracts must be scrutinized and signed before production begins, distribution deals should be entered before production and the marketability of a film or TV show should be thought about before you even decide to take on a project. What still separates small independent films from big budget, big box office success is the marketing that is involved and thought of. It is almost impossible to find a film nowadays that does not have a behind the scenes documentary attached, which is used to market the film with a host of over products and items

Ewan’s latest project “Anamalia”, appears to involve a number of complex deal structures. The Animation for the production will take place in Queensland, the voice over work will be produced in the US and further production work will take place in Scotland. To raise the funds for such an ambitious project Ewan has involved many Australian as well as international companies. He has already secured the broadcasting and distribution rights. I must admit it is fascinating to me the work and networking that is involved in organizing such a deal structure.

The second point that Ewan highlighted was the “collaborative nature” of the entertainment industry. It is imperative to be able to both communicate and get on with people if you want to work in the entertainment industry due to its collaborative nature.

Finally Ewan commented that Producers should “surround yourself with people more talented and empower them”. One of the most difficult parts of producing a project is letting it go. Micromanaging is never a productive policy. In order to create a truly collaborative, communicative and creative piece everyone must be able to add their expertise. A producer must not let go of their vision, but they must be able to allow others to enhance their vision.

After having learnt my lesson on my first short film about the importance of contracts, I have called another meeting with the Executive Producer of the project I am currently working on. I have all my paper work ready to go for him to sign. It will give him full ownership of all the material but also ensure he understands who is responsible for what payments. I am not in the position to be left owing people money for jobs performed.

Oh, well let’s see how it goes.
Oh for all of you wanting to know where to get the contracts from I have ammended the basic AFC contracts which are the for general use contracts.

For a city which is economically battling to produce a few TV shows we have one of the newest purpose built studio complexes in the world! We have an amazing complex but it’s empty. The dilemma that arises is we better with or with out it?

If we prescribe to the Hollywood Philosophy of “Build It and They Shall Come” by Bill Norin, we might have the right idea. The concept makes sense, with out the facilities we would not have the opportunity to bid for international films to be made in Australia. One needs to have the right tools to perform a job adequately, and in such a technologically savvy industry it is paramount we have the most up to date facilities.

Last year Ghost Rider was filmed in Melbourne. It was the first international big budget feature film to be made in Melbourne. It also pumped millions of dollars into the industry. At the same time “Charlottes Web” with Susan Sarandon and Dakota Fanning was filmed. In 2005 over $94million dollars was contributed to the economy through filming. Not to mention the hundreds of jobs which arose from the various projects?

I left in 2000 to live in Los Angeles and work in the Entertainment Industry because I knew at the time, only a few months after university, that I would not find a job in the entertainment industry in Melbourne. Moving to LA afforded me the opportunity to work with many of Hollywood’s elite at only 22years old. It was a tremendous opportunity which I am grateful for. However, at 28 I can not help but start to prescribe more to the philosophy of “No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson. With Central City Studios now in place, we can not continue to make excuses. It’s been built, and now it’s our responsibility to film!