Garrett's direction: go straight

REEL TIME: Michael Bodey | July 30, 2008 ENVIRONMENT, Heritage and Arts Minister Peter Garrett has attracted headlines in the past week for issues such as the depiction of children in art and Mission Beach cassowaries. He also quietly dropped his first substantive thoughts on the one industry under his bailiwick that's crying out for direction: the Australian film sector. There was barely a murmur in response. Garrett was hastily included as a speaker before the opening of the Melbourne International Film Festival last Friday, at the 37South conference. But while the industry was expecting Shine, they got The Book of Revelation. He re-emphasised what looked to be a prescriptive imperative from government that the film industry "develop commercially focused screen businesses". If that weren't clear enough, he added: "You will... [read full story]