From the Minister for Aged Care Media Challenge To
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Media Release: MEDIA CHALLENGE TO PUT SENIORS BACK IN THE PICTURE FROM THE MINISTER FOR AGED CARE DATE: Monday, September 29, 2003 MEDIA CHALLENGE TO PUT SENIORS BACK IN THE PICTURE A new Bracks Government campaign will challenge the entertainment industry to provide greater roles for seniors and more authentic images of ageing, Aged Care Minister, Gavin Jennings, said today. Mr Jennings joined industry icons in announcing six new initiatives including a media taskforce drawn from TV, film and theatre to stimulate refreshing images of ageing and older people in the media. "Older people's stories and faces have been missing from our television and film screens for far too long," Mr Jennings said. "This campaign will encourage the entertainment and media industry to value maturity and experience." The Bracks Government has provided $90,000 for the Images of Age campaign, which includes: · Establishing a media taskforce on ageing to advise the Bracks Government on further initiatives to improve age inclusive programming in the industry; · $50,000 Image of Age grants program, which will provide grants of up to $5,000 to support the creation of new film, TV and theatre works involving seniors; · Sponsorship of seniors cinema at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) which will allow older people to view quality movies for just $4; · Funding live readings of a proposed new TV drama series set in a retirement village before an audience of seniors and younger people; · Sponsorship of the 2003 United Nations Media Award; and · Sponsorship of the forthcoming Screen Producers Association Conference in Melbourne. Mr Jennings said Australia's three million older people represented an untapped audience for the nation's film and TV industry. "Over-55s watch the most TV, hold over half of the nation's assets and account for a quarter of all disposable income," he said. "This is a lucrative audience for advertisers and the entertainment industry but there is a real lack of realistic and interesting images of older people on our screens. "The Bracks Government recognises that older people are an integral and wonderful part of our community and this campaign will encourage the entertainment industry to realize the worth of putting seniors in the spotlight." file:///C|/...0and%20Settings/faf/My%20Documents/Data%20migration/DHS/DOMS/File%20ExportOld/DP%20203112/mediarelease.htm[30/11/2012 11:31:31 AM] Media Release: MEDIA CHALLENGE TO PUT SENIORS BACK IN THE PICTURE Membership of the Media Taskforce: 1. Alan Hopgood Actor/writer/producer/playwright Alan Hopgood is best remembered for his long running role as Dr Malcolm Reed in Bellbird, Australia's first television serial. In the last decade Alan Hopgood has written some of his best plays including for For Better For Worse, which is based on his own experiences with prostate cancer and The Carer. 2. Nancy Cato Nancy Cato's career dates back to the 1964 ABC children's television show The Magic Circle Club. Until recently Ms Cato was managing Chapel Off Chapel - one of Melbourne's most popular live performance and cabaret venues. 3. Ros Tatarka Ms Tatarka is the General Manager, Industry Development & Investment, Film Victoria, which provides assistance to stimulate and build the Victorian film, television, digital media and screen culture industry. Ms Tatarka is also an established Victorian producer with her recent credits including the first television series of Good Guys Bad Guys. 4. Anne Phelan Anne Phelan's versatility as an actress and singer has allowed her to work in all aspects of the industry for the past 35 years including TV, stage, film, theatre restaurant and radio. Her most recent television roles have been in Marshall Law and Something in the Air. 5. Maggie Millar Well known for her many TV roles (Bellbird, The Sullivans, Prisoner, Neighbours), Maggie Millar has won three awards for excellence including a Best Actress Logie. She now gives lectures on body image and self acceptance. 6. Terry Norris Terry Norris has had a hugely successful acting career including roles in Cop Shop and Bellbird. In 2001, he starred with wife of 42 years, Julia Blake, in Paul Cox's film Innocence and is currently appearing with her in the MTC production of Humble Boy. 7. Annie O'Hanlon Annie O'Hanlon is Manager of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Writers Guild (AWG). The AWG is the professional association for all writers in film, television, radio, theatre, video and new media. The AWG was established in 1962 and is recognised throughout the industry in Australia as being the voice of performance writers. file:///C|/...0and%20Settings/faf/My%20Documents/Data%20migration/DHS/DOMS/File%20ExportOld/DP%20203112/mediarelease.htm[30/11/2012 11:31:31 AM] Media Release: MEDIA CHALLENGE TO PUT SENIORS BACK IN THE PICTURE Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy file:///C|/...0and%20Settings/faf/My%20Documents/Data%20migration/DHS/DOMS/File%20ExportOld/DP%20203112/mediarelease.htm[30/11/2012 11:31:31 AM] OFFICE OF SENIOR VICTORIANS IMAGES OF AGE GRANTS PROGRAM Cover photograph: Mrs Paruzel (Annika Glac) Message from the Minister Application Guidelines The Victorian Government is providing a total of The information contained in $50,000 in grants in 2003/4 to support new this document includes: Victorian productions which depict positive images of ageing and older people across film, 1. Background television and theatre. information on the The grants will be an important new vehicle for Images of Age Grants promoting change in community attitudes Program towards ageing and older people. Funded projects will provide an opportunity for more realistic and 2. Program objectives diverse images of ageing and older people to be seen and enjoyed by general audiences. They will also present images and views which 3. Eligibility/Ineligibility challenge outmoded concepts of ageing and older people. 4. Funding arrangements By encouraging people such as actors, writers, producers, directors, editors and other practitioners to develop new works about ageing 5. Assessment and older people, the Victorian Government aims to provide opportunities for refreshing new images of later life to be brought to 6. How to Apply the screen and stage. Just as importantly, the new productions will provide opportunities to bring audiences, performers and practitioners of different ages and backgrounds in contact with each other – to learn, to enjoy and to appreciate. I invite you to bring your ideas into the picture. Gavin Jennings MLC Minister for Aged Care IMAGES OF AG GRA 1. Background 3. Eligibility/ information Ineligibility Making this the Age To Be in Victoria: A Forward Agenda for Who may apply for a grant Senior Victorians has called for The Images of Age Grants Government and society to develop Program is open to residents of new ways of valuing maturity and Victoria aged 18 or older who may experience. It states that the be students, writers, directors, images we see of ageing and older producers, actors or other people clearly influence the way we Irini Pappas, Roadside Assistance professionals engaged in the feel about growing older. Fostering (Suzi Taylor) production of film, theatre and new and diverse images of ageing 2. Program Objectives television. Arts organisations in this and older people through the To: State may also apply. media is therefore vital to the • Promote positive attitudes to Individual applicants must be process of bringing about more ageing and older people through practising professionals or students positive attitudes to ageing. the public presentation of a in the area of film, theatre or diverse range of artistic works in The ‘Images of Age Grants television. film, television and theatre. Program’ has been developed by Organisations must be legally the Office of Senior Victorians, • Encourage new collaborations constituted and be incorporated. Department of Human Services, to between performing artists, support the creation, development venues and audiences. Application Conditions and public presentation of To be eligible for assessment • Further the objectives of the innovative new film, television and applicants must: Victorian Government, through theatre works which provide a the Office of Senior Victorians, to • Ensure their application is positive view of ageing and older promote age balanced received by the Office of Senior people. Up to ten grants will be programming in film, television Victorians by the published due awarded in 2003/4. A maximum of and theatre. date on a completed Office of $5,000 per grant will apply. Senior Victorians application form Projects are required to have: • Be proposing a project that is • Artistic merit consistent with the Program • Intergenerational involvement in Objectives and Assessment the process and/ or public Criteria presentation of the project. • Be proposing a project that will • Capacity to stimulate, through commence or has commenced in public performance, improved the 2003/2004 financial year and attitudes to ageing and older • Have an ABN number. people. (if applicable) Bud Tingwell, Roadside Assistance • Capacity to reflect and celebrate (Suzi Taylor) the diversity of older people’s lives. • Capacity to attract audiences of all ages. E ANTS PROGRAM Examples of how the grant 4. Funding may be used arrangements The grants may be used to do Successful applicants will be things like: advised in writing. They will then • Underwrite venue hire be required to sign and return a Letter of Agreement to the Office • Support production costs of Senior Victorians. • Contribute to writer/script development costs Letter of Agreement Successful applicants will be Bud Tingwell and Irini Pappas • Support marketing and Roadside Assistance required to enter into a formal (Suzi Taylor) promotional costs. agreement with the Office of Senior • Provide the Office of Senior Applications may also be for one or Victorians. Victorians with the right to more stages in the creative The Letter of Agreement will schedule a performance of the development or presentation of a require funded applicants to completed project in contexts single work.