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• Phrosty :

  19 Aug 2010 3:19:34pm

  If you have ever tried to get a manuscript published you will begin to understand the nature of the problem; but, particularly here in dear old Oz. Handwritten, however legible, is automatically rejected unread! Science fiction likewise, even though it clearly is the largest money spinning genre on the planet? Commercial action adventure fiction, ditto! They want it already professionally proof read and typeset; or, on easily downloaded discs! How many budding literary geniuses are almost automatically rejected because of the extremely laborious and expensive wish list of so-called publishers, who might be better placed as say, bean counting tax practitioners! Why even an as yet unpublished Alistair McLean, would have been automatically rejected unread, because of his preferred fiction, action adventure thriller genre! However, if you like dry old factual stuff like the seemingly endless political biographies; or, the almost mindless minutia and boredom, [replete with the almost obligatory extremely graphic sex scene or scenes,] of conflicted dysfunctional family relationships; or, highly technical manuals? Many publishing doors seem to almost magically open? The best selling novelist of the last century was REJECTED on seemingly countless occasions, because her manuscripts were HAND WRITTEN! Even so, when one of the more insightful and commercially literate publishers decided to back her work; Harry Potter became the best money spinner of the century!! How can such un-doubtable talent and story telling excellence, be automatically rejected on such spurious grounds? When you are able to answer that question, with illuminating erudite satisfaction, you will have also solved Hollywood's current conundrum.

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• Emir :

  01 Sep 2010 6:34:14pm

  As my ORIGINAL novel of star wars states "Six Years ago Gearge Lucas the man who brought you AMERICAN GRAFITTI , begain his first draft of a film that very well may become a m ilestone in the space fantasy genre" How true. The star wars prequels where ruinous to the entire saga though. I was 10 years old when the original movie came out in 1977 and I also collected a full set of original cards from that era along with 1980 Empire cards. I was as hardcore a fan as you could get. I used to buy Starlog maxazine religiously from my local newsagents at the time. I agree that the prequels where "wooden" and that George was indeed surrounded with "Yes men" but lets not forget that the hollywood franchise has not run out of ideas. Take the 1978 Star Wars copy/cash in at the time Battlestar Galactica. The original series was complete rubbish but still had a huge cult following including me. The re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series that rates as the best Sci-Fi series ever, even better than Babylon 5 in it's epic nature. BSG was so relevant to todays contemporary society (terrorism, spiritualism, love, lotalty, the end of days etc) that the actors made an apperance at the UN!

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• Emir :

  01 Sep 2010 6:48:54pm

  Harry Potter in the 21st century or Star Wars in the late 20th, the merchandising frenzy was probably even greater. Like bushfires, drought and disaster and fashions, merchandising is cyclical! Nobody read the star wars books back then except me and a handfull of other nerds with apple ]['s...

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• wendy :

  01 Sep 2010 6:53:11pm

  How about those many 'Mexican Spitfire' movies frequently played in the ABC TV1 late night/early am slot. Something like Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) but I expect a bit earlier

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  • Emir :

    01 Sep 2010 6:57:09pm

    Are they those cowboy movies with "Chitto" ? lol and that other guy

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• Emir :

  01 Sep 2010 7:00:38pm

  I hope they use the same Black 2 door GT Falcon in the remake of Mad Max that they used in the original or it won't be the same. The last of the 351's. The car is was saved from a south Australian wrecking yard where kennedy and miller sold it for scrap! Now it's restored and ready for use in the next movie :)

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• Daath Veda :

  01 Sep 2010 7:17:30pm

  The first time I saw The Phantom Menace, I cried (something very rare at the time).
  
  I had to rewatch the first prequel as if it was a Star Trek film. I enjoyed it only by divesting it of any significance, and seeing as very light entertainment.
  
  To an extent, the prequels impacted me in a similar manner to the death of someone important to me. It ruptured some of the fabric of my personal narrative. I ceased to experience potent dreams featuring Star Wars elements. I ceased to enjoy and utilise the original mythos in the same way.
  
  I see the prequels (which I call the 'Star Wars Travesty') as the death of my childhood ("...from a certain point of view.")

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• heather :

  01 Sep 2010 7:21:00pm

  Hi, For Julie...My research suggests not more than 20% of revenue from merchandizing. Also the first Star Wars ( the first "franchise" movie in my opinion) was ep 3 not ep 1
  
  Best Heather

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• heather :

  01 Sep 2010 7:27:57pm

  I got top agree the American copies of great Euro/Asian classics is gross. Yes there is a Chinese made version of the Harry Potter series, totally not written by original author but made to take advantage of the popularity of the franchise. Multi-platform transmedia stuff is all the rage at present and you must remember its all "product" movies, books, stage, colouring in books online ganes tv spin offs etc. The star vehicle is also on the rise and yes stars, franchises, genres, stories authors(Agatha chraistie) all helps the promotion give a handle on the property so that is wioll gain acceoptabitlity in the market. Cynic - maybe. Still cant get the Americam Kath and Kim, Best HJ

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• heather :

  01 Sep 2010 7:33:43pm

  PS Chinese Potter rip off book and online book not film.
  

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