Latest in Australia

While the domestic box office was hammered over the holidays, over in Australia, it’s been quite alive. A leading example of this last weekend was Roadshow Films’ Eric Bana thriller The Dry, based on Jane Harper’s bestselling and award-winning debut novel, which has minted $3.5M since its New Year’s Day release. I’m…

Imagine Entertainment and MGM will roll cameras on Ron Howard's upcoming drama Thirteen Lives, based on the 2018 Thai caves rescue incident, in Australia next March. The Australian government is injecting AUD $13 million into the project, which will use Queensland's Gold Coast to double for Thailand. Thirteen Lives is…

There are just a handful of independent production companies with three or more half-hour series currently on U.S. television. One of them could surprise you: It’s Australian indie Jungle Entertainment, owned by CEO Jason Burrows, director Trent O’Donnell, writer Phil Lloyd and COO Chloe Rickard. They are behind CBS…

Facebook announced Monday that it plans to stop publishers and people in Australia from sharing both local and international news on the social media platform. In a blog post, Facebook Australia & New Zealand managing director Will Easton wrote that  the new plan comes after the country required the platform to pay…

The Australian Government Friday unveiled a draft of the new mandatory code of conduct that would force tech giants Google and Facebook to pay for news on their platforms. The document developed by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission will be open for public review through August 28 and go before…

In response to a spike of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, authorities in Australia have closed the borders between the country's two most populous states – Victoria and New South Wales. The move effectively stops travel between its two major film hubs of Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne, in Victoria, confirmed a record…

Two Australian journalists were assaulted by police on live TV during a protest outside the White House on Monday evening. Channel 7 News cameraman Tim Myers was punched and hit with a shield and U.S. correspondent Amelia Brace was hit with a truncheon while trying to escape. The police, dressed in riot gear, were…

While the Hollywood unions and studios are still deliberating over protocols for safe return to production amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian film and TV industry has released its COVID-Safe Guidelines to help get their industry back to work. Spanning 41 pages, this is the most comprehensive set of official…

Movie theaters in Australia are aiming to re-open in July, the National Association of Cinema Operators said late Tuesday local time. Cited by local media, the org said it was “enthusiastic about the prospect” and “is hopeful of conditions enabling it to do so in July.” Oz cinemas began to partially shutter in…

As Hollywood begins mounting an industrywide effort to create protocols for films and TV shows to safely return to production, there will be a test case to draw upon. Australia’s long-running soap Neighbours will resume filming next week after a monthlong production shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is…

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordered on Sunday evening local time that all cinemas, pubs, restaurants, casinos, places of worship and health clubs will shutter as of midday Monday. Schools though will remain open as Australia practices safety guidelines during the coronavirus global climate. Several…

Amid concerns over the coronavirus spread, and along with the cancellation of the Sydney Film Festival, there have been some cinema closures in Australia, while iconic TV soap Neighbours has temporarily shut down production. In the case of the former, Melbourne-based exhibition chain Palace Cinemas has said it will…