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Lockout Review
REVIEW OF LOCKOUT (screening Saturday 3pm, Cinema 2)
Erik Eklund of Monash University reviews Lockout, produced by Greg Hall and Diane Michael, directed
by Jason van Genderen, Lockout Productions, 2007.
Points of crisis in class relations, such as major industrial confrontations, strikes and lockouts,
are ideal for visual story telling. Industrial disturbances have a clear narrative structure with long
and short term causes, a trigger or catalyst, a climax, and then some kind of denouement,
whether it’s the ignominy of defeat or the joy of victory. These stories can play as tragedies or
as a triumph against the odds. There are heroes and villains, deceitful deeds and community
resistance. Discrete and often dramatic events can be represented through contemporary photographs,
since newspaper photographers or even newsreel cameramen were sometimes present to
cover these newsworthy events. Overall the principal elements of a good story as well as the
supporting evidence can be found.
The suitability of industrial disturbances for historical documentary and historical drama
has not been lost on Australian film makers. Some of our best film makers such as Richard
Lowenstein (Strikebound, 1984) and Tom Zubrycki (Kemira: diary of a strike, 1984) cut their
teeth on this kind of subject matter, utilising both fictionalised and documentary forms. A more
recent example is the ABC’s recently screened and much awarded Bastard Boys (2007), which
covers the 1998 waterfront dispute.
Following in this tradition is Lockout, which covers a fifteen-month dispute in the coalfields
of the Hunter Valley in 1929–30. The dispute began in February 1929 when mine owners in the
northern coalfields of New South Wales sought a 12.5% pay reduction in a concerted move
against a strong union in a period of declining demand and overproduction. Throughout the
Australian labour movement and in the coal fields especially, the dispute is one of those legendary
confrontations between capital and labour, an iconic clash remembered mostly for the young
miner, Norman Brown, who was shot and killed by police during one of the protest marches at
the Rothbury mine.
Although situated in a clear tradition Lockout represents a new level of maturity with excellent
production values, innovative graphics and a clever story telling structure. After the very disappointing
Constructing Australia series – a return to an old style ‘great man’ history where the
only ones credited with ‘constructing’ anything of substance were engineers and entrepreneurs
– Lockout has a refreshing focus on working people and their culture. Yet the broader State and
Commonwealth political sphere is not neglected, since the dispute embroiled all levels of government
as well as the legal and policing functions of the state. Lockout, like some of the best
writing on Australian labour disputes, also evokes the period and the context, ranging across
the local community and broader political scene. One of the secrets of the success of Lockout is the interviews of lockout veterans and other community members. These individuals, especially the late miners’ leader, writer and labour
movement legend, Jim Comerford, give a powerful human dimension to the dispute. Visually
the film is very satisfying with snippets of these interviews linked with Chris Haywood’s narration,
shots of contemporary photos, and very well-constructed re-enactments. These re-enactments
require all the skills and resources of a larger project and could have backfired easily enough,
but have been carried off very well.
There are shortcomings. The important context shaped by the earlier 1909–10 Peter Bowling
dispute is not mentioned. This was a bitter defeat for the miners and similarly involved a complex
mix of state and federal politics. This defeat burned deeply into the memories of coal miners in
the Hunter Valley, and was a strong influence on the strategies that the Miners’ Federation took
into the 1929 dispute. The one historian interviewed for the production, Alan Murray, endorses
a conspiratorial view that the dispute was manufactured by the northern colliery proprietors
with the collusion of the State and Commonwealth governments. This claim has strong prima
facie evidence but still required more careful presentation. The narrow sample of specialists
consulted for the film weakens the final product.
One other issue is the way the history of the dispute ends quite abruptly. Yet the interviews
and the deep emotions they reveal suggest that this was a lost opportunity. The dispute became
a major reference point for regional folk memory, for the miner’s federation, and clearly for the
individuals involved. Lockout relies on this tradition for its power yet leaves the legacy of the
dispute largely unexplored.
For all this Lockout is a dramatic success, highly suitable for tertiary and high school class
rooms, and hopefully reaching a wider audience in an era where trade unions are apparently a
diminishing force, and the tag of being a ‘union official’ can be used (even if unsuccessfully) in
election campaigns as a pejorative one. If only we could secure film makers for other major disputes
in regional Australia such as the ‘big strike’ at Broken Hill in 1919–20, the Mount Isa
Lockout of 1964–65 and the Burnie dispute of 1992.
Posted 4 hours ago
Festival Sees Green
Australia’s newest cultural event, the Dungog Film Festival held a tree planting and bush regeneration project from Monday, 14 April to Sunday, 20 April, with the Festivals environmental partners, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA).Up to 30 volunteers helped restore the natural habitat and planted 1500 trees in an area just outside of Dungog to help offset the carbon emissions from the Festival.
“This year we’re expecting Festival numbers to double and it’s important to preserve and enhance the local environment, it’s what makes Dungog so special,” Festival Director Allanah said.
Not one to miss a filming opportunity, Allanah has organised students of film from the University of Newcastle to film the project documenting the importance of conservation and regeneration of fauna and flora.
“We’ve had incredible support from Conservation Volunteers Australia, providing volunteers and support, Brother, supplying 1500 trees, Hyundai, providing transport for trees and Apple who are providing workshop facilities in Dungog,” Allanah said.
Posted 4 hours ago
Nicole Kidman In The Picture
Abbie Cornish and Nicole Kidman to debut at Dungog Film FestivalAcclaimed photographer, Andy Baker will launch his first public exhibition at the Dungog Film Festival from May 29 – June 01, with a series of stunning portraits of Australia’s leading ladies.
The exhibition titled Actress is mix of photojournalism and candid portraiture, shot on a 35mm camera using tracking technics similar to the film industry, to create both beautiful and striking photos.
Andy Baker said, Actress will eventually become a book and started some three years ago whilst shooting Suzie Porter in an old Deco cinema in Dalston East London. I realised it was much more rewarding working with talent than snapping models, they have so many facets to their repertoire, moody, vulnerable, sexy and aggressive.”
The exhibition will be held at the Wyndam Estate Festival Lounge, 224 Dowling St, Dungog and other actresses in the exhibition include Abbie Cornish, Racheal Ward and Nicole Kidman.
“With Abbie Cornish we just ran around in the rain, in and out of churches and parks like we were kids. She had just made Somersault and was beautiful from every angle, an absolute joy to shoot,” Andy said.
“Others such as Rachel Ward gave their time without knowing if the book would get off the ground, but realised a publication showcasing Australian talent could only be a good thing for the Australian film industry.”
“Nicole Kidman was sitting static in a Hyatt hotel room as photographers trapped through, each getting their allotted 30 seconds. I had been waiting over an hour for my 30 seconds so when they called me I replied, “sorry love I’m not ready”, that broke the ice,” Andy said .
Festival Director Allanah Zitserman said,” Dungog Film Festival is the perfect setting for Andy’s incredible portraits of Australian actresses. He’s such a talented photographer and we’re delighted that his first exhibition will be at Dungog.”
Festival pass holders except Jumbuck will be able to view ‘Actress’ at the Wyndam Estate Festival Lounge – 224 Dowling Street, Dungog.
To secure your ticket for the Festival especially opening night, call 02 4992 2290.
Posted 4 hours ago
Dungog In Parliament
Mr GEORGE SOURIS (Upper Hunter) [5.53 p.m.]: I take this opportunity to inform the House of the impending Dungog Film Festival that will be held between Thursday 29 May and Sunday 1 June. I compliment and commend the local community, in particular, Allanah, Stavros, shire council Mayor Glen Wall, and General Manager, Craig Deasey, for the wonderful and dramatic way in which this film festival has gone from year one to year two. Last year—year one—attracted about 1,500 people, but it is anticipated that in year 2, assuming that the weather is good, of order of 5,000 people will attend nothing short of a fantastic film festival.The festival is unique because it is the only film festival in Australia that features only Australian productions. This year, two Hunter Valley features will premiere at the Dungog Film Festival. The first feature film is Honeymoon in Kabul and the second feature film is Lockout. Honeymoon in Kabul features husband and wife doctors from Newcastle who took their honeymoon in Kabul. It was not just an ordinary honeymoon; it was a productive visit by people who provided medical aide to that trouble-torn area. The film, which takes the form of a documentary, highlights the assistance that was given by people around the Hunter Valley who supported the couple who went to Kabul, and it then features the good work that was done.
Lockout, the second feature film from the Hunter Valley—those in the Hunter Valley would immediately identify it—is the story of the Rothbury riots and coalmine lockout that occurred in Cessnock, Pelaw Main and the Richmond Vale area. In all, some 80 films will be screened at a number of venues. Another utterly unique feature of the Dungog Film Festival is the James Theatre—the oldest continuously running heritage cinema in Australia. The fact that it is an Australian film festival will most certainly attract many star actors, producers and directors on the Australian film scene. It will be a really wonderful few days.
The film festival will be coupled with workshops and educational aspects as well as the screening of the films to which I referred. I was pleased to attend the launch of the festival, which was conducted in Newcastle last week. I wish all the people who are involved the best of success, in particular, the friends of the Dungog Film Festival and that large body of volunteers that makes it all happen. The film festival has become a major annual and landmark event in the world of cinematography in Australia. I look forward to attending the festival that will be hosted in Dungog—one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys in the world. I strongly encourage everybody to make the journey to the most beautiful Dungog, which is on the CityRail network, to enjoy this fabulous film festival.
Posted 4 hours ago
Men in Rotterdam
Men’s Group, produced by John L Simpson and screened as "work-in-progress" at the 2007 Dungog Film Festival, had its world premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival. To be released later in 2008, it won DigiSPAA for best digital film of the year.Posted 4 hours ago
"The Jammed" Now Available on DVD
Last year "The Jammed" took home the coveted SHOWTIME IF Award for Best Feature Film, also picking up the Australian Film Commission IF Award for Best Script and the Inside Film Award for Best Music. Congratulations to Dee and her team for this amazing and deserved result. "The Jammed" is now available on DVD. Click here for more.Posted 4 hours ago
New Play by Oliver Torr Due to Open Soon!
Oliver Torr (director / writer & actor from "Burk and Wills") has finished writing "The Soldier and the Thief Wait on a Bridge over the River Thames While Oblivion Waves Hello". The play is set to open at the Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. February 19-March 15. Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. $28/$20/beer, laksa and show $34. Cheap Tuesdays $16/beer, laksa and show $24. Bookings: 1300 GET TIX or trstheatre.com.au.Posted 4 hours ago
"Big Dreamers" Premieres in Bondi after International Tour
After entertaining audiences in Canada and the US "Big Dreamers" (directed and produced by Camille Hardman) is returning home to premiere at the Bondi Open Air Cinema this February 20th. A crowd favourite at the 2007 DFF, the film focuses on the Quixotic struggle of one man to build the biggest Gumboot on Earth. For more information visit www.bigdreamers.infoPosted 4 hours ago
IF Winner "The Jammed" Now Available on DVD
Last year "The Jammed" took home the coveted SHOWTIME IF Award for Best Feature Film. "The Jammed" also picked up the Australian Film Commission IF Award for Best Script and the IF Award for Best Music. Congratulations to Dee McLachlan and the rest of "The Jammed" crew for this amazing and deserved result. The film is now available on DVD. Click here for more...Posted 4 hours ago
DUNGOG WINS GOLD
Our 2007 DUNGOG FILM FESTIVAL trailer (director Stavros Kazantzidis) has just won GOLD in the category of TV Station Breaks & Promos at the NSW Australian Cinematographer Society Awards. A huge congratulations to cinematographer Callan Green for winning this coveted award! Click here to check out the trailer.
Posted 4 hours ago