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.”

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 Goo

d 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.