Tepid TV? Australia needs to sharpen its cutting edge
In this cross-posting from The Conversation Craig Batty of RMIT University argues most Australian TV drama is lacking one essential element: drama.
A special thing happened in August this year: Foxtel launched BBC First, a premium channel showcasing the best of contemporary British television drama.
As a global channel that chose Australia as its inaugural audience, here’s how it describes itself:
BBC First celebrates humanity in all its fascinating complexity, connecting audiences around the world who are hungry for stories to challenge, immerse and entertain them.
Couldn’t agree more. Tepid’s exactly the word for it. Just catching up with the Irish series Love/Hate last night, and had to take a breath afterward, such was the tension and drama. Compare and contrast with the vapid executions as listed above – no competition. Australia deserves better, and should be setting the bar higher.
I’m wondering how much Australian tv Craig Batty watches. Of course not everything matches up to “Bold. Brave. Compelling. Deep. Intelligent. Raw. Surprising.” Just as not all UK tv drama fits snuggly into this box. But to not mention Devil’s Dust or Rake or Please Like Me or Redfern Now, or Mabo or Top of the Lake or The Gods of Wheat Street or Upper Middle Bogan or Power Games or Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries as meeting any of these qualities – well that just seems slack. I’m a tv viewer rather than maker and whilst I wish for more complex intelligent drama on Australian tv screens simply applauding the BBC and lamenting the majority of the output of the Australian industry whilst ignoring the exceptional work of the last few years doesn’t seem very useful. Craig Batty as creative practice research leader might need to do a little actual research if he wishes to usefully contribute to a critique of tv drama production in Australia. It’s not all Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away here just as it’s not all EastEnders and Coronation St in the UK – not by the way that I have anything against any of these shows
I’ve heard the boys from Yabby Creek created a bit of a ruckus in Summer Bay?
Adam, not only that. I also heard they changed the menu at the Summer Bay Diner. It was the season finale cliffhanger.
I think that in Australia our TV production industry, particularly for things such as edgy drama lacks both the executive vision and the creative talent to do anything really worthwhile.
As for Australian TV comedy?? Well lets just not go there, anywhere near there!! lol
Australia can make world class cutting edge drama, but that’s become far, far harder with those who pay for it to be made, not having any appetite at all for something bold.
Foxtel, most worryingly, now think their made for cable dramas must attract high overnight ratings rather than build like made for cable dramas do i.e. Breaking Bad etc. We’ve recently learn’t they’re now commissioning compelling, bold dramas from the FTA scrap heap such as A Place To Call Home….
Sad times indeed.