Submitted by rickeyre on
This looks like a great concept. A number of Australian film-makers have made a series of short films about John Howard's record as Prime Minister to be screened as a feature film which will be premiering next Wednesday September 29. It's very much a low-budget, almost underground, project that looks a bit like 11'9''01 meets Fahrenheit 9/11. I just received a copy of the press release by email and I reproduce it in full:
TIME TO GO JOHN launches nationally on September 29th!!
For the first time in Australian Documentary History filmmakers have come together to make a feature length documentary about John Howard's record during his terms in office, ahead of the 2004 Federal Election. Filmmakers involved include John Hughes, Daryl Dellora, Fabio Cavadini & Mandy King, Jen Hughes, Anna Broinowski, Carmela Baranowska and Pip Starr.
See http://www.timetogojohn.com for all the information! and please, encourage people to attend screenings and have a house party! & perhaps you could please add it to your events listings on the website. Our organisers and filmmakers are available for interviews all over the country.
EMAIL: info(at)timetogojohn-dot-com
MEDIA RELEASE 22 SEPTEMBER 2004
Fed up filmmakers present a feature film about life under the Howard government - screening at over 50 venues nationwide
Aussie filmmakers create their version of Michael Moore's polemic film on American right wing politics, Fahrenheit 9/11. Titled TIME TO GO JOHN, the film will premiere nationally on September 29 in venues ranging from art house cinemas to pubs, clubs and libraries.
With absolutely no budget and in less than seven weeks a group of experienced and award-winning Australian filmmakers have pooled together to create a feature length film about the effect of Howard's government on Australia.
Faced with the dilemma of how to get the film seen by as many people as possible before the October election the filmmakers undertook to self-distribute the film and were overwhelmed by the positive response received nationwide. Cinemas in each capital city agreed to screen the film and many community groups and individuals pledged to run a house party in order to show the film in their area prior to the election.
According to the TIME TO GO JOHN national screening coordinator, Carmela Baranowska, the concept of house parties as a screening outlet is a relatively new one and the success of the technique demonstrates it is a legitimate way to get films out to a wide audience. House parties for the film have already been booked from Townsville in Queensland to St. Helens in Tasmania, from Corangamite in Victoria to Guildford in Western Australia, as well as internationally in Baghdad and Dili.
TIME TO GO JOHN is a compilation of fifteen short films documenting pivotal moments throughout Australia's recent local and international history, from the Iraq war to detention centres, GST, anti-terrorism laws and reconciliation. Made by some of Australia's best filmmakers and presented by comedian Rod Quantock, the film promises to pack all the punches and encourage voters to think carefully about their choice at polling time.
Melbourne filmmaker John Hughes (director of AFTER MABO, RIVER OF DREAMS and WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN), contributed a film about the time when John Howard famously 'lost it' during his speech formally opening the Reconciliation Conference in Melbourne in May 1997, and audiences turned their backs as he spoke.
Mixed in with the more serious documentary analysis of issues are some hilarious short clips such as a music video from 27 year old Darwin rap artist Kris Keogh who wrote a song to express his dislike of Howard's pro-Bush agenda.
The film will screen at capital city cinemas including the Lumiere (Melbourne), Chauvel (Sydney), Schonnel (Brisbane), Mercury (Adelaide), Deckckair (Darwin), FTI (Perth), State Cinema (Hobart). Full screening list available at
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