Students who attended the ‘Real Thing’ event are more equipped to make informed decisions
Recent research* has shown that 69% of 18 to 24-year-olds today regularly participate in movie or TV piracy activities with little to no regard for the filmmakers who produce Australia’s screen content.
The research, conducted by Sycamore Research & Marketing, also found that 62% of 18 to 24-year-olds are happy to consider themselves a movie pirate.
Sycamore also conducted focus groups with school age students who similarly admitted to regularly pirating movies and said that it sometimes gave them the buzz of doing something illegal.
As these students grow into young adults their behaviour and sense of personal responsibility is being formed, and it’s this key area of personal choice that was explored at the “Nothing Beats the Real Thing! ” School Challenge held on Friday, 25th February at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.
The School Challenge asks young people to think about the nature and consequences of their actions through a series of fun activities. It also introduces the students to some of the people, jobs and work behind the scenes of real productions to learn more about the Australian movie and TV business.
- Some of the team from the new TV Series “Lighting Point” enthralled the students and teachers with stories of their career, work beginnings and behind the scene tales of their show. From left to right: Assistant Producer – Kristen Souvlis, two Principal cast members – Lucy Fry and Philippa Coulthard, Producer – Stuart Wood.
19-year-old actress Lucy Fry, star of the new children’s television show “Lightning Point”, currently filming on the Gold Coast, told the students attending the Challenge that while she loves her work, she would be upset if her TV show was pirated: “I would feel cheated – not just for myself, but for all the people who put all of their energy in behind the scenes… lighting, props, makeup, cameras, production, locations… I could go on forever about all the different behind the scenes jobs.”
- Actresses Lucy Fry and Philippa Coulthard with IPAF’s Director of PR, Stephen Jenner
Senior Legal Studies & English Teacher at Upper Coomera State College Alyson Innis, who has been teaching the “Nothing Beats the Real Thing!” resource in her English and Legal Studies classes said, “Rapid changes in technology in today’s society has led to the increased acceptance of film piracy. Students generally have unlimited access to resources for film piracy in their daily lives. However, it is essential that students are provided with opportunities to realise how film piracy negatively impacts on the entertainment industry generally and ultimately themselves as consumers. Education on copyright and film piracy is essential for students to become responsible participants in the global community.”
We believe that young people have a good ability to make their own choices. We want them to look at the facts and to make their own decision. But we hope that it is an informed and honest decision, so that whether they choose to download illegally or not, they know what they are doing, they understand the implications, and they take responsibility for their actions.
The student event followed a gathering on 24th February of secondary school teachers meeting at Screen Queensland to consider the problem of movie and television piracy and how it is approached in schools. The event was introduced by Queensland filmmaker Cathy Overett, who is currently producing the film “Iron Sky” on the Gold Coast: “What I would ask this audience to remember is that it costs money for us to make these shows for their enjoyment, and we’d like to be able to earn a living doing so and to be able to repay our investors so we can make more shows for your viewing pleasure in the future. So, enjoy our films and programs, but please remember to pay for it when you can – tune in when it’s on TV, buy the DVD, go to the cinema, pay to download or for VOD. And thank you for watching.”
Secondary school teachers discussing how movie & TV piracy is approached in schools
*Sycamore Research Released August 2010
