MUMBAI: Over 850 members of the Australian cast and crew of X-Men Origins: Wolverine assembled on World Intellectual Property Day to celebrate the first screening of the movie in Australia.
The screening, co-hosted by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), which represents the Motion Picture Association (MPA) in Australia, and Twentieth Century Fox Australia, was held at Hoyts Cinema, at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park, to celebrate the creative work of the Australian film industry, and to draw attention to the importance of respecting intellectual property.
Twentieth Century Fox Australia managing director Marc Wooldridge said that the screening of the film on World IP Day provided the opportunity to recognize the value of filmmaking skills Australians have to offer the world, both in front of and behind the camera.
"World IP Day is a time to recognize that films like X-Men Origins: Wolverine are more than just great entertainment, they showcase the innovation and creativity in Australia’s community and contribute significantly to our economy," said Wooldridge.
Over 1,000 Australians worked on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the film engaged over 100 Australian companies including special effects companies Rising Sun Pictures and Fuel. The movie, which was filmed in New South Wales at Fox Studios Australia and on locations at Lake Macquarie, Brownlow Hill and on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, contributed over $42.84 million to the local economy.
AFACT executive director Adrianne Pecotic acknowledged the incredible creative contribution made by the Australian cast and crew towards this film. "Our filmmaking industry is a shining example of how people with good ideas combined with hard work can stimulate jobs, generate significant wealth for the economy, and make all Australians proud of their work," he said.
"Australia is a great country with great talent. For this country to continue to be a vibrant, creative-thinking population, we need to promote the creative arts and the protection of IP. This screening is an excellent way of doing so," said MPA president and managing director Asia-Pacific Mike Ellis.
A recent report by Access Economics revealed that the film and television industry generated an estimated $3.14 billion in value-added to the Australian economy in 2006-7.
The film stars Hugh Jackman, and other Australian actors including Asher Keddie, Max Cullen, Aaron Jeffrey, Peter O’Brien and Tahnya Tozzi, and opens in cinemas around Australia on 29 April.
