"Film Australia has excelled with the Outback DVD which is both stunning in quality and a superb balance relating to the past and the present. In the 21st century, Australia needs cohesion and a better understanding between city and country, more than ever before. This production will help stimulate that interest in an entertaining and educational way."
- Tim Fischer, Ambassador to 2002 Year of the Outback

Rated 4 stars by Lawrie Zion, The Age

Film Australia's Outback includes some of the nation's most acclaimed documentaries, from the early 20th century until today, as well as an award-winning animation and a short drama based on a "script" by Henry Lawson. In addition to the films themselves, a wealth of behind-the-scenes information has been included on this innovative DVD. This website link provides access to additional material.

A must for film fans and an excellent educational resource for students of Media, English, Arts, Aboriginal Studies, Geography, History, Science, Tourism and Society and the Environment.

Preview A preview, with an introduction from Academy Award winner Dean Semler, gives an overview of life - and filmmaking - in Australia's remote areas

The Films Edited versions of 14 programs reveal a changing perspective on our attitudes to the land and our approaches to filmmaking

The Making Of... Goes behind the scenes of Where Dead Men Lie to explore the creative process

On Location Stories Interviews with the filmmakers, including Dean Semler, respected visual anthropologist Ian Dunlop, maverick filmmaker Lee Robinson and internationally acclaimed artist and animator Jeannie Baker, as well as a biography of each

On Location Snapshots A photo gallery of stunning production stills from Film Australia's unique archive

• The Making of Film Australia's Outback DVD Producer/director/editor Denise Haslem discusses the production process
• Transcripts More from the interviews with the filmmakers featured on the DVD
• Biographies Brief cvs of each filmmaker whose work is featured on the DVD plus those of the DVD producers
• Photo Gallery Takes a look at the production stills featured in the DVD's On Location Snapshots
• Credits Full production credits for the DVD and the website
• Launch Highlights from the DVD launch by The Hon Tim Fischer, Ambassador to the 2002 Year of the Outback
• Script Extract from Outback Supply
• Storyboard Extract from The Story of Rosy Dock

 Download Film Australia's Outback Teachers Notes (Acrobat PDF file, 508kb)

 Download The Story of Rosy Dock Teachers Notes (Acrobat PDF file, 72k)

 Download the post-production script for Film Australia's Outback preview and interviews (Acrobat PDF file, 96k)

 Download the press kit for Film Australia's Outback (Word file, 52k) including:

• full credit list
• DVD producers' biographies
• DVD production story

2002 Year of the Outback

Jeannie Baker's website

Various articles on filmmaking and the outback in Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture

To order Film Australia's Outback DVD, see the program detail page on the Film Australia website.

See the program detail pages on the Film Australia website for more information about the original films:

• The Heart of Australia 1928, 6 mins
• School in the Mailbox 1946, 7.5 mins
• Journey of a Nation 1947, 7.5 mins
• Outback Patrol 1952, 11 mins
• Thylungra - Sports Day in the Outback 1960, 3 mins
• Desert People 1966, 5.5 mins
• Where Dead Men Lie 1972, 14 mins
• Living Way Out 1976, 11.5 mins
• Outback Supply 1977, 12.5 mins
• Saturday 1979, 13 mins
• The Land of the Lightning Brothers 1987, 12.5 mins
• The Last Great Cattle Drive 1988, 12 mins
• The Story of Rosy Dock 1995, 9 mins
• Bush Mechanics: The Rainmakers 2001, 14 mins
• plus Where Dead Men Lie - Spotlight on the Director 1973 9 mins

See other outback titles on the Film Australia website

See our other showcases