Underground

BACKGROUND Approaches to distribution of Film and Television in Australia have traditionally been conservative, resulting in an industry that has had little evolution in this regard. With this research, Connolly in his role as Producer tests a range of new distribution models that attempt to engage more diverse audiences, differently. It also challenges traditional boundaries and attitudes between film media and television media CONTRIBUTION `Underground¿ covers the formative years of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The film was the first narrative drama to investigate Assange¿s role in international hacktivist activities. Connolly¿s innovative approach to the release of this work enabled it and its audience to intervene and contribute to an international political dialogue. In the release, Cinemaplus pioneered a value addition to the cinema experience: audiences were provided with a DVD-Rom of additional material including deleted scenes, the screenplay, historic information about Wikileaks and Assange; they were able to stream the DVD commentary to their smart phone; focussed events involved Assange directly by phone hook-up to the Ecuador Embassy; crypto-party events and political discussion and analysis held in the cinema SIGNIFICANCE The dissemination of information and the social impact of the material unearthed in the film has been recognised by critical acclaim, which gives credence for this revision of distribution practices. The work premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and aired on Australia¿s Network Ten. This crossover from cinema to television audiences, from the festival circuit to the domestic context, demonstrates how Connolly¿s aesthetic and production practices and approaches are crossing over boundaries traditionally drawn between these different kinds of audiences. This is significant in demonstrating the ability of reaching diverse audiences in diverse contexts with political and topical issues.