THE DISH
DIRECTOR: Rob Sitch
PRODUCER: Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Rob Sitch
SCRIPT: Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Rob Sitch
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Graeme Wood
EDITOR: Jill Bilcock
MUSIC: Edmund Choi
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Carrie Kennedy
RUNNING TIME: 101 minutes
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: October 19, 2000
VIDEO DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow Home Entertainment
VIDEO RELEASE: April 11, 2001
Cast and Crew for
The Dish (2000)
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Cast overview: |
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Cliff Buxton |
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Ross 'Mitch' Mitchell |
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Glenn Latham |
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Al Burnett |
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May McIntyre |
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Rudi Kellerman |
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Prime Minister |
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Mayor Robert 'Bob' McIntyre |
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Len Purvis |
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Marie McIntyre |
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Keith Morrison |
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Janine Kellerman |
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U.S. Ambassador Howard |
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Billy McIntyre |
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Cameron |
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RELEASE DATES
Australia 19 October 2000
USA 14 March 2001 (limited release)
USA 27 April 2001 (general release)
UK 11 May 2001
New Zealand 24 May 2001
BOX OFFICE
Total Gross Country Last date recorded
AUD $11,182,359 Australia 14 December 2000
US $2,252,970 USA 8 July 2000
£1,573,131 UK 17 June 2001
Opening Weekend
$70,612 (USA) (18 March 2001) (6 Screens)
£218,114 (UK) (13 May 2001) (187 Screens)
AUD 2,995,500 (Australia)
€2,676 (Italy) (9 February 2003) (5 Screens)
Gross
$2,252,970 (USA) (8 July 2001)
$2,208,227 (USA) (1 July 2001)
$2,160,526 (USA) (24 June 2001)
$2,094,492 (USA) (17 June 2001)
$2,012,936 (USA) (10 June 2001)
$1,927,428 (USA) (3 June 2001)
$1,823,830 (USA) (27 May 2001)
$1,640,228 (USA) (20 May 2001)
$1,485,396 (USA) (13 May 2001)
$1,292,075 (USA) (6 May 2001)
$1,082,753 (USA) (29 April 2001)
$886,433 (USA) (22 April 2001)
$678,012 (USA) (15 April 2001)
$439,236 (USA) (8 April 2001)
$232,931 (USA) (1 April 2001)
$167,759 (USA) (25 March 2001)
$86,590 (USA) (18 March 2001)
£1,573,131 (UK) (17 June 2001)
£1,463,577 (UK) (10 June 2001)
£1,300,494 (UK) (3 June 2001)
£983,615 (UK) (27 May 2001)
£666,201 (UK) (20 May 2001)
£218,114 (UK) (13 May 2001)
AUD 11,182,359 (Australia) (14 December 2000)
AUD 17,900,000 (Australia)
€2,676 (Italy) (9 February 2003)
€132,907 (Spain) (31 August 2002)
ESP 12,587,614 (Spain) (30 June 2001)
Weekend Gross
$26,051 (USA) (8 July 2001) (22 Screens)
$26,797 (USA) (1 July 2001) (32 Screens)
$38,824 (USA) (24 June 2001) (39 Screens)
$55,733 (USA) (17 June 2001) (47 Screens)
$54,979 (USA) (10 June 2001) (53 Screens)
$78,175 (USA) (3 June 2001) (65 Screens)
$147,133 (USA) (27 May 2001) (59 Screens)
$108,126 (USA) (20 May 2001) (67 Screens)
$144,158 (USA) (13 May 2001) (80 Screens)
$161,102 (USA) (6 May 2001) (82 Screens)
$153,102 (USA) (29 April 2001) (60 Screens)
$152,467 (USA) (22 April 2001) (53 Screens)
$155,148 (USA) (15 April 2001) (50 Screens)
$191,833 (USA) (8 April 2001) (49 Screens)
$43,287 (USA) (1 April 2001) (6 Screens)
$53,287 (USA) (25 March 2001) (6 Screens)
$70,612 (USA) (18 March 2001) (6 Screens)
£60,697 (UK) (17 June 2001) (82 Screens)
£91,897 (UK) (10 June 2001) (115 Screens)
£149,924 (UK) (3 June 2001) (182 Screens)
£209,333 (UK) (27 May 2001) (210 Screens)
£271,370 (UK) (20 May 2001) (189 Screens)
£218,114 (UK) (13 May 2001) (187 Screens)
Admissions
29,347 (Spain) (31 August 2002)
15,924 (Spain) (30 June 2001)
Copyright Holder
The Dish Film Production Pty Ltd, 2000 (on print)
from imdb.com
http://imdb.com/title/tt0205873/maindetails
“The Dish” was conceived, developed, written and produced by Working Dog's Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy and Rob Sitch.
It is the second feature film from Working Dog, the acclaimed collective of filmmakers who crafted "The Castle," which earned 10 million at the box office within its first twenty weeks of release in 1997 and went on to become one of the most successful films in Australian history.
Biography for
Tom Gleisner
Wrote and performed in the 1985 Melbourne University Revue "Too Cool for Sandals", with Michael Veitch and Magda Szubanski amongst others.
For five years (1987-1991) wrote and performed on Melbourne radio's "D-Generation Breakfast Show" (EONfm/Triple M) with Tony Martin and Santo Cilauro, and later Michael Veitch, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Mick Molloy, Jason Stephens and Judith Lucy
Biography for
Santo Cilauro
Was (with Rob Sitch) one half of Melbourne radio's legendary "Graham & the Colonel" (debut: EONfm 19 May 1986)
For five years (1987-1991) wrote and performed on Melbourne radio's "D-Generation Breakfast Show" (EONfm/Triple M) with Tony Martin and Tom Gleisner, and later Michael Veitch, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Mick Molloy, Jason Stephens and Judith Lucy
Wrote and performed in the 1984 Melbourne University Revue "Let's Talk Backwards", with Rob Sitch, Marg Downey, Nicholas Bufalo and John Harrison.
Biography for
Rob Sitch
Wrote a column for BRW (Business Review Weekly) magazine for several years.
Former D-Generation Member
Is a qualified medical practitioner (graduate of the University of Melbourne).
Was (with Santo Cilauro) one half of Melbourne radio's legendary "Graham & the Colonel" (debut: EONfm 19 May 1986)
For three years (1989-1991) wrote and performed on Melbourne radio's "D-Generation Breakfast Show" (EONfm/Triple M) with Santo Cilauro, Tony Martin Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy, and later Mick Molloy, Jason Stephens and Judith Lucy
Wrote and performed in the 1984 Melbourne University Revue "Let's Talk Backwards", with Santo Cilauro, Marg Downey, Nicholas Bufalo and John Harrison.
Awards for
The Dish (2000)
ARIA Music Awards |
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ARIA Music Award |
Best Original Soundtrack Album |
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AFI Award |
Best Film |
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Best Original Music Score |
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FCCA Award |
Best Music Score |
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Best Screenplay - Original |
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FCCA Award |
Best Actor - Male |
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Best Cinematography |
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Best Director |
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Best Editing |
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Best Film |
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Best Supporting Actor - Female |
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Best Supporting Actor - Male |
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2nd place |
People's Choice Award |
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The official Dish website is made for the United States market: http://thedishmovie.warnerbros.com
“The Dish” DVD provides several interviews and commentaries on the film:
- The Dish: Getting It Ready
- Audio commentary by Rob Sitch and Santo Cilauro (Directing and Background Research details)
- Audio commentary by Jane Kennedy and Tom Gleisner (Casting and Music)
Interviews with the Working Dog team are also available through IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt0205873/maindetails
“The Dish” has a decent on-line presence in terms of external film reviews.
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/film/s213426.htm
http://www.popmatters.com/film/reviews/d/dish.shtml
review of The Dish by Mike Ward
link to interview with Rob Sitch, director of The Dish
link to review of The Dish by Cynthia Fuchs
http://www.boxoffice.com/scripts/fiw.dll?GetReview?&where=ID&terms=5124
Review by Francesca Dinglasan
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/01/12/dish.html
review by Mark Freeman
http://static.highbeam.com/v/variety/may012000/dogmoonsdishthedishislatestworkingdogfilmprojectbr/
Variety; May 01, 2000; WOODS, MARK
http://www.moviemarshal.com/rv-dish.html
Reviewed by Gary Stevens
Live from Down Under--Man on the Moon!
A Review by John Nesbit
12/25/2001
© Copyright CultureDose.net 12/25/2001
Andrew L. Urban Published: November 22, 2001 (imbd.com)
Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
It's a lovely, original, Australian take on a climactic moment usually thought of as all American.
Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan
Appropriate music, lovely cinematography and stellar performances by both a subtly moving Neill and a likable, barrel-chested super-American Warburton.
James Oliver (UK)
"...a near perfect antidote to the tide of hi-octane summer nonsense that will soon be clogging our screens..."
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
The kind of movie some audiences are starved for, a comedy with a human face, warmth and spirit.
The Dish: The Review
In July of 1969, Neil Armstrong took man’s first steps on the moon with the whole world watching. The Dish revisits one of the greatest events in history with another story of greatness that allowed for this world-changing event, all-be-it from the middle of a sheep paddock.
Parkes is a small country town in New South Wales, Australia, and is home to the southern hemisphere’s largest satellite dish at that time. The unassuming yet proud Parkes community is thrust onto the world stage when NASA designates the Parkes telescope as its main southern hemisphere contact with the eleventh Apollo moon mission. The town’s slightly larger-than-life characters are thrown into a frenzy led by their hapless Mayor (Roy Billing) in preparation for the impending visits of the American Ambassador and Prime Minister and ultimately the big day.
Parkes’ small team of scientists is suddenly responsible for televising the first moon walk to the world. Perfectly summed up by a local Parkes news reporter, “The Americans spent 10 years and billions of dollars to let us watch a man on the moon, and in the end it falls to you blokes.” They are lead by Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill), a dedicated mission controller and recent widower who provides a solid centre for the three engineers that overcome “fawltyness” at Parkes. Tom Long is wonderful as Glenn, Neill’s mathematically brilliant but romantically inept assistant and Kevin Harrington plays the hot-headed Ross “Mitch” Mitchell who struggles to come to terms with the NASA ‘intruder’ in their dish (played by Patrick Warburton).
There is a striking humanness about these scientists, and the richness of the supporting roles allows a certain warmth and affection to develop for the whole Parkes community; in spite of the shortcomings portrayed by each character it is in fact this genuineness and honesty that engages and humanises what may have seemed only a triumph of science.
The cinematography is beautiful, revealing the beauty of Australia in some of its best light, and capturing the grandness and greatness of the dish itself to the point that what could simply have been a piece of machinery is transformed into something graceful and with a sense of peacefulness about it. This is also much due to the brilliant and lush score composed by Edmond Choi, matching the enormity of the story that is being told as well as the enormity of the dish itself.
External reviews for “The Dish” were generally very positive, though there appeared to be two streams of thought. While some reviews were extremely complimentary (particularly in Australia) and understood the “Australianness” of the film, there were several reviews that felt the movie was all too basic, predictable and “nothing”. From overseas and the States in particular there were a some very disappointing reviews, finding the “cookie-cutter” characters stereotypical and without substance, and the plot slow, thin “as sliced prociutto” and without any “real” action. It was disheartening to find that there were some who simply did not understand the “point” of this film; it was not supposed to be an action film and the characters were in fact richer and deeper than most. The reason for this inaccurate sense of the film then, I suspect, is for the same reason that Glenn needed to translate for Al what a “pack of galahs” meant; the cultural barriers represented on screen are in fact very real and still in existence, and perhaps an unfortunate reason why some Australian films still struggle when screened overseas. One review in particular, by Paul Clinton of the CNN Reviewer, comments that “most of the film’s actors are from Australia”. This total failure to recognise that in fact there is an entire Australian film industry and that this was in fact an Australian film made by an Australian production crew simply goes to the heart of the matter.
On the flip-side of these reviews, “The Dish” was also received with much praise. The humanness and the sense of character gained were attributed both to fantastic acting and a thorough and cohesive production team (Working Dog). The film was praised for its real sense of history, impeccable cinematography and editing and wonderful music score.
Working Dog shot most of the “location” shots during pre-production, and an incredible amount of research went into the film, down to whether there was aluminium foil in 1969 (for the scene in the school classroom with their alfoil “moons”) and to the last doorknob in the dish control room. Scientists from NASA made sure that the mathematical numbers were accurate, and technicians taught Rob Sitch to use and move the dish. Experts from all areas worked and the production team immersed themselves in the world of the dish, listening to the seven days of communication between Houston and Neil Armstrong. The pre-production was intense and they plotted every camera movement and shot of every scene. By the time it came to film, it was really only a matter of having realistic performances. The film was shot at around the same time of year that the actual event took place. To make the most of natural light filming took place in the early and late hours of the day and shooting days totaled near four weeks.
Casting was not something that Working Dog had in mind during the time that they were writing the script, but as the script was receiving its final touches the creative team had a pretty clear idea of who they wanted to play each character. And every one of those actors are in the film, such was the reputation of Working Dog and the calibre of the script. Sam Neill is a highly acclaimed and honoured actor and agreed to play Cliff Buxton almost immediately after reading the script. The cast is bursting with high calibre Australian actors known for their roles in various television shows and films. In particular, Sam Neill, Tom Long and Kevin Harrington are complemented beautifully by Partick Warburton, an American comedian best known for his role on Seinfeld. The casting team had no doubt that Warburton would excel in his role, because comedians have the ability to remain completely focused and immersed in their act.
“The Dish” is the second feature film from Working Dog, who also crafted "The Castle" which earned $10 million at the box office within its first twenty weeks of release in 1997 and went on to become one of the most successful films in Australian history. The Working Dog team have a long history together both writing/directing/producing and as fellow actors and comedians on radio and television.
The film’s incredible reception in Australia at the box office indicates that Working Dog have “hit the mark” in terms of re-presenting to Australia a small piece of our history and blatantly showcasing our national identity and Australianness. The film’s comic nature hit on a particularly Australian sense of humour which carried much of the film. A fondness for home-based talent would also have seen a slightly larger affection for the characters develop in Australian audiences, who would also have appreciated the trueness of the individual characters and their function within the Parkes community. “The Dish” is warm and full of human, genuine moments; characters’ shortcomings are easily overlooked by the audience because there is no attempt to conceal them. This embodies what Australians like to think of as Australianness. There are themes of mateship, rivalry, triumph (over America) and an awkward romance, laced together by a plethora of hearty characters with a dry sense of humour and some drama.
“The Dish” moves away from the comedy found in “The Castle” and finds its comedy in the subtlety of its characters and narrative. There is more focus on the characters themselves and their own smaller story, in contrast to the blatant fun-making of its predecessor. This film relates a global event to the relatively insignificant world of the Parkes community and projects their lives onto the world stage. “The Dish” is a little more sensitive, and a little more dramatic, and ultimately represents the human race and humanness at its greatest.