PAPER GIANTS: MAGAZINE WARS
Australia, 2013, 180 minutes, Colour.
Mandy Mc Elhinny, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Carlton, Mark Lee, Angus Sampson, Lucy Bell, Khan Chittenden, Caren Pistorius, William Zappa.
Directed by Daina Reid.
1. The background of the 1990s? The collage of the politics, social events, personalities?
2. The achievement of Dulcie Boling, her ideals, the changing of New Idea, the issue of tapes, the Camilla tapes, her reluctance to publish them, yet business and circulation? Peter, his support, his advice, his attempts to get the tapes? Timing? His resignation? Dulcie and her meeting with Rupert Murdoch, his associates, the discussion about board membership? Murdoch and his consent for the publication of the tapes? Her being put on the board? The news of her divorce? Her farewell, walking through the printing area, the workers and the tribute to her? At home, united with her daughters?
3. Nene and her success and achievement? Kerry Packer bringing in the American financial supervisor, Al Dunlap, his takeover of practical issues, Nene’s meetings with him, dislike, the issue of bills, cost-cutting, she and Richard Walsh and creative accounting? Her wanting to do deals to get photos and tapes, cash, her decision to turn down the tapes of Diana? Going to Thailand, the marriage to Patrick, the ritual and ceremony, her missing out on the tapes and her anger? The Camilla tapes? Her reactions, firing of people and then changing her mind? The rivalry of the new magazine, the clash with the editor at meetings? Her being in charge of the Women’s Weekly, her friendship with Susan, the job, their initial clash, her wanting to reshape the Women’s Weekly? Her personal life, her relationship with Patrick, his disappearance, going to the water, watching the rescue boats, her grief?
4. Patrick and his devotion to Nene, his health, taking up scuba diving, the accident and his being upset, the final dive and his disappearance?
5. Richard Walsh, his character, working with Kerry Packer and, working with Nene, behind the scenes?
6. Nick, his relationships, the British man coming to Melbourne, going on the town, the gay club? The AIDS test? His telling Beth, her clean bill of health, his not getting the clean bill? Going to the UK, deciding to do more up-market work, yet his skill in getting the popular stories? The return home, the sick boy, taking the photos, his revulsion, smashing the camera?
7. Beth, her work, ambition, missing out on coups, Nene firing her, re-instated, the relationship with Nick, her regrets, the photo of the sick boy, Nick’s reaction? Her being asked about her future, wanting to be an editor?
8. The final glimpses of Kerry Packer, getting older, after his heart trouble, changing, bringing in the American, continue to gamble, concerns about circulation, coping, the relationship with Nene?
9. Jamie Packer, standing by his father, his father’s affection for him, Nene and advising him to call himself James?
10. The Packer empire, the experiment with the magazines, achievement? The changes in the 21st century looking back on the achievements of the 20th?
