Hollywood Productions: Australia’s Latest Claim to Fame

December 28, 2015

Unlocking Word Meanings
 今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. ideal /aɪˈdi əl/ (adj.) – best or excellent
Example: Celebrities seem to live ideal lifestyles.

2. film /fɪlm/ (v.) – to record with a video camera
Example: A short commercial was filmed in the mall.

3. screenplay /ˈskrinˌpleɪ/ (n.) – a movie’s script that includes instructions for actors and directors
Example: The author of the book was asked to write the screenplay for the movie version.

4. departure /dɪˈpɑr tʃər/ (n.) – a change or turning away from what is standard
Example: His books were a departure from typical romance novels.

5. claim to fame /kleɪm tə feɪm/ (idiom.) – the reason for a person or place being famous
Example: Her claim to fame is an appearance in a drama movie last year.


Article
 ニュース記事

Read the text below.
Australia is being noticed as an ideal place for Hollywood productions.

The Land Down Under is recently becoming popular for Hollywood movies. Among the movies that were filmed there are Crocodile Dundee (1986), Street Fighter (1994), Peter Pan (2003), and San Andreas (2015).

Earlier this year, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, finished filming in Queensland, Australia. Three more are expected to be filmed next year: the latest installment in Ridley Scott's Alien series, Marvel’s third Thor film, and Kong: Skull Island.

Filming for the latest King Kong movie will take place at Village Roadshow Studios at Oxenford, near the Gold Coast, and all throughout southeast Queensland. This movie will star John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson and will be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts [JAWR-dn voht ROB-erts]. Its screenplay will be written by Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly, John Gatins, and Dan Gilroy.

As a departure from previous remakes which focus on the title character's violence in New York City, the latest remake will focus on the origins of the monster gorilla. Reportedly, filming it will create 60 local jobs in Australia and will cost AU$15 million.  

As the filming of Kong: Skull Island demonstrates, big-budget Hollywood productions in Australia benefit the country in three ways. First, they are a new source of cash. Second, they create new jobs and opportunities. Third, they improve the reputation of the country in film production.

Screen Queensland's head Tracey Vieira said that the latest King Kong production will attract international attention, securing Australia’s recent claim to fame as an ideal place for Hollywood movies.

Viewpoint Discussion
 ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What Hollywood movies have been filmed in your country? Enumerate and describe.
·         Would you like more Hollywood movies to be filmed in your country in the future? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What do you think the world would be like if movies didn’t exist? Please elaborate.
·         Given the chance, what kind of movie would you want to make? Please explain your answer.

December 28, 2015