Activity Report: Tiger on the Rocks – Bower Bird Films 2.12.2024
Director Cathryn Vasseleu / Producer Pat Fiske
Previous reports cover activity from March 1 2022 (release date) to October 2022 (TigerOnTheRocks_activity report_25102022), and November 2022 to December 2023 (TigerOnTheRocks_activity report_2023).
BROADCAST ¬– AUSTRALIA
Having purchased Tiger on the Rocks in August 2023 for broadcast on SBS and NITV, SBS broadcast Tiger on the Rocks on SBS (Ch 3, 30) on Friday 5 January, 2024 at 7.30 pm, and again on Sunday 1 December 2024 at 9.20pm. Since its first broadcast Tiger on the Rocks has streamed on SBS On Demand, where it is still available.
CULTURAL EVENT – ACT
Tiger on the Rocks screened at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on 8 August, 2024, in the museum’s monthly Spotlight Conversations series. Initiated by Jessi England (Head, Programs Public Engagement and Digital) and produced by Kyra Scott (Program Coordinator, Programs – Public Engagement), ‘Spirit of the Thylacine’ featured Tiger on the Rocks and the work of pakana artist Vicki West from lutruwita/Tasmania. The sold-out evening event comprised a talk, film screening and Q&A. As an added bonus, members of the audience were able to come early and visit the museum’s magnificent Great Southern Land gallery after closing time to view material about the Thylacine, including a preserved specimen, and litter (2019), a trio of sculptures of thylacine joeys created by Vicki West for the gallery.
Dr Martha Sear, senior curator (who led the curatorial team that developed the Great Southern Land gallery) introduced and facilitated the talk and Q&A with panelists Vicki West and us, Cathryn Vasseleu (director) and Pat Fiske OAM (producer) of Tiger on the Rocks. Following the event the museum conducted an audience survey. In response to the question: “What did you like best about Spotlight Conversations: Spirit of the Thylacine?” numerous people said that they thought the film was amazing/stunning/informative and that they learned a lot. Another audience member contributed a detailed comment:
“Bringing together the natural history of Australia (and Sahul), with the climatological, palaeontology of the thylacine species discoveries to 26 million years ago to the relative present extinction events. More importantly, demonstrating the cultural and in-depth spiritual connections of the thylacine to first Australian groups throughout the continent.”
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Spotlight Conversations: Spirit of the Thylacine, National Museum of Australia, 8 August 2024
L>R: Martha Sear, Vicki West, Cathryn Vasseleu, Pat Fiske. Photo: Kyra Scott
WEBSITE – TIGER ON THE ROCKS
In January 2024, ahead of the broadcast premiere on SBS, we launched a website for the film, www.tigerontherocks.com, designed by Morgan Richards/The Design Embassy.
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Tiger on the Rocks website, homepage: www.tigerontherocks.com
DISTRIBUTION – INTERNATIONAL
Abacus Media Rights (which acquired Flame Distribution, our original international distributor in 2022) was acquired by Sphere Media Productions in 2024, which now distributes the film internationally (excluding Australia).
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Spotlight Conversations: Spirit of the Thylacine, National Museum of Australia, 8 August 2024
Photo: Kyra Scott
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