Madman Paul Kelly doco takes $118,000 at box office
A documentary about one of Australia’s leading singer-songwriters has entered the Australian limited release box office top 20 at number one over the weekend.
Paul Kelly: Stories of Me, distributed by Madman Entertainment and directed by Ian Darling, took $118,344 across just two screens for a $59,172 average, according to Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
Madman Entertainment is touring the film across Australia’s capital cities Kelly performing a couple of songs before a Q&A with both singer and director.
The $118,000 came from Brisbane’s QPAC Concert Hall on Thursday followed by Sydney’s State Theatre on Saturday night with tickets approximately $44, three times that of a normal box office ticket.
Over the next two weeks, the film, artist and director will tour to Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on October 25, Perth’s Astor Theatre on October 27, Canberra Theatre on November 2 and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on November 3.
The film will also see a national theatrical release from tomorrow.
Madman MD Paul Wiegard said of the event screening: “The response to the event screenings has been stunning. The tour virtually selling out before the first screening is a testament to the talent involved and initial critical response.”
The film’s director Ian Darling said: “When we embarked on this film project we wanted to create an intimate portrait about this remarkable Australian artist, that would entertain, educate and engage audiences across the country. To see audiences singing and crying in their seats and connecting with the film at every level is truly satisfying.”
Madman initially toured Storm Surfers 3D in a similar way, with Q&As with the surfers and key film crew before going into general release.
The film had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Elsewhere in new releases, Paranormal Activity 4, distributed y Paramount, topped the box office with $3.56m across 321 screens for an $11,092 screen average.
Oliver Stone’s Savages, distributed by Universal, took 960,500 across 201 screens for a $4,779 screen average.
Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love, distributed by Hopscotch took $430,000 across 83 screens for a $5,182 screen average.
PJ Hogan’s Mental led the other Australian films in the theatres. The Universal-distributed film took $376,600 across 241 screens for a $1,563 screen average. The film, in its third week, has taken to date $3.463m.
The Sapphires added another $78,600 across 69 screens for Hopscotch. The film’s taking now stand at $14,115,000.
Comedy The Wedding Party, distributed by Label, added $7,663 across eight screens taking the film in its second release to $162,905.
Lore took $7134 for distributor Transmission across 11 screens taking the film to $284,000.
Storm Surfers 3D added another $6,753 across seven screens, taking the film to $653,600.
Paul Kelly is a national treasure.
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