Industry welcomes production boost in NSW, Victoria.

Good news this past week for production in New South Wales and Victoria.

Screen NSW has announced $175m over 5 years for the Made in NSW production fund, while Film Victoria has announced $33.8 million for international and local projects.

Victoria

With cameras rolling again around Victoria, the Victorian Government will provide a major financial boost to ensure the screen industry is ready to capitalise on the huge global demand for content, backing thousands of local jobs.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson has announced a record investment of $33.8 million in Victorian screen productions and programs, to allow more international and local projects to be to be made in Victoria, with the vast majority of the fund to be committed this financial year.

This includes international film Blacklight, which started shooting in Melbourne this week. The feature starring Liam Neeson is one of a number of productions currently shooting in Victoria which are all adhering to strict COVIDSafe protocols. Blacklight will employ 340 local crew, more than 825 casuals, cast and extras, 50 local post-production, digital and visual effects professionals and support 30 Victorian businesses ranging from catering to transport.

The Victorian Labor Government’s investment will back employment-boosting international projects like Blacklight and locally-created content, screen industry projects and talent development initiatives.

There will be $4.7 million for the development and production of local content across film, television, online and digital games and $8.6 million to continue Film Victoria’s successful local production investment and industry and skills development programs. More than half of the investment will be allocated in the current financial year, providing significant immediate job stimulus. Film Victoria’s investment in the development of locally generated digital games will double.

Some $19.2 million will be allocated to attract international and interstate screen projects through a new Victorian Screen Incentive. This incentive will target physical productions, visual effects, animation, post-production and, for the first time, digital games projects.

As Docklands Studios Melbourne prepares to break ground on its $46 million sixth sound stage, $1.3 million will be allocated to create a trade and technical hub close to the studios for screen crews and support businesses.

While this package is focused on immediate recovery, work is also under way on a five-year Victorian Government Screen Industry Strategy which will guide investment and opportunities in the longer term.

Minster for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said, “This will support thousands of jobs in an industry that’s been hit hard by the pandemic – and create a pipeline of work for the future.”

Film Victoria Chief Executive Officer Caroline Pitcher, “This crucial support signals the value of our local screen industry to the economy and is a critical part of the state’s commitment to creativity and digital innovation.”

New South Wales

The NSW economy will be boosted and jobs created with $175 million for screen production through the Made in NSW fund under a landmark announcement made by the NSW Government today.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the successful Made in NSW program will support high-end screen production in NSW, creating jobs, providing new opportunities for communities in Western Sydney and regional NSW, and significantly contributing to the State’s economy.

“Made in NSW has injected more than $900 million into the NSW economy through local production since 2016, and supported more than 26,000 jobs on international productions and local TV drama series.

“Our strong and continued investment means we are in a position to attract and retain the best productions so we can maintain a vibrant, thriving film industry here in NSW.

“As the country’s engine-room for screen production with 56 per cent of the Australian screen industry employed in NSW, a significant amount of work is stimulated for trades, hospitality, transport, crew and other production services.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, screen production is exceptionally well placed to contribute to our economic recovery, and it’s lights, camera, action for jobs in our great state,” Mr Perrottet said.

Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin said NSW competes globally to attract large-scale screen projects, and as a world-class destination for film and television, the funding will position the State to continue to attract even more productions.

“Among the large-scale international productions secured for NSW are Marvel movies, Thor: Love and Thunder and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which between them will support over 2,500 jobs and inject more than $250 million into the State’s economy.

“We have world-class crews and production facilities, extraordinary talent, and unique scenery across the state that can double for locations across the United States, UK, Asia, Europe and the Middle East,” said Mr Harwin.

“NSW really is the place for every story, and we are open for business.”

The fund will be managed by Screen NSW to attract international film and television production and support major Australian TV drama and new feature films.

Screen Producers Australia:

Screen Producers Australia today warmly welcomed the recent announcements from the New South Wales and Victorian Governments of additional funding for screen production.

The NSW Government has announced an additional $35 million investment per year over 5 years in the successful Made in NSW fund to boost investment and jobs on local and international screen production.

The Victorian Government has announced an additional $33.8 million for international and local projects to help revitalise the industry as the state re-opens and screen production activity restarts, with the majority to be committed in this financial year.

“The supports announced by the Victorian and NSW Governments are outstanding initiatives and will build on both Governments’ long histories of assisting and nurturing a vibrant and productive local screen sector,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

“The additional funding comes at a crucial time for the industry as it adapts to COVID-normal and will capitalise on the screen sector’s capacity to contribute to our broader economic recovery,” said Deaner.

“We look forward to continuing our strong partnerships with Screen NSW and Film Victoria in the roll out of this funding and are excited by the great stories this funding will deliver,” said Deaner.