IN GREAT NEWS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN SCREEN SECTOR, AUSFILM COMMENDS THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR THREE OFFSHORE PRODUCTIONS TO FILM IN QUEENSLAND, NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA.
Announced earlier this week, Netflix sci-fi feature film Escape from Spiderhead starring Australia’s own Chris Hemsworth is shooting on the Gold Coast, Queensland; New South Wales prepares for the arrival of Netflix series Pieces of Her starring Academy Award-nominated Australian actress Toni Collette and executive produced by Australian powerhouse producer Bruna Papandrea from Made Up Stories; and action-feature Blacklight starring everyone’s favourite hero Liam Neeson is blasting off in Melbourne, Victoria.
The productions are made possible thanks to the Australian Government’s AU$400 million Location Incentive grant program, with support from three Australian State Governments.
Australian Government Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon. Paul Fletcher, who’s department administers the Location Offset and Location Incentive grant, said the two Netflix projects will inject around AU$160 million into the economy and create 770 local jobs: “These jobs will be in many different areas – from carpenters, lighting technicians and set designers to actors, crews and special effects teams.”
The Australian and Victorian Governments are also supporting the Victorian production Blacklight, which is expected to employ 340 local crew, more than 825 casuals, cast and extras, 50 local post-production, digital and VFX professionals and support 30 Victorian businesses ranging from catering to transport.
Ausfilm CEO, Kate Marks says the Federal and State Government’s continued support is vital to remain globally competitive to attract international work, saying “it provides a much needed job boost to Australians and Australian businesses who work on international film and TV productions”.
“This investment demonstrates that if you have a globally competitive incentive international productions will invest heavily into Australia’s screen industry which then flows into other businesses outside of film and TV. It provides an excellent training ground for future Australian filmmakers, cast, crew, post and VFX businesses.” This says Kate Marks “sets Australia up for long-term, sustainable production from international territories for years to come.”
Want to discuss the Location Offset & Incentive grant program?
Contact Ausfilm’s EVP of International Production, Erin Stam.
Read Minister Fletcher’s Media Release.
Escape from Spiderhead filming in Queensland
THANKS TO PRODUCTION ATTRACTION INCENTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE QUEENSLAND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, ESCAPE FROM SPIDERHEAD WILL BE FILMED IN QUEENSLAND AND DIRECTED BY JOSEPH KOSINSKI (TOP GUN: MAVERICK, ONLY THE BRAVE, OBLIVION, TRON: LEGACY).
The production is set to employ 360 local cast and crew and pump around AU$47 million into the Queensland’s economy to further the states economic recovery efforts. Production will be filmed at the Gold Coast Convention Centre and commences in November 2020.
Adapted from a George Saunders short story and set in a near future where convicts opt to reduce prison time by participating in experimental drug trials, Escape from Spiderhead centres on an inmate (Chris Hemsworth) who tries to out-smart his overseers to save himself and the female inmate (Jurnee Smollett) he’s come to love.
Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk said: “Escape from Spiderhead will give a great boost to the local economy. We’re working hard to secure productions like this for the Gold Coast because we know they create local jobs and pump cash into local businesses,”
“What we offer is a winning combination of local talent and expertise, a wide spectrum of locations, competitive incentives and first-rate safety, and our project pipeline keeps on growing as a result,”
Kylie Munnich, Screen Queensland CEO
For location, studio, crew, talent and screen incentives information contact:
Screen Queensland
Gina Black
EVP Production Incentives & Attraction
[email protected]
Read Screen Queensland’s Media Release.
NETFLIX’S PIECES OF HER FILMING IN NEW SOUTH WALES
NETFLIX’S PIECES OF HER WILL BE FILMED IN NSW, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NSW GOVERNMENT’S MADE IN NSW FUND AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S LOCATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
The eight-episode series will commence filming in Western Sydney, in New South Wales, in January.
Pieces of Her, starring Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Toni Collette and acclaimed actor David Wenham, is set in a sleepy Georgia town where a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events. Australian Bruna Papandrea (Wild, Big Little Lies, The Undoing) is executive producing the series. Pieces of Her is based on New York Times bestselling thriller from internationally renowned crime author Karin Slaughter and published by William Morrow.
NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin said securing the Netflix adaptation of New York Times bestselling thriller from renowned author Karin Slaughter was a huge win for the NSW screen industry.
“Through the NSW Government’s Made in NSW fund, and with our successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic, NSW is a highly attractive place to film. We are sending a clear message that we are open for business, a safe location to film, and keen to welcome great opportunities to the state.”
“Screen NSW is thrilled to welcome another major international production to NSW through our Made in NSW fund. Netflix’s Pieces of Her will deliver over 400 local jobs and inject an estimated AU$58 million into the NSW economy. This is a result of the screen sector working tirelessly to ensure COVID-safe precautions are in place to continue production, and will provide even more opportunities for the local industry. The new series will join a list of exciting television and film productions supported by the AU$175 million Made in NSW fund to be delivered by Screen NSW over the next five years.”
Grainne Brunsdon, Head of Screen NSW
For location, studio, crew, talent and screen incentives information contact:
Screen NSW
Matt Carroll
Senior Manager, Screen Destination Attraction
Production Attraction & Incentives
[email protected]
Read the Screen NSW Media Release.
BLACKLIGHT FILMING IN VICTORIA
HOLLYWOOD ACTION MOVIE BLACKLIGHT SECURED TO FILM IN MELBOURNE AND REGIONAL VICTORIA THROUGH FILM VICTORIA‘S INCENTIVES PROGRAM AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S LOCATION OFFSET AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
The Australian Government will contribute AU$5.8 million to the production from the Location Incentive grant program. The production is expected to 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 AU$43 million action-feature Blacklight starring Liam Neeson will be the first film to use the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as a studio, while Dockland’s Studios Melbourne hosts other productions.
The film is written, directed and produced by Ozark co-creator Mark Williams, is a thriller about a troubled off-the-books fixer for the FBI, tasked with pulling undercover agents out of dangerous situations who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that goes right to the top.
“The new Victorian Screen Incentive provides even greater support to international productions looking to shoot across Victoria’s breathtaking locations and to work with our world-class talent and crew. We are delighted to welcome our latest major production Blacklight to Melbourne and look forward to welcoming future productions to the state.”
Caroline Pitcher, Film Victoria Chief Executive
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 recently announced a record investment of AU$33.8 million through the Victorian Screen Incentive administered by Film Victoria, to allow more international and local projects to be made in Victoria.
For location, studio, crew, talent and screen incentives information contact:
Film Victoria
Joe Brinkmann
Manager, Production Attraction and Support
[email protected]
Read Minister Fletcher’s Press Release.
Toni Collette and Liam Neeson photos courtesy of Lev Radin. Chris Hemsworth photo courtesy of Marvel Studios.