F.Y.I.

Angelina Jolie to direct new film Unbroken in NSW

NSW is set to play host to another Hollywood director with Angelina Jolie set to direct her film Unbroken in the state.

The NSW Deputy Premier and minister for trade and investment Andrew Stoner made the announcement, saying the production will film in NSW with scenes to be shot in both Sydney and regional NSW.

“Securing production of Unbroken in NSW will inject millions of dollars into the state’s economy and is expected to create more than 300 jobs for NSW-based crew alone, and more for cast and extras,” Stoner said.

“This great news confirms NSW’s international status as Australia’s premier location for large-scale film production and demonstrates the world class standards of our film production industry.”

The NSW government expects some of the visual effects work for the film to also be undertaken by NSW companies.

Stoner said: “NSW is known for its leading edge creative and digital skills and technology. This was another significant factor in attracting Unbroken to the state.”

Mr Stoner said Screen NSW worked hard to bring the production to the state against strong competition from other possible locations around the world.

“Securing this production for NSW demonstrates the competitiveness of doing business here,” he said.

The latest ASB figures for the Film, Television and Digital Games sector shows that NSW continues to dominate in this sector, with nearly 60 per cent of all people employed nationally in production and post-production businesses based n NSW.

“This will be a great boost for our digital economy and creative industries, as well as our international reputation,” Stoner said.

Production and post-production businesses located in NSW made a total income of more than $1.58 billion in 2011-12.

The film, based on the best-selling book by Laura Hillenbrand, is Angelina Jolie’s second directorial foray after the Golden Globe nominated In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Unbroken follows the life story of Olympian and war hero, Louis Zamperini, who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a rafter for 47 days after a plane crash in WWII , only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

The film stars Jack O’Connell (300: Rise of an Empire) as Louis Zamperini as well as Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy), Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and Finn Wittrock (All My Children).

NSW minister for the arts George Souris said: “I am pleased that Regional NSW will benefit with new jobs to be created and economic activity expected to increase in the towns where filming is taking place.”

Unbroken follows the footsteps of The Wolverine, The Great Gatsby and Lego which were all produced in NSW.

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