Agencies call for flexibility and transparency
In their joint review submission to government, the state agencies called for a more flexible production incentive scheme, including the test for theatrical exhibition for features, and a new 10 percent offset for TV shows beyond their 65th episode.
Calling themselves The State and Territory Screen Agency Forum, they have also requested a reduction on the QAPE threshold for the PDV offset and the producer offset (feature and documentary) and the increase of the PDV and location incentives to 30 percent.
The Forum was formed by Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, Screen ACT, Film Victoria, Screen Tasmania, South Australian Film Corporation, ScreenWest and the Northern Territory Film Office.
These are their 15 recommendations – many of them similar to those submitted by the Screen Producers Association of Australia.
1. Reduce the feature QAPE threshold to $500,000.
2. Ensure that the theatrical exhibition test for feature films is flexible, to accommodate innovative distribution arrangements.
3. Increase the Producer Offset for documentaries (single episode and series) to 30 percent.
4. Reduce the documentary QAPE threshold to $125,000 per hour.
5. Increase the above-the-line cap for single episode documentaries to 30 percent, or $200,000, whichever is the lesser.
6. Introduce a 10 percent Offset for television episodes 66 to 130.
7. Replace the 65 episode limit for children’s programming with a limit of 65 hours of programming.
8. Increase the PDV offset to 30 percent and reduce the PDV QAPE threshold to $500,000.
9. Increase the Location Offset to 30 percent and remove the 70 percent minimum Australian budget expenditure requirement.
10. Include insurance and completion costs in allowable QAPE expenditure.
11. A consistent administration of the Australian Screen Production Incentive scheme.
12. Development of industry/agency strategies aimed at supporting producers’ interests – such as benchmarking deal terms.
13. Reduction of cost impositions on producers.
14. Improved access to information about the outcomes of the ASPI scheme.
15. Creation of an industry-government working party to examine possible offset treatment for digital media forms.
The full document can be consulted here.
