NSW Government sinks $2m into local film and TV to boost economy
New South Wales’ State Government is set to invest $2 million in the production of 16 new local film and TV productions, which will inject $35 million into the State’s economy.
The announcement:
Boom times in the NSW screen industry are set to continue with 16 new local film and television productions to call ‘action’, including a television remake of the classic Australian film Wake in Fright and feature film Cargo starring The Hobbit’s Martin Freeman.
The NSW Government has invested over $2 million to secure four new feature films, four television drama series and four factual TV series, as well as several one-off documentaries, a web series and an innovative multiplatform project.
The productions will create 1080 new highly-skilled screen jobs and generate a direct production spend of almost $35 million all in NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant said our new $20 million Made in NSW Fund combined with existing production investment funds means NSW is now hosting everything from international block busters to locally inspired independent films.
“I am delighted that the television mini-series Wake In Fright, directed by Red Dog director Kriv Stenders, and shot in Broken Hill, is the first local production to be supported under the Government’s new Made in NSW Fund,” Mr Grant said.
“The other 15 productions are being supported through the Government’s Film Production Finance Fund which can now support many more local film and television productions because funds have been freed-up by the Made in NSW Fund.
“These productions are in addition to previously supported productions like Doctor, Doctor which was filmed in Mudgee and is to premiere on Channel Nine next week.”
Minister for Skills John Barilaro said filmmakers continue to back regional NSW locations, bringing skilled work and economic stimulus to small towns.
“The buzz a film or television shoot brings to a town during a production is fantastic but it’s the lasting benefits of skilled workers, economic activity and tourism that matters most for regional NSW.”
Such largesse!
$2m spread across 16 productions. That’s $125k to each production. And with a direct production spend of $35m that is $2.188m per production which will buy you a few episodes of A Place To Call Home
Or spread across 1,080 highly-skilled screen jobs is $1,850 per person – that may cover almost a week’s wages.
Though I suppose Gladys will get a chunk back with payroll tax on the new productions.
I suppose getting anything into production is better than nothing, but $125k to each production is not going to ignite the local production industry and have out-of-work writers, actors, directors, producers and crews fully and gainfully employed for long.
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