Archive for the ‘Australia/New Zealand Industry News’ Category
Pact with South Australia in range of areas
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News, India Industry News on September 8th, 2010
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article617874.ece
Full-fledged representative office opened in Chennai
South Australia is on an exploratory arc to forge partnerships with Tamil Nadu in emerging areas of common interest ranging across renewable energy, education, water management and film production.
Apart from inking an agreement on sister State status with Tamil Nadu on Monday, South Australia opened a full-fledged representative office in Chennai. South Australia’s Water Industry Alliance and the Jaipur-based CII Water Institute of the Confederation of Indian Industry also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on water-related research, optimal resource management and technology transfer.
“There is a great deal of complementarity in relations with Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai,” said South Australia Premier Mike Rann, who has led a trade delegation here.
It was important for bilateral ties to be as mutually educative as they were mutually rewarding, Mr. Rann said. Rather than a coincidence, South Australia’s choice of Chennai as the hub of its plans for India was a carefully considered decision. “Almost six years ago we decided to set base in Chennai and now I believe we made the right decision,” he said.
Renewable energy
On the potential for collaboration in renewable energy, Mr. Rann pointed out that while South Australia accounted for 50 per cent of the country’s renewable energy (wind) portfolio, Tamil Nadu contributed 55 per cent of the State’s renewable energy generation. By 2020, South Australia aspired to raise the share of wind power to 33 per cent of the energy portfolio.
There was also scope for collaboration in film-making, particularly given Australia’s expertise in special effects and post-production, Mr. Rann said.
According to Mr. Rann, South Australia is also in the process of leveraging new discoveries of rich mineral deposits. The number of mines had tripled from four about five years ago and was expected to quadruple soon. In addition, some 30 new mines under exploration were estimated to have some of the world’s biggest deposits of uranium, copper and gold.
Earlier, addressing a meeting hosted by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Rann said that while mining would play a dominant role in South Australia’s future relationship with India, he would like the Indian involvement to step beyond mineral imports to feature joint ventures in developing the mining infrastructure.
Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner in India, said the opportunities for Government-to-Government ties would vastly increase with the firming up of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries which could be expected by year-end or early next year. He pointed out that an FTA was projected to add about 30 billion Australian dollars in trade volume terms over the next couple of decades.
The High Commissioner stressed the need to diversify the bilateral relationship beyond energy and commodities that have dictated trade and for scaling up people-to-people connections in order to “update the image that one had of the other”.
The India-Australia relationship had to be contextualised in a long-term framework and the “headline story” of this was that interests were converging in a way that never happened before, Mr. Varghese said.
Super fund to help out film, TV
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News, State/Government Production Incentive News on July 4th, 2010
- From: The Australian
INDUSTRY super fund Media Super will provide a $20 million revolving credit loan facility to cash-flow the contentious producer offset.
“This is a big vote of confidence in the sector and in the viability of the film and television industry,” said producer Emile Sherman, whose Fulcrum group of companies will facilitate the finance through a special purpose vehicle with Media Super.
One of the key issues the film and TV sector has had with the offset is finding the money to fill the 40 per cent of the budget before the government refunds that rebate at the end of the project (the government essentially provides 40 per cent of a film’s budget — or 20 per cent for TV — for qualifying productions under the financing scheme).
Financiers have been wary of providing the funds to producers, or have done so at restrictive interest rates, despite the assurance of the government rebate.
“For us it marks a very significant moment for Australian film and TV in that a blue-chip financial service is coming in to support the sector,” said Sherman.
“We’ve spent a lot of time giving them comfort in the industry and for them to come in and in some ways legitimise the producer offset will hopefully spark a beginning of maturation of the industry.”
Fulcrum has previously supplied limited producer offset cashflow to productions but Sherman said this deal enabled it “to go to the next level” and use some resources on other areas, including bridging finance and cashflow for presales.
Media Super’s debt facility is secured primarily by the producer offset, so it is not dependent on the success of projects. Fulcrum will not make creative judgments on the suitability of projects, either.
“But for Media Super to feel comfortable, they have to feel this is not a risk proposition, so the returns are commercial but not onerous,” said Sherman.
He added that finding capital for the film industry had been onerous as the corporate sector was nervous about dealing with the film world, particularly after the free-wheeling days of the 10BA tax incentive.
Sherman said this facility now had enough money to be able to represent most of the production in Australia and New Zealand.
“There’s now absolutely no shortage of finance to cash-flow the producer offset in this country at reasonable cost,” he said.
Xingwana signs a film coproduction treaty with Australia
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Australia/New Zealand Industry News on June 20th, 2010
http://www.webnewswire.com/node/544861
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulama Xingwana signed a film coproduction treaty with the Australian Minister of Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Sports, Ms Kate Ellis in Pretoria today.
The purpose of the treaty is to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the area of film.
The treaty will assist generate the much-needed resources from both countries. It offers film makers, actors, distributors and marketers from both countries to access benefits such as subsidies, tax incentives, co-productions and other financial benefits allowed by the two countries or national funding institutions.
In this way the co-producing countries are able to share the risks and costs of productions, whilst increasing the output of high quality films.
It will also facilitate the cultural, creative and economic exchanges between the two countries. Such exchanges contribute to the enhancement of relations between the two countries.
In addition to financial benefits, film provides invaluable opportunities for the development of a vibrant civil society mobilise political and social change and unlock the potential of the tourism industry by marketing the country abroad while educating its own citizens.
As South Africa, we know that the Australians will benefit a lot from our scenery and natural landscape which has already proved to be popular with film makers.
Our country has already been a location for many successful international films such as Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamonds, Invictus, etc.
Our own film industry has also been very successful in recent years despite the fact that our film makers work with small budgets. We are proud of achievements of films such as Tsotsi, Jerusalema and many others, said Xingwana.
The National Film and Video Foundation will continue to facilitate funding and the general conducive environment for our local industry.
Government will continue to support this important vehicle for our nation to tell its stories and preserve its culture. We value the importance of international collaborations in our effort to grow the local film sector.
This will also help contribute to the gross domestic product of our country.
Enquiries:
Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076
Tel: 012 441 3083
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
18 June 2010
South Africa
SA, Australia sign film co-production agreement
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Australia/New Zealand Industry News on June 18th, 2010
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5519669
Streamlining administration and funding issues for filmmakers will allow greater co-operation and the pooling of resources between South Africa and Australia, Australian Sports Minister Kate Ellis said on Friday.
Signing a film co-production agreement with Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana, Ellis said: “Our two countries have long competed and co-operated in the sporting arena and I am delighted to see our connections are expanding in the cultural sphere as well.”
The agreement would allow access to funding, tax benefits, simplified immigration requirements and duty free importation of equipment for use in co-productions.
A special co-production by filmmakers would also be treated as local content under domestic television broadcast quotas.
Xingwana said it was hoped the agreement would enable the training of young artists and skills transfer.
“I hope that this is the beginning of greater cooperation,” she said.
Ellis said that, from the outset, it was evident that the agreement was a good reflection on South Africa’s film industry.
“We have not taken this decision lightly. There are only eight other countries that we have signed a film agreement with,” she said. - Sapa
Australian film delegation to visit China
Posted by: admin in Asia Industry News, Australia/New Zealand Industry News, China Industry News on June 9th, 2010
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i81776746af8563532f10a7636d4e4818
Filmmakers’ itinerary includes HK, Guangzhou and Shanghai
SYDNEY — National film agency Screen Australia and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have teamed up to send a delegation of Australian filmmakers to China to promote the Australian film industry in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and at at the World Expo in Shanghai this week.
Producers Jan Chapman (“Bright Star”), Antonia Barnard (“Last Ride”), Janelle Landers (“Wasted on the Young”), Bryan Brown (‘Beautiful Kate”), and directors Jeremy Sims (“Beneath Hill 60”), Gregor Jordan (“Ned Kelly,” “Two Hands”) and Ben C Lucas (“Wasted on the Young”), will take part in a presentation to the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, meet with Chinese producers in Guangzhou and have discussions in Shanghai about potential co-production opportunities.
In addition, four Australian feature films will screen in the Panorama section at the Shanghai International Film Festival. They include recent releases “Last Ride,” “Beneath Hill 60” and upcoming feature “Red Hill.”
A reception for the Australians and Chinese producers and industry representatives, from company’s including Shanghai Film Group, Hengdian World Studios, Shanghai Media Group, SCTVF and China Film Group, will be held on June 12 at the World Expo.
The mission aims to capitalize on the Australian cultural program that’s been put together as part of the World Expo in Shanghai and a government sponsored program, “Imagine Australia,” the Year of Australian Culture in China.
Australia and China signed an official co-production treaty in 2008. “The Children of Huang Shi” was made in 2008 as an unofficial co-production.
A $25m grant happy prequel to a sequel
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News, State/Government Production Incentive News on June 3rd, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/a-25m-grant-happy-prequel-to-a-sequel-20100602-wzum.html
THE state government’s announcement of $25 million to attract more film production to NSW had the director George Miller showing off some of the preparations yesterday for Fury Road, the big budget movie that is due to start filming in August.
The Premier, Kristina Keneally, said the funding boost included $20 million in incentives for international production and $5 million for local production - aimed at securing more continuous film and television production for the state. It was a much needed boost for the industry, given the struggle to attract Hollywood productions to Fox Studios because of intense global competition and the high value of the Australian dollar.
Miller, who is also making a sequel to his Oscar-winning animation Happy Feet in Sydney, said the funding was important for the culture and the economy. ”It’s very competitive to try to get these productions out here,” he said. ”We’ve got all these wonderfully skilled young people and too often they don’t have sustained work.”
Financiers Welcome Oz Funding Boost
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News, State/Government Production Incentive News on June 3rd, 2010
http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/financiers-welcome-oz-funding-boost/
Practitioners I’ve spoken to have welcomed New South Wales’ A$25 million ($21 million) film incentive boost. Twenty million dollars of the increase has been ring-fenced to attract large-scale productions to the state. Recent Hollywood movies that have shot in NSW include Wolverine, Superman Returns and Star Wars Episode 3. The latest Mad Max film, Fury Road, is expected to begin shooting later this year. A further A$5 million ha been earmarked for Screen NSW’s production investment fund to support local productions.
Jennie Hughes, director of Hughes Media, says: “By way of these substantial incentives the NSW government is showing a major commitment to attracting and driving international business to NSW.”
James Vernon, managing director of Media Funds Management, adds that the future is all about international partnerships. From a financing perspective, the funding increase will go some way to making Australia more attractive as a co-production partner, he says.
“Any incentive available to the producer is welcome in the current economic environment but Australia and New South Wales specifically continue to provide local and international productions with sustained, innovative incentive opportunities,” adds Alan Harris of Atlantic South.
The government calculates a trickledown effect for the local economy through film. Every dollar invested in Australian film production returns about A$25 million to NSW, say the authorities – which sound awfully toppy to me.
Since 2008, NSW has provided A$28.4 million of production finance to 73 film and TV projects, generating A$700 million in expenditure and creating 5,000 jobs.
The local National Drama Production Survey showed that 65% of drama production worth A$434 million took place in NSW in 2008/09. More than 1,400 film and TV-related businesses are located in NSW, employing more than 6,800 people and generating income of around $1.3 billion a year.
Australia ups production coin
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News on June 2nd, 2010
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020123.html?categoryid=19&cs=1
New South Wales targets international market
By PAUL CHAI
In some rare positive news for Australia’s ailing industry, the state of New South Wales has announced a A$25 million ($21 million) funding boost to film and TV productions.
The announcement, which coincides with Wednesday’s opening of the Sydney Film Festival, said the bulk of the funds will focus on incentives to help attract international productions, with $4 million earmarked for assisting local films.
The details of how the new coin will be distributed will be announced in the NSW budget later this month but it brings the state government’s total film investment to $29 million in the 2010-11 financial year.
The government estimates the entertainment industry generates over $1 billion in income annually and employs more than 6,800 people.
But international productions are thin on the ground possibly due to the strong Aussie dollar, the general downturn in international production and Oz’s distance from the U.S. and Europe.
In a statement to the media, Warner Bros. executive VP of physical production Bill Draper said, “This fund will put NSW in serious consideration as we scout the world for potential locations for our upcoming features.”
Post budgets not under threat: Screen Aus
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News, State/Government Production Incentive News, Studio/Network News on May 28th, 2010
http://if.com.au/2010/05/28/article/Post-budgets-not-under-threat-Screen-Aus/JNDRYFRWZY.html
By Morgan Hind
Screen Australia has rejected claims that it is approving film production budgets which undervalue the work of post-production houses and endangering the future of the local industry.
It comes several months after eight sound post-production companies, led by major local player Soundfirm, wrote to Screen Australia expressing concerns about the depressed state of the industry.
However, the national screen agency told Senate Estimate hearings this week that the sector’s current woes are being caused by price undercutting and the high value of the Australian dollar.
“We have heard a lot of criticism that the budgets are being slashed and burnt, but we have not seen any evidence in the budgets that we get,” Screen Australia executive director Fiona Cameron told the Senate.
“So all we can assume is that competition is such in the PDV [post, digital and visual effects] sector, and there is so little work in the PDV sector, that people are undercutting each other.”
Screen Australia said it cannot regulate pricing for post-production services and it still used a guideline, called The Satchel, as a point of reference. It was created by the now-defunct Australian Film Commission and contains recommended guidelines, forms and budgets for a film.
The issue was first reported by INSIDEFILM (#126) in its November 2009 edition. At that time, Soundfirm chief executive Roger Savage said the proportion of budgets allocated to sound-post had more than halved over the past two years, forcing many post houses to downsize, retrench staff and sacrifice necessary technological updates.
However, Cameron said it was not Screen Australia’s role to regulate a floor price and “from our perspective the commercial rates are reasonable”.
“The best thing for them is more international productions and a bigger and stronger Australian production industry as well,” she said.
“We never regulated a floor price. It was not our role to regulate a floor price and we do not propose to regulate a floor price.”
The Federal Government announced plans to boost the PDV and Location rebates in the 2010 Budget in an effort to attract more offshore productions to Australia.
Meanwhile, the value of the Australian dollar - which almost hit parity with the US dollar in the past year - has now fallen back to the mid-80s providing another incentive for offshore productions to shoot locally.
Wellington NZ’s film capital, Auckland wants title
Posted by: admin in Australia/New Zealand Industry News on May 12th, 2010
Wellington has overtaken Auckland as the city which makes the most money from feature films, but Auckland Mayor John Banks says he has no doubt his city will regain the claim to being the country’s movie capital.
A Statistics New Zealand release today showed revenue from feature film production last year in Wellington increased by 70 percent to $429 million, while revenue for feature films in Auckland fell 42 percent to $220m.
The same statistics show that Auckland dominated television production and continued to make up the majority of screen industry revenue overall, with $2.2b out of $2.8b.
“Because the bulk of New Zealand’s television production occurs in Auckland, it has dominated total screen production figures to-date but today’s data provides a much needed breakdown between regional film and television production,” Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny said.
“The Wellington screen industry has become an important source of foreign exchange for New Zealand and is providing an increasing number of local jobs.”
Mr Banks said he had no doubt that the drop in feature film revenue for Auckland occurred as one one of the downsides of the global recession.
He said he did not want to take anything away from Wellington’s success but said Auckland had the infrastructure in place to outgrow the capital’s film industry.
“The economic infrastructure is in place for us to double the size of the film industry over the next five to seven years,” he said.
There was “no doubt at all” that Auckland would usurp Wellington as the nation’s film capital within ten years.
NZPA