Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings today called for tenders to undertake the Victorian Screen Industry Review, the first step in developing a major new strategy to keep growing Victoria’s thriving screen industry.
Mr Jennings said the review would explore how the Victorian screen industry is changing and dealing with the impact of factors like digital media, new Commonwealth funding policies, changes in consumer behaviour and shifting global markets.
‘This review, due to be completed by mid-2008, will provide a detailed picture of the current state of play in Victoria’s screen industry,’ Mr Jennings said.
‘It will analyse the entire value chain of the Victorian screen industry for the first time.
‘This information will then help shape policy, investment and production decisions by government and industry.’
Mr Jennings said the review would be the foundation stone for a new comprehensive Screen Industry Strategy, due to be developed by the end of 2008.
‘The strategy is about developing and delivering a long term commitment to the screen industry’s future as a collaborative effort between government, the screen industry and other stakeholders,’ Mr Jennings said.
‘The screen industry is a key driver of the creative economy and new technologies, especially in the highly strategic ICT sector, that are increasingly important to Australia’s future.
‘It also makes a major economic contribution in its own right with production activity worth $144.9 million in Victoria in 2006-07, leading all other states and directly creating over 4,000 full time equivalent jobs.’
Mr Jennings said the Victorian Government set out to revitalise the flagging Victorian screening industry in 1999.
‘We re-established Film Victoria, boosted script development, production and investment attraction support, set up the Regional Victoria Film Location Assistance Fund and funded a new Producers’ course at the VCA Film and TV School,’ Mr Jennings said.
‘We have also invested more than $75 million in initiatives such as ACMI, the Digital Media Fund and the Melbourne Central City Studios, which are central to the resurgence of our screen industry.’
The Screen Industry Review and the Victorian Screen Industry Strategy are the next steps in a new 5-year commitment to supporting and growing the Victorian screen industry.
[release from The Minister of Innovation]