Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay today announced $200,000 in NSW Government funding over three years for the Hunter and Central Coast film and digital media industries.
Ms McKay said the funding would go towards the establishment of a new organisation, Screen Hunter Central Coast.
‘The NSW Government is committed to supporting the development of the film and digital media industries in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
‘This new, industry-backed organisation will streamline the activities currently taking place within the two regions and focus on developing exciting projects within the digital arena,’ Ms McKay said.
Ms McKay said Screen Hunter Central Coast, which will merge Film Hunter and the Screen Production Alliance Central Coast, is expected to make the two regions more attractive for film production and multi-media companies.
‘The new organisation will also promote the film location capabilities of the Hunter and Central Coast to national and international film production markets and provide a single point of contact for filming approvals across the two regions.
‘Screen Hunter Central Coast will run an investment campaign to attract film and multi-media companies to relocate to the two regions.
‘It will also market existing companies and the local skills base to other regional industries for the making of television commercials and corporate videos.’
Ms McKay said the NSW Government established a joint Hunter Central Coast creative digital industries working party to look at ways to attract innovative digital content projects to the two regions.
‘The local industry proposed that a single organisation be formed to represent the interests of some 550 members from across the Hunter and Central Coast.
The combined area boasts world-renowned locations and a growing screen skills base according to current Film Hunter Manager Gillian Summers.
‘This support from the NSW Government helps take local innovation to a new level in a cross-regional model,’ she said.
‘The project’s steering committee is now recruiting for a Manager and a Project Officer to establish the new organisation.’
For more information on the two positions, contact Gillian Summers, Film Hunter, on 4974 2889.
Screen Hunter Central Coast has the support of the Central Coast and Hunter Councils, Business Central Coast and the Hunter Economic Development Corporation.
The NSW Government actively supports and encourages film production in the State, principally through the NSW Film and Television Office and the Department of State and Regional Development. The Department funds a network of seven regional film and television offices in NSW.
This project is being funded through the Department’s Developing Regional Resources program. For more information on the Department’s regional development programs, visit http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/regionalprograms
[release from Film Hunter]