Press release from BlackLab
Blacklab Entertainment, a new fully integrated screen Development and Production Company, has been established in Brisbane in a significant move to generate increased television, film and digital production in Queensland.
Filmmaking twins Peter and Michael Spierig will spearhead Creative Development at Blacklab Entertainment, with leading screen industry producer and cinematographer Tim McGahan as Managing Director, joined by Alex Mavroidakis as Head of Development for Factual and Light Entertainment.
“Blacklab Entertainment brings together a group of highly experienced, creative and business-minded screen professionals who, as a company, intend to build a sustainable production business with a diverse and consistent slate of work produced in Queensland and watched by the world,” Tim McGahan said.
“In the past, Brisbane has been the poor cousin to Melbourne and Sydney as a place without its own substantial production identity. We want to help build the Queensland industry to be sustainable in its own right and, as a company, provide consistent work for local crew, equipment suppliers and postproduction facilities.
As well as internal project development and production, Blacklab Entertainment will be a gateway for creative writers and producers to execute their projects and benefit from economies of scale, a creative hub, increased resources, infrastructure, well established networks and relationships, knowledge and experience.
With talks already underway with television networks, Blacklab Entertainment’s business plan is ahead of expectation.
“We’re aiming to provide networks with a strong option in terms of production based in Queensland and by partnering with Queensland-based post production and facilities providers, we can provide a very efficient package,” McGahan said.
“We have a strong commercial focus and a business model where risk dictates content choices.”
To that end, Blacklab’s initial slate will focus on reality and factual programming, expanding into other formats including drama and feature films over a 3 – 5 year period.
“Blacklab Entertainments aim is to establish a production track record very quickly. To do so we will concentrate on developing low risk, quick turnaround productions. This stream of production will provide company cash flow, ongoing production work and will allow Blacklab Entertainment to reinvest profit responsibly into project development and production to achieve a long term diverse and sustainable slate,” McGahan said.
Chief Executive of Screen Queensland, Maureen Barron, welcomed the news: “It is exciting to see the creativity of the Queensland screen industries coming together to forge partnerships such as this; it is evidence of what can be achieved through the formation of alliances to work towards a common goal.”