[press release from Solid Ink]
Underlining its vision to continually support and enhance Victoria’s digital media industry, Film Victoria is pleased to announce more than $650,000 in funding for eight diverse projects.
Spanning three digital media funding programs, the significant investment injects necessary financial support into the rapidly growing digital media sector, where games revenue alone increased 47% in 2008.
Digital Media Scoping funding was allocated to Bradley Dehnert and Lucien Hickman for the development of a new strategy game called DECAY while the team at Azurecine received support for an online digital audience testing project called PREVISUALISATION ONLINE RATINGS.
Two leading digital media companies have received Digital Media Prototyping funding in a bid to take two new games to market. Infinite Interactive will complete its prototype for ARRR!, a pirate themed puzzle game, while Third Wave Games will complete the early stages of SAVE THE ONIONS, a character based puzzle game. Both will be downloadable titles for the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox360 and Playstation 3.
The third group of recipients include production companies Big and Little Films, Puffafish, Stella Motion Pictures and Let’s Talk, which all received Cross Platform Development funding. Over the next few months they will identify ways to include elements of digital media interactivity into their film, television and animation projects.
Film Victoria President, John Howie, confirmed how the organisation structures its programs to positively benefit the industry. “Our digital media funding is there to provide avenues for the creation and delivery of digital content. We encourage the development of sustainable businesses that exploit all available platforms, and hone practitioner skills so Victoria can compete globally in this rapidly growing industry.
“Introducing the Cross Platform Development program to our funding suite in 2008 was a vital step in helping producers look for new ways to engage and entertain audiences – content creation and distribution is no longer confined to traditional TV and film formats. Practitioners are using digital media channels to run audience tests in the early stages of project development to ensure outcomes meet expectations; they’re running marketing campaigns prior to project launches; and conducting research into documentary content prior to kick-starting a project with the help of existing online communities.
“The depth and breadth of the digital media sector is impressive, with Victorian practitioners leading the way in its approach to content creativity and professionalism. We’re thrilled to provide further financial support in this latest round of investment.”
Screen industry practitioners can stay informed of funding deadlines via Film Victoria’s e-news or on twitter http://twitter.com/filmvictoria Funding guidelines and application forms are available online at www.film.vic.gov.au