The Iemma Government have announced seven new film or television productions will be coming to NSW, injecting $22 million directly into the economy.
Acting Tourism Minister Linda Burney announced the latest win for the local film and production industry, which was secured with the offer of $1.4 million in State funding support through the NSW Film and Television Office.
The seven projects will be partly or wholly filmed or produced in NSW, by Australian production companies.
They include the new feature film from Academy Award-winning writer and director Jane Campion, a television mini-series, a telemovie, a television series and two documentaries.
‘The Iemma Government is serious about supporting the local film and television industries, which drive economic growth and can be a major tourism drawcard,’ Ms Burney said.
‘These projects will draw on some of the State’s most experienced creative screen talents and will be brought to life through the work of home-grown technicians, actors and postproduction staff.
‘The recent State Budget allocated more than $9 million to the NSW Film and Television Office to support the local film industry with grants and other assistance.
‘This will help to achieve the State Plan priority of supporting a thriving arts and cultural sector to help expand the State’s prosperity.’
The seven new film or television productions coming to NSW are:
• Bright Star – an Australia-UK co-production from the internationally-celebrated team of writer/director Jane Campion and producer Jan Chapman, is a romantic period-drama about the love affair between Fanny Brawne and the English poet Keats.
• Two Fists One Heart – from producer David Elfick, director Shawn Seet and writer Rai Fazio examines traditional Italian values in an Australian community, through the story of a young boxer.
• The Cut – a six-part mini-series for ABC Television to be written by stage and screenwriter John Misto, produced by Tom Blacket and line-produced by Kerrie Mainwaring, is a comedic look at the soft underbelly of professional sport through the
eyes of a small, family-owned sports management business.
• Scorched (executive producers Rosemary Blight & Chris Hilton; producer, Kylie Du Fresne; co-producer, Ellenor Cox; writer, Tony Pye; director, Tony Tilse) is a telemovie set in the year 2012, on Boxing Day, when Sydney runs out of water.
• The third series of the television drama Blue Water High – to be produced by Noel Price and Dennis Kiely.
• Janet’s Baby – a documentary for SBS Television’s Making Babies series, is the personal story of filmmaker Janet Merewether’s journey into single motherhood by choice.
• Award-winning documentary filmmaker Curtis Levy and Co-Producer Helen Panckhurst will make The Matilda Model for ABC Television, about Levy’s stand for the Senate to campaign for Waltzing Matilda to become Australia’s National Anthem.
The NSW Film and Television Office has also committed support to five other feature films and two documentaries in the early stages of development:
• Mount Warning – A feature by writer/director Kim Morduant and producer Sylvia Wilczynski. In the shadow of Mt Warning, two teenagers from unorthodox families become embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of Jai’s elder brother Paul.
• Wrestle – a feature by writer/director Darren Ashton, writer Robin Ince and producer Jodi Matterson. Wrestle is the story of the death and resurrection of wrestler Mario Macedone. A black comedy set amidst the world of 1970s television wrestling, sparkly trunks, garbage collectors and television ratings.
• Between Two Waves of the Sea – a feature by writer Ian Meadows, director Corrie Jones and producer Sarah Shaw. The tragic death of his wife, the overbearing influence of his parents and a call from a telemarketer provoke anxiety sufferer Daniel to question the fear that has been with him all his life.
• Freshwater – a feature by writer Matthew Dabner, director/producer Kate Reidl and producer Matthew Dabner. A married woman meets a man on her morning ferry commute and is drawn into a passionate affair.
• Untitled feature – by writer/director Geoffrey Wright and producer Catriona Hughes and Leesa Kahn. A Widower, Harry stays in what is reputed to be a haunted house. He discovers that the ghost is actually flesh and blood, a beautiful woman who claims to be part of a thoughtless practical joke. But this woman seems to know all about Harry, outside the world is coming to an end.
• Bones, Billycans and Bullets – documentary by writer Matt McLachlan, director Malcolm McDonald and producer Stuart Scowcroft. A group of archaeologists from the UK and Australia dig up the battlefield of Flanders at the site of the battle of Messine. This is the first time such a dig has ever taken place. They expect to find skeletons of Diggers and Germans and tell their stories.
• The Burning Season – documentary by writer/director/producer Cathy Henkel and producer Jeff Canin. To prevent Indonesia’s devastating annual burning season, a young Australian entrepreneur must pull off the carbon trading deal of the century.
[release from the Office of the Hon Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern-Waterloo, Minister for the Arts]