[press release from NSW Govt]
The NSW Government has helped secure the production of a new 13-part television drama series for the State which will inject an estimated $10.8 million into the economy and employ 329 people, Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald said.
Mr Macdonald said the NSW Film and Television Industry Attraction Fund (FIAF) will be used to provide a payroll tax rebate to Southern Star Entertainment to produce the new series; Rescue.
The series is being financed by the Federal Government’s Screen Australia. “The pre-production of the Rescue series will take place this month,” Minister Macdonald said.
“We will have filming from April to August followed by a post production phase from August to November 2009,” Mr Macdonald said. “The series will employ 329 people including 136 actors, 20 stunt performers, 61 crew and 100 extras.
“It will also provide entry level training opportunities through trainee attachments in the areas of directing, art, editing, camera work, make-up and scriptwriting.”
Mr Macdonald said the storyline for Rescue centres on two competitive brothers who are members of the Special Operations Rescue Unit.
“This high energy television series is expected to see a range of rescue scenarios filmed in and around Sydney including city suburbs, Bondi, Sydney Harbour, beachside locations, Luna Park and Kings Cross, as well as on the city’s rural fringes and in the Hunter Valley,” Mr Macdonald said.
Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, Virginia Judge, welcomed the local production.
“This is a great opportunity to provide jobs to the many talented people who work in front of the cameras and behind the scenes,” Ms Judge said.
“The13 one-hour episodes will be filmed in and around Sydney.
“It will screen on a commercial channel in 2010.”