Screen Queensland has announced $5m of investment in 12 Gold Coast small to medium screen businesses.
The Capital Grants Program supports Gold Coast businesses with matched funding of up to $750,000 to grow their operations and service local, interstate and international films and series.
The recipients include Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, who will establish new headquarters for their production company Bazmark, and Cutting Edge and Myriad Studios will be supported to expand their Gold Coast bases.
While The Post Lounge will expand to establish a new facility on the Gold Coast, Pinnacle Films Studios will upgrade their sound stages, and newly established operations including Elysium Studios will create new jobs on the Gold Coast.
The capital grants will support a range of business-boosting investments including fitting out state-of-the-art post-production facilities, acquiring premium equipment for visual effects, editing and underwater filming, and partnering with industry to provide opportunities for emerging screen practitioners.
More than $1.68 billion has been injected into the Gold Coast economy and more than 17,000 local employment opportunities created since the Production Attraction Strategy was introduced in 2015.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said, “The Miles Government is committed to supporting local screen industry development, underpinned by sustainable screen businesses that drive creative employment.
“Delivering on an election commitment, the $5 million Capital Grants Program further backs the state’s screen industry and works to underpin the growth of screen production services on the Gold Coast to future proof the industry and remain globally competitive.
“This vital funding is enabling industry-leaders like Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin to establish a long-term home for their award-winning production company Bazmark on the Gold Coast.
“It also ensures other critical small-to-medium screen businesses can expand their offerings and provide first-rate support to local and international films and series, creating more jobs and forging new opportunities for the region’s creative community.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said, “The screen sector is a rich ecosystem which includes many small-to-medium businesses working across production and post-production. The $5 million Capital Grants Program is providing a significant funding boost into the local industry to ensure the Gold Coast continues to lead as a screen production paradise in a highly competitive international market,” Ms Feeney said.
“Screen Queensland recognises that our state’s pipeline of attracted productions, as well as homegrown films and series, require access to the best local services and that these businesses can offer enduring career paths for Queenslanders keen to work in this exciting industry.”
Bazmark’s Baz Luhrmann said, “Since the earliest days on Elvis, Screen Queensland and the Queensland Government have been true partners to Bazmark. Together, we proved that one cannot just film, but also realise all the pre- and post-production of a major motion picture right here.
“It has become absolutely clear to me and all of our team that the Gold Coast is one of the most dynamic and vital filmmaking hubs worldwide. Now, with the support of the Capital Grants Program, we are excited to build a long-term base and facilities here that can be used by Bazmark and others into the future.”
The Post Lounge Managing Director, Kurt Royan said, “Having started in Queensland over 45 years ago, The Post Lounge is thrilled to receive this grant, which will significantly enhance our capabilities and enable us to continue delivering world-class post-production services.
“While sunlight has always been considered the antithesis of post-production, the Gold Coast is the perfect location for our new facility, with its growing reputation as a creative hub, access to the latest infrastructure and proximity to both local and international production talent. This investment will allow us to expand our offerings and further support the region’s thriving film and television industry.”
The 12 Capital Grants Program recipients are:
Bazmark – award-winning production company founded by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin (Elvis, Faraway Downs)
Club Handy – Queensland costume specialists for the screen sector relocating their storage facility to the Gold Coast (Boy Swallows Universe, Eden, Deadloch)
Chrysaor – new creative hub providing access to filming equipment, virtual and post-production services and training for local independent filmmakers
Cutting Edge – acclaimed Queensland sound and picture post-production company (In our Blood, Apples Never Fall, Good Cop/Bad Cop)
Elysium Studios – new Gold Coast-based venture focused on virtual production, motion capture, animation and visual effects (Beast of War)
Fin Design + Effects – premium interstate visual effects and design company establishing a new facility on the Gold Coast (Elvis, Ticket To Paradise, Thor: Ragnarok)
Myriad Studios – innovative 3D scanning services company (Thirteen Lives, Ticket to Paradise, The Portable Door)
Pinnacle Films Studios – production facility servicing local, interstate and international productions (The Portable Door, Mortal Kombat 2, Young Rock)
PROXi VP – virtual production company specialising in high level action design for blockbuster films and series
SteadiWaves – high-end Steadicam and underwater camera operating services company (Eden, Dangerous Animals)
The Post Lounge – renowned Queensland post-production company now establishing a new Gold Coast facility (Elvis, In limbo, ScaryGirl)
The Rebel Fleet – image and digital workflow and post-production specialists (Boy Swallows Universe)
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