Dora the Explorer could film on Gold Coast as governments battle over funding

THE Gold Coast’s billion dollar film industry is at risk of faltering, with hopes of securing major Hollywood films including Marvel’s next blockbuster set to slip through our fingers unless a deal is reached with the Federal Government.

THE studio behind blockbuster franchise Dora the Explorer has given the State Government a two-week ultimatum to approve a film of the kids’ favourite being shot on the Gold Coast.

Paramount says it will make the film at Village Roadshow mid-year only if their 16.5 per cent tax offset is lifted to 30 per cent.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who yesterday announced Vietnam War film Danger Close would be shot on the Gold Coast, is in favour of the Dora deal.

Dora the Explorer

However, it requires the Federal Government to sign off on lifting the tax offset, as recommended by a bipartisan Commonwealth Parliament Committee — and Treasurer Scott Morrison yesterday was noncommittal.

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The Gold Coast Bulletin understands Paramount will decide by mid-March whether to film on the Gold Coast or consider another location. Filming is scheduled to begin in July ahead of an August 2018 release date.

Ms Palaszczuk, who is in Los Angeles as part of a trade delegation, has been meeting with major studios.

Australian actor Travis Fimmel, screenwriter Stuart Beattie and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in West Hollywood (AAP Image/Peter Mitchell)

Having secured Danger Close, she now has her sights set on Dora but said help was urgently needed.

“It is now critical that the Turnbull Government make permanent an increase in the location tax offset incentive at 30 per cent to give studios certainty as they prepare to finance these films,” she said.

“A bipartisan Commonwealth Parliament Committee recommended this late last year.

“I have written to the Prime Minister — now is the time to act or we will not get the films and the jobs that Queensland deserves.”

And it’s not the only film on the Coast’s radar. Ms Palaszczuk this week met with Louis D’Esposito, co-president of superhero giant Marvel.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Marvel’s Louis D'Esposito

Following the success of the Gold Coast-shot Thor: Ragnaork, Ms Palaszczuk used the meeting to talk up the Gold Coast and lobbied the comic book kingpin to film the company’s next blockbuster on the Glitter Strip.

Screen Queensland boss Tracey Vieira last night backed the Premier’s calls, saying it was essential for the tax offset to be lifted.

“Aquaman had more than 2100 people work on the production and 81 per cent of thosewere locals. Aquaman is also the last film to have received a one-off incentive from the Federal Government which acknowledges that the current Location Offset does not work unless a production can navigate getting a one-off increase,” she said.

“Without certainty about an incentive that is competitive, studios just don’t see Australia as a viable location.

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First image of Jason Mamoa as Aquaman from the Gold Coast-shot film Aquaman. Source: Entertainment Weekly.

“This is not something that can wait. It’s urgent and its impact on our local industry will be significant.”

A spokeswoman for Morrison was noncommittal over questions whether the Coalition had plans to permanently increase the tax offset for films.

“The Government has provided a number of ‘top-up’ payments to individual films in previous years to incentivise large feature films to come to Australia, recognising the benefits they can bring to local regions,” she said.

“Most recently, the Government supported the filming of Aquaman on the Gold Coast.

“The Treasurer is aware of the proposal to increase the location offset.”

Danger Close, announced yesterday, will film at Nerang and at Village Roadshow from late April and will tell the story of Australians involved in the Battle of Long Tan.

It will star Australian Travis Fimmel.