Screen crew step in front of camera to pressure government to lift location offset and save jobs

DESPERATE Gold Coast film workers have launched last ditch effort to convince the Turnbull Government to help save the multi-billion dollar industry from extinction after it declined to give support.

FILM workers facing an uncertain future hope their #myjobmatters campaign will convince the Federal Government to boost tax incentives to protect Australia’s $3 billion film and TV industry.

Queensland’s screen industry and local business want the production and location offset rebates increased and standardised to help attract more major film and TV productions to film here.

Award-winning stunt co-ordinator Keir Beck features in the #myjobmatters film industry campaign.

WHY THE GOLD COAST COULD LOSE A THIRD MAJOR FILM

A staggering 71 per cent of the 750 local cast and crew employed on the Jason Momoa and Amber Heard superhero feature Aquaman, filmed on the Gold Coast last year, are not currently working in film.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said almost two thirds (64 per cent) of the 21 per cent still in the industry had moved overseas for work.

Casting director Ben Parkinson wants the location offset raised to help attract more productions to Queensland.

She said the #myjobmatters campaign was part of an urgent, industry-wide push to help Queensland “seal the deal” for a major US production to shoot here.

“We have a short window of opportunity to put a more competitive deal on the table and secure our next international production,” she said.

“We need the Australian Government to increase the location offset or we lose another major film.”

GOLD COAST HAS 48 HOURS TO SAVE FILM INDUSTRY

#myjobmatters campaigner, casting agent Bud Hopes.

Stakeholders including SQ want the Federal Government to introduce a standard 40 per cent film and TV production offset and 30 per cent location offset to provide greater certainty for local workers and offshore studios planning investments in Australia, including new players such as Netflix, Amazon and Stan.

COAST FILM INDUSTRY ON THE BRINK

Line producer Louise Kors

Locations manager Karen Jones

“Netflix have made representations to the Government,” Mrs Vieira said.

“Netflix has $8 billion to spend on content but unless it’s Australian content, like the Chris Lilley series and Tidelands, it’s ineligible for the location offset. The 16.5 per cent is not available unless it’s local content.

“Disney are about to go with streaming video on demand. Amazon and Apple are entering the market and we’re looking like an outdated system — after all the work we’ve done to catch up.”

Production manager Peta Ross features in the campaign.

Uncertainty around projects and the casualised nature of film work often make jobs and pay precarious. With little or no job security for most workers, crew are often forced to find work outside the industry to supplement their income.

Mrs Vieria said Queensland’s film industry hit its straps when the Federal Government raised the location offset from 16.5 per cent to 30 per cent to help attract US blockbusters Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Thor: Ragnarok and Aquaman to film on the Gold Coast.

Rigging gaffer Craig Clark

MEAA chief executive officer Paul Murphy said the industry needed governments and regulators to assume a guardianship role to guide its overall success.

“Our members have told us gut-wrenching stories about how difficult it is to earn a decent income from the film and TV industry,” he said.