Interstate contractors from Victoria shoot NT Boundless Possible campaign

TERRITORY production houses have been overlooked again in favour of interstate contractors for work on a Northern Territory marketing campaign.

Simon Manzie and other local production houses are protesting that the NT Government is using an interstate production house to shoot the next Boundless Possible campaign. Simon (front) pictured with crew members Ethan Hutchinson and Clancy Weatherald. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

TERRITORY production houses have been overlooked again in favour of interstate contractors for work on a Northern Territory marketing campaign.

Local producers say this is the second time interstate contractors have been chosen to shoot Boundless Possible ads.

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Darwin’s Global Headquarters boss Simon Manzie, who has shot on location in 85 countries and has five Gold Australian Cinematography awards, said it was shameful the capability of local workers in Darwin was ignored.

Simon Manzie and other local production houses are protesting that the NT Government is using an interstate production house to shoot the next Boundless Possible campaign. PIC KATRINA BRIDGEFORD.

“Last week we accidentally ran into the crew shooting the second Boundless Possible campaign,” he said.

“They once again have flown up the camera operator and camera assistant to the Territory from Victoria and also all of the equipment.”

President of the NT branch of the Australian Cinematographers Society Andrew Hyde said Darwin had a large body of creative local talent eminently qualified to undertake major NT Government projects.

“We would like local talent to be used,” he said.

“If a Darwin company gets work which needs subcontracting work undertaken, we prefer that work to go to locals rather than an interstate worker being bought up to do work a local is capable of doing.”

A spokesman for NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner defended the move. PICTURE: JUSTIN KENNEDY

A spokesman for the Chief Minister Michael Gunner defended the awarding of the contract, but confirmed interstate contractors were being used for the second Boundless Possible television work.

“There are six people on the crew, four of them are locally based,” he said.

“Both the first and second ads were produced by Darwin companies Boab and Pendulum.”

Pendulum describes itself as a boutique creative production that has a “talented list of both young and experienced freelance creatives and crew”.

One Darwin based company said the best they got out of the Government work during the first Boundless Possible creative shoot was a request to hire four sand bags.

Melbourne-based creative agency The Royals created a new $1.5 million masterbrand for the Territory last year.

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The NT's Boundless Possible masterbrand

The final result, Boundless Possible, struck controversy over its similarity to Dubai’s campaign which featured the tagline “Beyond Possible”.

Taxpayers footed the bill for a 60 second Boundless Possible ad to be aired during last year’s AFL Grand Final.

The spot cost an eye-watering $400,000.