Press release from Premier of NSW
Premier Nathan Rees today announced increased funding and more jobs for the NSW film and television industry.
Mr Rees said that the NSW Government had secured post production of Peter Weir’s (Gallipoli, Dead Poets Society and The Truman Show) new film, The Way Back, in Sydney.
“The Government has identified the creative industries as a driver of economic activity,” Mr Rees said. "We know that the creative industries employ five per cent of the NSW workforce and today’s announcement helps keep our skilled film crew stay in NSW.
"The film will employ about 100 post production specialists from several of Sydney’s leading post-production companies.”
The Way Back stars Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris and Colin Farrell, and tells the story of an incredible trek to freedom undertaken by a group of escapees from a remote Soviet Gulag in 1940.
Mr Rees said that an incentive package provided by the NSW Government had secured post-production of the film for Sydney. "Post-production work to take place in NSW will include digital special effects, sound mixing, picture editing and recording work,” Mr Rees said.
“NSW has some of the best post-production facilities in the world and this film will be another excellent chance to showcase our State’s skills and talents internationally.”
This comes on the back of last month’s announcement by the Premier that Green Lantern will be made in Sydney, with 500 new jobs across the creative sector. Mr Rees said that the NSW Government will also invest more than $1 million through the NSW Film and Television Office for two feature films, one telemovie, one children’s television series and three factual programs.
“This $1 million investment will attract at least $17 million in NSW, as projects attract additional private and federal investment,” Mr Rees said. “This is great news for hundreds of NSW industry professionals as it keeps our casts, crews and the post-production sector busy and in work, and their skills up to scratch.”
The two feature films are Being Dead, to be directed by Ray Lawrence (Lantana, Jindabyne), with producer Emile Sherman and writer Beatrix Christian; and Beneath Hill 60, to be directed by Jeremy Sims (Last Train to Freo) with producer Bill Leimbach and writer David Roach.
There is also funding for Not 14 but 47, the fifth instalment of Gillian Armstrong’s acclaimed documentary series that has followed the lives of a group of girls since they were 14 in 1976.