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By George, Queensland is banking a fortune as more films flock to Sunshine State

Beyond sparking the current frenzy of George Clooney-spotting from Hamilton Island in the state’s north to the Gold Coast in the south, film and television productions shot in Queensland are bringing in record money, with no signs the Hollywood invasion is abating.

Dec 09, 2021, updated Dec 09, 2021
George Clooney is interviewed upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The Tender Bar' during the 2021 BFI London Film Festival in London, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

George Clooney is interviewed upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The Tender Bar' during the 2021 BFI London Film Festival in London, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Of the record $1.9 billion worth of domestic and foreign screen productions created throughout the country in the past financial year, Queensland generated a massive $553 million.

The state generated 29 per cent of all drama filmed in Australia, including feature films and series across broadcast, streaming and online platforms, the latest Screen Australia Drama Report shows.

The figures show that the value of film and television production continues to surge nationwide and in Queensland in particular, as Australia capitalises on its global reputation as one of the world’s safest places to shoot during the pandemic.

Queensland was second only to New South Wales in the number and value of productions across the nation over the past financial year. The state’s share of post-filming work, including post-production, digital and visual effects, also jumped with $32 million in expenditure.

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said the report confirmed Queensland’s position as a “production magnet” for international and interstate feature films and series.

She said the Queensland industry was recognised as a creative powerhouse driven by talented local content creators and producers from around the state.

“The success of Queensland’s screen industry, thriving despite the challenges of a global pandemic, is evident in this report,” Munnich said.

Munnich said around 5,500 jobs were created for Queenslanders from Screen Queensland-supported productions, with the demand expected to increase across the state in 2022 amid “an insatiable global appetite for screen content.”

“We have had a fantastically busy year of production, which means film fans and series-bingers the world over are in for a treat next year, with local Queensland talent and locations on show in a number of upcoming movies and series, made by talented, skilled local cast and crew who make the magic happen,” she said.

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“We are eagerly awaiting the release next year of Academy Award-winner Ron Howard’s film Thirteen Lives and of course, the great Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, both filmed on our gorgeous Gold Coast.”

Productions that have recently wrapped in Queensland include Universal Studios Group’s Joe Exotic, CJZ’s Darby and Joan with Bryan Brown and Geta Scacchi, ABC crime series Troppo and Fremantle Media’s teen series Taylor’s Island.

Production continues on US comedy Young Rock season 2, crime series Irreverent, SBS Food and NITV’s Strait to the Plate season 2 by Cairns-based Lonestar Productions, and Universal Pictures’ Ticket to Paradise starring superstars George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

Filming will start in early 2022 on the Disney+ series Nautilus and the second season of the Tim Minchin Foxtel series Upright, both at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.

 

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