(Cover): Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth, The Railway Man II This page: The Strange Calls Screen Queensland Annual Report 2011-2012 1 INTRODUCTION our vision Screen Queensland is the state’s investment vehicle driving creative productions which bring direct economic benefit to the region while entertaining and connecting with worldwide audiences. our role Screen Queensland promotes vital screen industry activity through carefully targeted investment in development and production, attracting projects to Queensland, services such as location scouting, and audience engagement with screen culture through presenting the Brisbane International Film Festival and other events across the state. our industry Renowned for stunning locations, talented crew and productive financial incentives, Queensland continues to be a leader in Australia’s screen industry, in emerging screen technologies, and a major contributor to the nation’s creative landscape. CONTENTS Message from the Chair ................................................................................................................. page 2 Message from the CEO................................................................................................................... page 3 Year in Review Timeline ................................................................................................................ page 6 Highlights ....................................................................................................................................... page 10 Queensland Breakdown ................................................................................................................. page 14 Development and Production ........................................................................................................ page 19 Screen Culture ................................................................................................................................ page 28 Financial Report ............................................................................................................................. page 36 Appendix i: Funding Decisions ...................................................................................................... page 76 Appendix ii: Award and Nomination Recipients ........................................................................... page 86 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR expertise in building relationships (Mabo, Reef Doctors, The Strange and funding partnerships will Calls and Mako) and 17 factual be of great value in grasping the productions in both film and burgeoning opportunities before us. television. For example Screen Queensland’s investment in Big I also welcome my fellow Board Brother created 300 jobs and injected members: Deputy Chair Michael $18 million into the state’s economy. Hawkins, Des Power AM, Professor Stuart Cunningham, Cr Jan Grew, Other measureable successes Kaye Martin, Peter Baston and over the year included a 17 Kathy MacDermott. I acknowledge per cent increase in numbers with sadness the passing of recently of applications. That has been appointed board member John matched by a 24 per cent increase Miller. We will miss the energy in programme investment totalling and enthusiasm he brought to the I am very pleased to present $9,300,000. Screen Queensland’s Annual organisation. The company also generated Report for the financial year The business and governance more income during 2011/12 2011/12 which marks the experience of the Board will through activities such as a 25 per organisation’s 21st birthday. As ensure practitioners are rewarded cent increase in ticket sales at the the new Chair of a new board I that illustrate solid audience- would like to first acknowledge the focused business principles behind Brisbane International Film Festival. contribution of my predecessor their projects. Together with These successes will bring dividends Professor Peter Coaldrake and Mr Lowe, we will look to focus his fellow board members, Acting in the future as we continue on creating sustainable screen building a diverse and sustainable Chair Cherrie Bottger, Michael businesses in Queensland. Burton, Leigh Tabrett, Cathy film, television and digital content Overett, John Menzies, Lynda The last financial year was industry in Queensland. Together O’Grady and Chris Nyst. characterised by the delivery with ongoing state support for of tremendous efficiencies infrastructure and financial within Screen Queensland while incentives to increase production, I also want to acknowledge the work simultaneously putting more we will ensure our creative talent of former CEO Maureen Barron money into the industry to prime continues working and living in who, together with the previous the production pipeline. Queensland. In this way the screen and media industry will remain Board, guided Screen Queensland Queensland Production a driving force in the economic, through a period of considerable Expenditure for the 2010/11 cultural and educational lives of change to identify organisational financial year was $103,800,000 Queenslanders. efficiencies. I am looking forward for a return of $19 for every dollar to building on the solid foundation of direct state investment. Most they have put in place. importantly that $5.5 million of I would also like to welcome new direct investment created 3800 jobs. CEO Bryan Lowe who joined Screen The output was two major feature Queensland in August 2012. Bryan’s films (The Railway Man and Mystery Geoff Cooper strong background in film finance Road) and four television dramas both in Australia and the UK and Chair Screen Queensland Annual Report 2011-2012 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR MESSAGE FROM THE CEO projects over the last five years In Screen Culture we have seen has averaged $6.7 million per a 25 per cent increased box office annum. Our own investment has through Screen Queensland’s attracted significant overseas, Brisbane International Film Festival interstate and federal government (BIFF) which featured 50 Australian finance resulting in an average and three world premieres over 11 of $120 million per annum in days and drew 22,600 admissions. direct Queensland production We continue to support and expenditure. This represents a promote a range of screen culture leveraged return to the Queensland events state-wide, spanning a wide economy of $18 for every dollar age demographic, including high of direct investment in the screen school students. sector. Over the last two years, economic activity from film and We will continue to build public This is a very exciting time to television drama and factual and audience support through be involved in the creation of production in Queensland has close collaboration with local screen moving images. Quality screen averaged $215 million per annum, industry partners and stakeholders. content is one cornerstone of creating 4,450 full time jobs, Our mission remains to retain local the burgeoning digital economy primarily in the Brisbane, Gold talent and to partner with new that is transforming the way we Coast and Cairns regions. This job and emerging participants with communicate. The unstoppable creation represent a new generation the goal of building sustainable expansion of delivery platforms of skilled workers for Queensland’s business infrastructure. We want to will only increase with the screen industries. further strengthen our leadership continuing roll out of the National Queensland has a unique track credentials in the booming global Broadband Network (NBN). record in attracting major screen sector. Queensland is strongly international “footloose” production placed to take advantage of the to our state including The Chronicles plethora of opportunities presented Over the past year, Screen of Narnia, Spielberg’s Terra Nova, by a converged media world. Queensland has developed a Nim’s Island and many others. This I would like to thank Screen blueprint to ensure that we remain remains a core activity for us with Queensland staff for their continued a leader in this rapidly changing an increased focus on regional landscape of internet enabled TVs, involvement over the last 12 hard work and dedication, and in smart phones and tablets. Over the months. In the 2011/12 financial particular Meredith Garlick for her next 10 years we are determined year, there was greater activity in outstanding contribution as Acting to further consolidate Queensland film location scouting (for 11 major CEO in 2012. as a leading creative hub. This will productions) assisted by our “Film require a range of sustainable screen Friendly” programme from the businesses expert in developing, state’s far west to the far north. producing and marketing diverse Screen Queensland is promoting film and TV programming to both regional growth hubs on the Gold local and international audiences, Coast and in Cairns, a plan that across multiple platforms. has also seen the emergence of Our targeted investment into the Winton as a host to film and TV Bryan Lowe production of film and television productions. CEO 4Ryk Goddard, First Fagin Aaron Pedersen, Mystery Road Screen Queensland Annual Report 2011-2012 5 6 YEAR IN REVIEW Toronto Cine Sparks International Mental films in Film Festival: Queensland The Tall Man The Curse of premieres the Gothic Symphony 8-18 Sep 2011 Sydney Travelling world 10-14 Oct 2011 25 Jul 2011 Film Festival premiere at CIAF features 4Nov 2011 (Charters Towers) BIFF live version of achieves largest ABC3 hit cinema attendance in Go Lingo! 10 years