New South Wales Film and Television Office Annual Report 2004-2005 1 Office Film and Television New South Wales 1 054Annual Report 2004-2005 5 Mission To foster and facilitate creative excellence and commercial growth in the film and television industry in New South Wales 0 Produced by Tony Grierson, Sue McCreadie, Sophie Maple, Sarra Watts and Ellenor Cox. New South Wales Film and Television Office MDesign and Art direction by Anthony Battaglia. Produced by Catie Dyce. Box Communications. www.boxtm.com MPrinted by Mutual Printing on Silk Matt by CPI 1 New South Wales Film and Television Office Annual Report 2004-2005 The New South Wales Film and Television Office is a statutory authority of, and principally funded by, the NSW State Government. New South Wales Film and Television Office Level 7, 157 Liverpool Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Telephone 612 9264 6400 Facsimile 612 9264 4388 Freecall 1300 556 386 Email [email protected] Web www.fto.nsw.gov.au Hours of Business 9.00am–5.30pm Monday – Friday MMISSN 1037-0366 1 2 cc Contents 3 2005 Contents 15 Development 47 FTO as an Organisation 04 Letter to the Minister 16 Project Development 05 Message from the Chair 20 Aurora 53 Performance Indicators and Chief Executive 22 New Feature Film Writers Scheme 08 Members of the Board 24 Young Filmmakers Fund 10 Organisational Structure 28 Industry & Audience Development 55 Financials 12 Financial Overview 30 Regional Cinema Initiatives 14 Charter 32 New Media Initiatives 56 Agency Statement 57 Independent Audit Report 58 Financial Statements 35 Investment 36 Production Investment 70 Appendices 40 Distribution 87 Index 41 Production Liaison 43 The Production Environment in NSW 43 Improving the Production Environment 43 Marketing NSW as a Film Location 44 Inbounds and Pitches 45 Incentives 46 Regional Filming Fund 46 Regional Film Tour 04/05 4 Letter to the Minister The Hon. R.J. Debus, MP Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for the Arts Parliament House Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister Pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 (NSW), we have pleasure in submitting to you the Annual Report of the New South Wales Film and Television Office for the year ended 30 June 2005 for tabling in Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Yours sincerely Shane Simpson Jane Smith ChairL Chief Executive L Message from the Chair 5 and Chief Executive The FTO has focused on improving the quality of The very successful Young Filmmakers Fund (YFF) projects and the sustainability of the film and television celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Films industry in NSW. It is pleasing that after three years supported by this fund have received 150 there are some impressive results. The FTO’s strategic nominations to high profile festivals around the development plan has changed the way the FTO world and have won over 60 awards. Many of the supports the industry and is about choosing specific filmmakers supported by this fund are already promising projects and providing them with intensive, establishing successful careers in the film industry. structured support by industry professionals. The focus on producers forming sustainable businesses This year for the first time the Board allowed a YFF is also showing some promising outcomes. project to use investment raised under 10B of the Income Tax Assessment Act (1936) as a ‘test case’. The additional funds enabled the film to be finished on 35 mm and to a higher standard than DEVELOPMENT originally planned, with positive outcomes for the film’s exposure and distribution. The amended The most visible and successful program is Aurora, the guidelines provide scope for the quality and intensive script workshop that has already delivered marketability of future YFF films to be enhanced. two films which have made their mark. Somersault, in Competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, has won numerous awards, sold to over 20 territories and achieved some strong box office results with its PRODUCTION INVESTMENT screen average exceeding most Hollywood films here and in the UK. Aurora’s profile following the Over the past two years the government allocated success of Somersault enabled the FTO to attract an extra $3.2m as a pilot to assess the impact of internationally renowned independent filmmakers additional funding on the industry’s sustainability. John Sayles and Gus van Sant as advisors in 2004. The Olsberg/SPI independent review of the Little Fish, starring Cate Blanchett, has just been Production Investment Fund found that it completed and has already opened the Melbourne generates roughly 32 times the amount invested International Film Festival and will have a prestigious through leveraging other production investment slot at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. and the multiplier effect. The Enterprise program for producers focuses on The Government has now confirmed an additional creating sustainable business. A number of the $1.53m a year from 05/06 on an on-going basis. “business hypotheticals” from the Enterprise The FTO would like to thank the Government for workshops have become realities. Fostering strategic providing the additional funding. This will secure a partnerships is a key aim of the workshops, so it is sustainable production base in NSW. a testament to their effectiveness that several participating producers are now in joint business The additional production investment funding to ventures that have attracted private sector finance. the FTO in 2003 has led to an increase in local production for the first time since 99/00. In 04/05 Building on the success of Aurora and Enterprise Australian and co-produced drama production in we have worked with Film Australia to create Hot NSW was valued at $153 million compared to House (to assist independent documentary makers around $109 million for 03/04 (excluding the studio to establish viable businesses) and are in the process financed animated feature Happy Feet). of establishing Switchbox, (an Aurora style program for television drama) with a range of partners. The additional funding has allowed the FTO to invest in a diverse slate, including more television An important element of the FTO’s development projects. It has also enabled the FTO to assist the strategy has been to raise the profile of NSW struggling post-production sector by investing in projects in the crowded global marketplace by projects undertaking all of their post-production in helping them gain entry to key invitation-only NSW. Recently the FTO has noted an increase in markets. Clubland’s participation in No Borders in high budget co-productions, whose post-production New York was well received and helped accelerate expenditure is potentially important to the state. the financing process. For 2005 the FTO was able The Board has responded by relaxing the to submit a very strong slate of projects to No requirement for 50% of budget spend to be in Borders and we are delighted that two, rather than NSW in cases where the NSW post-production one, have been selected. spend is $3m or above. With a renewed international focus on co-productions The FTO has been exploring different recoupment as a model for financing feature films, the FTO has models, funding the distribution guarantee for arranged for a ‘co-production tournament’ at the Footy Legends as a ‘test case’. This allowed a high annual Screen Producers Association of Australia profile international sales agent to come on board (SPAA) conference. This is only the second time in and support a talented new director, with the FTO LL the world this program has been run. recouping in first position. 6 PRODUCTION LIAISON CRITICAL SUCCESS The FTO has been working with the Premier’s Once again a number of FTO supported projects Department to finalise the review of the Local have achieved strong critical recognition. Government Filming Protocol and establish a State Government Agency Protocol. These protocols In addition to the success achieved by Somersault, are to improve the filming conditions in NSW by the mini-series Marking Time dominated the AFI standardising processes and providing a basis Television category last year taking out seven awards. for charging. Among FTO supported documentaries, Mr Patterns won best documentary at the Film Critics’ Circle In order to resolve a number of filming access Awards and at the Hawaii International Film Festival issues a Sydney Film Support Team has been while The Man Who Stole My Mother’s Face won created, chaired by the Director General, State and best documentary at the Lexus IF Awards and Helen’s Regional Development, and including the Premier’s War took out best direction in a documentary at the Department and the FTO. This team is working to AFI. The indigenous drama Djarns Djarns was provide a single point of entry to the Government awarded the prestigious Crystal Bear Award at the for complex filming issues. Berlin International Film Festival. WESTERN SYDNEY AND REGIONAL CONCLUSION The FTO has undertaken a program of career This has been a difficult year in the industry and for development with key organisations in Western Government. We are grateful that in difficult Sydney over the last three years. This year the FTO economic times the Government has been able to ran Shooting West at the brand new Campbelltown increase support for the film industry. Arts Centre. The day was a great success with over 250 people attending. The Shooting West program We thank the FTO Board members for contributing provides access to a range of opportunities for their time and considerable expertise throughout aspirant film and new media makers in Western the year. The Board of the FTO has an extraordinary Sydney, to explore scriptwriting, filmmaking, editing spread and depth of industry experience.