DESPITE millions in taxpayer funds being invested in the state’s film-funding body Screen Tasmania, just a small number of projects have gone into production, new figures obtained by the Mercury show.
Only 6 per cent of projects that have received grants have gone into production even though the body has invested more than $4.3 million over the past decade to generate screen productions.
That is below the national average of 10 per cent.
A staggering 76 per cent of projects funded by Screen Tasmania have been canned.
A further 4 per cent remain likely to go into production, 9 per cent have been optioned and 5 per cent remain up in the air according to a review of the Tasmanian screen industry obtained by the Mercury under Freedom of Information laws.
“While development funding is naturally a ‘hit and miss’ game, the return on development for Screen Tasmania is lower than industry-wide averages,” the report says.
The warts-and-all review shows that the current health of the Tasmanian screen industry is “weak” despite showing some signs of growth.
The report, conducted by The Nous Group and handed to the State Government late last year, shows the only area that is giving Tasmania “bang for its buck” is animation despite potential for the industry to grow across sectors including television, film, documentary and short film.
The report follows serious allegations in 2008 of disarray after one of Australia’s leading international movie producers moved a major production to Victoria after Screen Tasmania would not support him, a filmmaker received $194,280 over two years for four projects but completed one and another filmmaker received a $5500 grant and was never asked by Screen Tasmania whether the project was completed.
The report recommends a streamlining of the grants process, developing a national festival in animation to further Tasmania’s triumph in this sector and a focus on attracting a major TV production.
Nous highlights a lack of transparency in decision-making when the $1.4 million-a-year, taxpayer-funded Screen Tasmania hands over funding for projects. “After a decade the industry remains stagnant [but] there is a very strong will among stakeholders for the Tasmanian screen industry to ‘take the next step’, entering the growth phase,” the report says.
“Stakeholders ... almost unanimously perceive that the agency is currently undertaking too many activities.”
The report highlights the relationship between Screen Tasmania and mentoring agency Wide Angle Productions, which receives $250,000 annually from the body.
For Mark Shea’s questioning comments and postings, dial Mark Shea into the Tasmanian Times search function ...
Show Comments
Comments (31)