First production revealed for Perth’s new $233.5 million film studio
The starting gun has been fired for Perth Film Studios with its first major production, a crime drama set in a fictional version of Kalgoorlie.
More than 100 cast and crew are expected to work on the six-episode series two birds It’s for Stan, the streaming service owned by Nine Entertainment, which also owns the masthead, and for ITV in the UK.
two birds Australian actress Judy Davies will also appear, as well as Stephen Peacocke. Home and Away fame and British BAFTA winner Sheridan Smith.
The series will be shot on one of the main sound stages of the $233.5 million Malaga studio and on location in Kalgoorlie.
Producer Martha Coleman said the series focuses on Smith’s British detective character Izzie, who comes to Dugdale (Kalgoorlie) hoping for a fresh start. However, before he can get used to it, a series of events begin to turn his life upside down.
Coleman said he was “blown away” two birds It would be the production that would christen the new studio.
“I think for the first time we have an absolutely world-class studio and there are no compromises,” he said.
The production received incentive grants from Screenwest and was expected to generate approximately $17 million in revenue for the WA economy.
Including extra incentives and operating costs, the movie studio project cost the state government $300 million.
The building was completed two months ago two birds It is the first production announced.
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk has promised there is much more to come.
“We’re quite competitive in Australia so this is already attracting quite a lot of business and I’m confident we’ve got the model right with both Screenwest and our industry partners,” he said.
“It is a very competitive industry, so we need to improve our capacity.
“All the feedback I’ve gotten is that people are really impressed with these studios, Screenwest, the production we have here, the cast and crew, our technical team and support staff, so it’s really encouraging to see that.”
Perth Film Studios CEO Tom Avison did not reveal details of other productions in development, but hinted there was interest from all levels of the industry.
“This is coming from domestic, interstate productions, production companies who see an opportunity here, then internationally and up to the biggest studios and broadcasters who are aware of what we’re doing and see what’s happening,” he said.
Avison said that it was recently announced that Netflix would shoot a new series: crushersIt has shown that WA in the South West is on the radar of the biggest broadcasters in the world.
“What we’re doing and what’s happening here reaches all levels of the manufacturing industry, and that’s really exciting for us,” he said.
The Australian film industry is likely to become a bit more competitive in the coming years, with the NSW government recently announcing it is seeking private partners to build six new soundstages in the greater Sydney area with an investment of $100 million.
Avison thought this showed NSW was trying to copy WA’s success.
“[It] “I was immediately struck by the fact that the New South Wales government saw the success of what was done here and the way it worked here and said, ‘Wait a minute, they’re on to something,'” he said.
“First: I think WA should be really proud of this, it looks like someone is copying them.
“The other side of this, I think, reflects the appetite in the market and the optimism that growth will continue.
“I’m not worried about New South Wales. I also think it adds to the menu of production options for the Australian team and makes the country more attractive to come and work in.”
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Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political correspondent and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Award for best political journalism.Connect with: X or email.
