Perth Film Studios Opens with $290m Investment to Lure Hollywood

The Launch of Perth Film Studios

Tom Avison, the inaugural chief executive of Perth Film Studios, is on a mission to lure Hollywood to Perth. The studio, built on a former cow paddock, features four vast sound stages, production offices, workshops, and a backlot. The $290m facility is a significant investment in Western Australia's film industry.

The Investment and Incentives

The build cost $233.5m, funded by state taxpayers, with a further $57m committed to support the studio's first decade of operation. The studio aims to stack its production incentive with the federal location offset, a tax rebate designed to attract film and television projects to Australia.

The Potential Impact

The studio's goal is to increase Western Australia's share of scripted screen production from 1% to 10% over the next decade. With its cinematic range of landscapes, WA has rarely been used by bigger productions. Avison sees 'a tremendous amount of untapped opportunity' in the state.

The Current Projects

Work is already underway on the studio's sound stages, with the six-part Stan and ITV mystery-thriller 'Two Birds' in its first week of production. The series is employing over 100 local cast and crew and is expected to inject over $17m into the WA economy.

The Future Outlook

Avison aims to grow the industry sustainably, without pushing it beyond what it can sustain. With the global film industry shifting, and Los Angeles' share of worldwide production declining, Perth Film Studios is poised to capitalize on the trend.