- $18.7 million in funding to attract major productions, market WA as a film destination nationally and internationally, and boost local industry capacity
- Announcement as Population: 11, a Stan Original Series filmed in Derby, Western Australia, premieres in Perth with star Ben Feldman on blue carpet
- Return on Cook Labor Government investment of $1.9m towards production of Population: 11 via Screenwest, Lotterywest, and WA Regional Screen Fund
- Population: 11 created 100 WA jobs and led to a spend of about $7.1m, including $3.4m regional expenditure with 8,620 overnight stays in Kimberley region
Show business is good business for Western Australia that’s the message from the Cook Labor Government as the Minister for Culture and the Arts reveals almost $19 million in new funding for the State’s screen industry.
The announcement has been made at the premiere of Population: 11, the first Stan Original Series filmed in Western Australia.
That production created significant employment and an economic boost.
This funding will support WA’s soon-to-be launched Screen Industry Strategy, including more than $15m for incentives to attract major productions to the screen production facility currently under construction near Malaga Station.
It will also help to market and promote WA as a film destination nationally and internationally.
It comes after Screenwest recently received a blockbuster $9.2m this year, an additional $1.5m from Lotterywest, with $1m for local productions and $500,000 towards First Nations programs.
To date, the scheme known as the WA Production Attraction Incentive has attracted high-profile productions to the State, including The Twelve: Season Two, starring Sam Neill and Frances O’Connor, and The Surfer starring Nicolas Cage.
Meanwhile, American actor Ben Feldman has returned to WA after filming the quirky comedy crime thriller Population: 11 in Derby last year.
The star, known for roles in Superstore, Silicon Valley, and Mad Men, took to a blue carpet (Stan’s signature colour) for the Population: 11 premiere at a cinema in Perth.
The Cook Government has also realised its return on investment, after providing $1.9m towards production of Population: 11 via Screenwest, Lotterywest, and the WA Regional Screen Fund.
As well as 100 jobs, including 49 regional jobs, there was an estimated $7.1m in direct expenditure with $3.4m of that regional expenditure.
Population: 11 is a 12-episode series about a man who goes missing from a tiny outback town of only 12 residents (11 after the missing man), and his estranged son, played by Ben Feldman, who journeys from the United States to find him.
It will be available in Australia through Stan’s streaming service from 14 March, 2024.
Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“I’m delighted to announce almost $19m in new funding to bring major productions to WA from across Australia and overseas, and to help our local industry to keep up with the rapidly growing demand to film productions in WA.
“To date, the scheme we call the WA Production Attraction Incentive has attracted a number of high-profile productions to the State.
“It’s wonderful to have Population: 11 star Ben Feldman here, all the way from America, for the premiere of this WA-filmed production, and for us to realise the return on the Cook Government’s investment 100 jobs including local cast and crew, and all the extras from Derby and Broome. It’s also been great to see the $7.1m expenditure including all 62 rooms at King Sound Resort booked for the full duration of production – that’s 8,620 overnight stays in our Kimberley region.
“Once again, WA locations will be appreciated by Stan streaming service viewers across the country from this Thursday, 14 March.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The Kimberley region is once again on our screens after providing the stunning setting for the critically acclaimed series Mystery Road, it is now the backdrop for Population: 11.
“Our Government’s support for productions filmed in regional communities provides job opportunities for local talent and creatives, and showcases regional WA to international audiences.
“Our latest $18.7m in screen industry specific funding will continue to raise the profile of regional WA as a filming destination.”
