Western Australia’s screen industry professionals have been given a boost thanks to the many productions now being created in the State. This includes popular television series The Heights, which just started filming its second season. Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman visited the East Perth set on Monday to mark the occasion and meet the cast and crew.
“The Heights is just one of many fantastic productions being made here in WA. In fact, we currently have more independent productions being filmed here than any other State This is great news for our local screen industry professionals who are receiving more and more opportunities to develop their skills and connect with colleagues across the State, nationally and internationally.” Minister Templeman commented “A vibrant, innovative and diverse screen industry creates jobs and diversifies the economy, but ultimately it enables our uniquely Western Australian stories to reach audiences around the world.” The Minister added
The Heights focuses on the residents and surrounding community of an inner-city social housing complex. It brings together a range of diverse characters from different cultures, classes and backgrounds.
Minister Templeman said that second season of The Heights will support more than 100 Western Australian creatives, many of whom have stepped into senior roles after their work on the first season. From the creative team to the cast and crew, the production combines talent at all levels, providing valuable on-the-job training for emerging screen industry professionals. The Heights is providing opportunities across the board – the story team, including five local writers, and post-production are both based out of Western Australia.
The Minister explained that the WA Government is building capacity of the screen sector by offering attractive and effective screen production incentives through Screenwest. The Western Australian Regional Film Fund (WARFF) encourages production in the State’s regions which helps to boost local economies. Recent productions include H is for Happiness and Rams which were both filmed in the Great Southern, television series Mystery Road was filmed in the Kimberley and Aussie Gold Hunters in the Goldfields. The Minister went on to add that the State Government is also maximising opportunities across the broader industry, including in the interactive, immersive technology and games sectors which are experiencing rapid global growth.
Minister Templeman said that the recent virtual reality festival XR:WA gave local screen-based and immersive media pioneers opportunities for networking and capacity building with national and international colleagues through the industry component. Also, with funding support from Lotterywest, Screenwest’s Interactive Pilot Fund will provide $100,000 to five Western Australian interactive screen projects.