Written by David Lewis on Dec 2, 2008. Posted in On Location

Screen Australia releases Drama Production Survey

Screen Australia's 2007/08 survey shows revealing an above-average result with increases in foreign production and co-production activity, particularly in TV drama.

The survey covers all Australian and co-production titles made each year, as well foreign titles if they are shot in Australia or do post, digital or visual effects (PDV) work there.

In 2007/08 the production slate comprised 41 features and 700 hours of TV drama (43 programmes) shot in Australia, as well as 14 foreign PDV-only projects. The value of production activity, as measured by the portion of budgets spent in Australia, totalled USD675 million, 7% up on last year.

The increase was largely due to foreign production activity. Foreign features and TV drama spent over USD250 million in Australia in 2007/08, the highest spend for three years and accounting for 37% of the value of this year’s slate. The high-budget HBO mini-series The Pacific contributed more than half this amount.

Ruth Harley, Screen Australia's Chief Executive, said: "This is a solid result for the industry, particularly in television drama. It marks a good base from which to measure the future impact on production levels of the Federal Government’s new incentives.”