THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA'S FILM INDUSTRY: LIFE AFTER COVID-19

In the face of the global COVID-19 crisis, Australia’s film industry stands strong and remains unshaken.

Whilst many productions on Aussie soil may have paused filming, historical examples tell us that there is growth and prosperity waiting on the other side.

Australia’s film industry is still young in comparison to that of the United States, United Kingdom and India. With this youth comes the ability to build and strengthen, especially in the face of times such as the coronavirus health crisis.

The Australian film industry was born in the late 1960s, with the first Aussie productions shown in the early 1970s. Movies such as Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and Mad Max (1979) were wildy popular. These times coincide with the approximate closure of two worldwide conflicts: the Cold War and the Vietnam War.

'Picnic at Hanging Rock' was an Australian cinema success directed by Peter Weir. (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia)

Following other global crises such as World War Two and the Great Depression, the film industry has historically seen a rise in popularity. The period between 1942 and 1945 was Hollywood’s strongest and most profitable in history, with two-thirds of the United States’ population visiting the cinema at least weekly (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

The 1980s saw many talented Aussies poached by Hollywood. However, this opened doors for up-and-coming names like Baz Luhrmann to step into the spotlight.

Now, forty years later, Luhrmann is a household name and continues to support and strengthen Australia’s film industry. Luhrmann’s new film Elvis, a biopic about the rock and roll icon, was forced to pause production amidst the peak of Queensland’s coronavirus crisis.

The Warner Brothers production features Hollywood superstars Tom Hanks, Austin Butler and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and is currently resuming production on the Gold Coast. The film is set to reel in a whopping $105 million in profit to the state of Queensland.

This comes in the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement on July 17 that the federal government will be injecting $400 million into Queensland’s television and film industry to encourage further growth and profit for the state, as well as the country as a whole.

Mr Morrison says the money is estimated to attract around $3 billion in foreign spending over the next three years and will offer an additional 8,000 Australian jobs.

"This investment is key to our JobMaker plan to create jobs, boost local business activity and provide training and skills," he said.

This Little Love of Mine, a new film directed by American-born Sydneysider Christine Luby, has resumed production in Cairns.

The film stars Aussie actors Liam McIntyre and Saskia Hampele, who say that despite the virus, the crew are looking forward to the future of Australian productions.

Filmed in the tropics of Queensland, 'This Little Love of Mine' is directed by Christine Luby and stars Aussies Saskia Hampele and Liam McIntyre. (Photo by David Fell)

“I’m very grateful to be back on set after a difficult few months for the film industry,” Hampele said.

These government-funded incentives provide yet another pillar of strength in Australia’s already flourishing film industry. We have huge potential as a nation to become the next Hollywood, as we continue to draw production for worldwide blockbusters such as Thor and Pirates of the Caribbean to our shores.

This prosperity and strength is hugely promising for rising talent, and what comes from the industry in the next few years is sure to be revolutionary.