An epic film about the Vietnam War's Battle of Long Tan will be shot in Queensland this year and the state government also has Hollywood productions including the new Dora the Explorer movie in its sights
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, in Los Angeles as part of a US visit, is meeting with Hollywood studio executives from Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros, Disney and Paramount and said she received a consistent message.
Australia, to remain competitive and attract film, TV and streaming production, needs to dramatically raise its 16.5 per cent tax offset incentive it offers studios to a juicy 30 per cent.
"We need to be world competitive and what I'm hearing from the studios is we are up against London, Georgia, Montreal and Eastern European countries, so we want a level playing field that says Australia can match it with the rest of the world," Ms Palaszczuk told AAP.
The premier said the Australian film industry is at a "turning point" and she will be reaching out to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to increase the incentives offered to studios.
Paramount Studios has announced its live-action Dora the Explorer film, based on the popular animated children's TV series of the same name, will begin shooting at a yet to be decided location in July with a release date in cinemas August 2019.
Paramount is being courted by cities, states and countries around the world.
Queensland has placed a bid through Screen Queensland.
"We have a two week deadline to give the federal government about whether or not we are going to get that movie filmed in Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I'll be speaking with the prime minister because I'm not going to lose out on that because I just think that sends a message all around the world that we can film that production in Queensland.
"With that production it may not be a one off.
"It may be sequels."
The Battle of Long Tan film, titled Danger Close, will star Australian actor Travis Fimmel and was written by Australian screenwriter Stuart Beattie.
It will be shot in numerous Queensland locations including South Burnett, Kingaroy and Nerang.
Pre-production is scheduled to begin in March with shooting in April.
The film will employ 120 full time Queensland crew members and cast will have 30 principal and other acting roles.
Australian Associated Press
