Premier out to make us a reel-life movie world
THE Gold Coast could benefit from a renewed focus on the film industry from the Queensland Government.
In the city to speak at a Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce breakfast yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted to capitalise on “the emergence of a really strong movie industry” to inject jobs and cash into the city.
Ms Palaszczuk met with executives from Legendary Pictures and Universal, which made the Angelina Jolie film Unbroken on the Coast, as well as bosses from Disney and its subsidiary Marvel.
“They are all talking to me about how they want to invest money on the Gold Coast,” she said. “What I want to see is a permanent movie industry on the Gold Coast.
“I met with Sean Bailey, he came out recently, the head of Disney and I took him to a football match called the State of Origin – I’m trying everything here, I want these movies secured here for the Gold Coast. They had a great time.”
Documents tabled to Parliament about the Premier’s US trip show she offered specific encouragement to Legendary to choose the state as the location for “a major upcoming production”.
“They love the work ethic of the Australians and the Queenslanders, they love how easy it is to get things done.
“Once you have all the stars coming here and eating in the restaurants, people will want to come to the Gold Coast and see who they can star-spot as well.”
On her mission to China last month, Ms Palaszczuk met with Chinese development kingpin Wang Jianlin, whose Wanda Group is partner of the Jewel development and is the world’s largest owner of cinemas, including Australia’s Hoyts chain.