REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday December 15, 2005

THE Gold Coast film industry was in the midst of a much-needed $190 million resurgence.

Cameras were to start rolling on two major TV productions in 2005 and possibly an international feature film, which was set to inject more than $130 million into the local industry.

The boost came on top of a $60 million bonus generated by two movies in the pipeline at Warner Roadshow Studios.

Children’s TV series Mortified and Answered by Fire, a miniseries based on the bloody 1999 referendum in East Timor, were seen as a rescue package needed to cure the crippled industry – plagued by a rising Australian dollar and failure to meet international incentive schemes.

Red Dwarf: The Movie, an adaptation of the popular British

TV series, also looked headed to the Gold Coast in 2005 after director Doug Naylor spent time here and liked what he saw.

Queensland Arts Minister Anna Bligh said it was a promising end to what had been a disappointing year for the film industry.

“This is a very healthy sign that things are on the move in this industry,” said Ms Bligh.

“The two TV series are a real shot in the arm for episodic television in Queensland.”