Shadow Arts Minister Lara Giddings has expressed her deep concern over news that Wide Angle Tasmania is facing closure.

“This is devastating news for Tasmania’s film sector,” Ms Giddings said.

“At the very least Arts Minister Vanessa Goodwin needs to reverse the cuts she made to Wide Angle’s funding to try to ensure the organisation does not have to close its doors.

“Wide Angle has provided invaluable support and expertise to Tasmanian filmmakers, especially emerging practitioners for many years.

“To see the organisation shut its doors next year would be enormously sad and a huge blow to the screen sector.

“Wide Angle is pointing to its Screen Australia funding been cut completely ($80,000) and its Screen Tasmania funding being reduced as reasons for having to close their doors.

“So far both the Premier and Ms Goodwin have failed to get their Liberal colleagues in Canberra to reverse their decision to cut WAT’s funding.

“There is still time to save Wide Angle if there is the political will to do so by the Federal and/or State Liberal Arts Ministers.

“It’s not as if the Liberal Government in Tasmania doesn’t have the funds having benefited from more than $590 million in additional GST revenue this year.”

As advised by Wide Angle Tasmania, the closure of the organisation will result in the loss of much, if not all, of the following:

Equipment Hire
Wide Angle Tasmania is the only full equipment hire business in operation in Tasmania. There is no other option for filmmakers, businesses or community groups to source camera, sound, lights and post–‐production equipment from the one place in the state. In 2013 we waived $28,000 in hire fees to support screen production activity – resulting in films that were broadcast on television, cinemas, online and at major Australian and international festivals.

Talent Development
Wide Angle’s direct support of production activity ensures a steady flow of on-the-job experience for emerging creatives, crew and cast. In-bound and local productions rely on crew and cast who have learned their craft on the set of Wide Angle supported films. These films have provided portfolios for entry to NIDA for several young actors and provided credits and experience to leverage opportunities to work professionally within and outside Tasmania.

Professional Development
Tasmania does not offer university production training. AFTRS (Australian Film, Television and Radio School) closed its Tasmanian office in 2011 and provides minimal offerings statewide. Professional development within Tasmania is restricted to WAT’s training, mentoring and production opportunities.

Screen Community
Since its inception in 2005 Wide Angle Tasmania has been the glue that has bound disparate sectors of the screen community together. Our advice and referral service provides a one-stop shop for screen practitioners – new and established, and the broader community. We respond to more than 5,000 queries each year. These include:
• Tasmanian screen practitioners at all levels needing project and professional development advice
• Educators scoping opportunities and pathways for their students or their own practice/resourcing requirements
• Companies (local and inbound) seeking crew or staff
• Community groups/businesses/festivals seeking production advice, collaborators or crew needs

Support of Screen Tasmania’s industry development strategy
Crew and cast who work on local screen productions and in-bound productions such as The Kettering Incident have developed skills and experience through Wide Angle Tasmania’s programmes and initiatives. Our capacity to dovetail with Screen Tasmania’s strategy is compromised by a reduction in our core operational funding.
Lara Giddings MP Shadow Minister for the Arts