With WA’s first-ever dedicated screen production facility expected to be completed by April next year, the possibilities ahead for home-grown talent appear endless.
The $233.5 million investment from the WA government, located in Malaga, north of the Perth CBD, will contain four production sound stages, with its location allowing for potential future expansion.
The State Government expects that in the next ten years, Perth Film Studios will attract up to 10 per cent of Australia’s annual screen productions to Perth, compared to the current 1 per cent.
Construction progress of the Perth Film Studios near Whiteman Park in the north-eastern suburb of Malaga in March 2025. Photo: Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport WA.
Impact on WA
Director of Special Projects for Screen and Creative Industries in Western Australia, Marty Cunningham, is part of the government body overseeing the project.
“The intent is that [the studios] will deliver thousands of local jobs and attract tourism, whilst helping to diversify the economy,” says Mr Cunningham.
The WA Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport estimates that around 600 jobs will be created, both directly and indirectly, during the studio’s construction alone.
“Perth Film Studios is an initiative of the WA Screen Industry Strategy, which is the State Government’s ten-year framework for growing, developing and building the WA screen industry,” says Mr Cunningham.
The WA Screen Industry Strategy, announced by the State Government last year, aims to grow the economic and cultural benefits from the film and television industry in Western Australia.
The strategy also includes $20 million for the WA Screen Production Attraction Incentive Fund, designed to bring interstate and international productions to WA.
Productions supported by screen funding and industry-development organisation Screenwest generated $64.59 million in direct WA expenditure, according to their annual report last year.
Screenwest claimed that every dollar invested in production activity returned an average of $3.91 in additional gross value added to the economy.
Mr Cunningham says the state’s screen industry has the potential to contribute significantly to the West Australian economy.
“The employment of West Australian creatives, West Australian screen workers, […] WA businesses, suppliers, accommodation, hospitality […] all get supported through those productions.”
Impact on local creatives
21-year-old Perth-based actor Andrew Wallace has been involved in the local industry for most of his life.
Since the announcement of the studio, he has been optimistic that the new facilities will encourage larger productions to bring their projects over to his home state.
“We don’t get a lot of acting opportunities because [Hollywood productions] are most likely going to be doing local hires over in America.
“…but now we have a film studio in Perth, they are going to be looking for local hires around here,” says Andrew.
He adds that when international producers think of the Australian screen industry, they think of the eastern states.
“I hope [the studio] will get rid of the idea that if you grew up as an actor in Perth, you are going to have to move over to Sydney, Melbourne or America,” says Andrew.
His main hope for the WA screen industry is for it to continue growing and, with the support of a film studio, allow young talent to develop and thrive locally.
“I want to be able to build a stable career at home, without the worry of having to move out of state”.
Australian talent agent Hallie McKeig shares the same hope for the industry’s future and the creatives working within it.
“If you are close to your family, but you have a love of this industry and you felt like you had to leave, that’s a really hard choice,” says Hallie.
She highlights that the more opportunities there are for high-profile productions to be filmed in WA, the more likely actors are to choose to develop their craft here.
“Because of our tax incentives, international productions are wanting to come here; there was just actually a lack of studio space.
“[The studios are] going to be booked out, there’s no question about that.”
The talent agent emphasised that the support the local industry is receiving is essential to creating a financially stable career for home-grown actors.
“We go into this industry because we love it, and we love acting and we love the art, and we love storytelling.
“…how do we create that sustainability for actors to have an income, a reliable income?”
Hallie believes the State Government has made the right investment and is confident it will pay off in the long run.
She says that the arts are one of the biggest and most competitive sectors in Australia, with the potential to bring significant economic benefits.
“We have this exciting, invigorated industry, and people can stay here if they want and have a fulfilling career”.
