For love or money

How many jobs are really created by government investment in screen productions? Megan Reynolds investigates.

This week the NSW Government announced plans to invest nearly $1million through Screen NSW to fund four film and TV projects that will generate more than 1,000 jobs and a $25m spend in the state. But how many jobs will really be created, and what are the actual economic benefits for NSW?

Speaking off the record, industry professionals told Encore they feel the numbers are far-fetched, but Screen NSW maintains the figures come from a very stringent process.

Unlike applications for government funding in other industries, the figures are not calculated by estimating the multiplier effects their investment may have. Rather, the jobs created and spend generated by productions are based on meticulously planned budgets submitted in detailed funding applications to the funding body.