Local Hollywood : Global Film Production and the Gold Coast

Informative and engaging, this account is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Gold Coast—Australia’s first local Hollywood—and the global competition to host mobile film and television productions. Examining everything from location and story setting to financial investment, this book uncovers the range and depth of international productions made in Queensland and draws parallels between Hollywood and the Gold Coast in the 1980s, when the entertainment and leisure infrastructure changed and expanded dramatically. As it identifies the contemporary dispersal of Hollywood productions and the locations around the world equipped with the facilities, resources, political will, and tax systems that attract and host high-budget productions, this examination is sure to appeal to movie buffs who are interested in all aspects of the film industry. The pioneering story of Australia's own Hollywood. Hollywood films and television programs are watched by a global audience. While many of these productions are still made in southern California, the last twenty years have seen new production centers emerge in the US, Canada and other locations worldwide. Global Hollywood has been made possible by this growing number of Local Hollywoods: locations equipped with the requisite facilities, resources and labor, as well as the political will and tax incentives, to attract and retain high-budget, Hollywood-standard projects. This new book gives an unprecedented insight into how the Gold Coast became the first outpost of Hollywood in Australia. When a combination of forces drove Hollywood studios and producers to work outside California, the Gold Coast's unique blend of government tax support, innovative entrepreneurs and diverse natural settings made it a perfect choice to host Hollywood productions. Local Hollywood makes an essential contribution to the field of film and media studies, as well as giving film buffs a behind-the-scenes tour of the film industry. The first book about Australia's very own outpost of Hollywood Hollywood films and television programs are watched all over the world. While many of these productions are still made in southern California, the last 20 years has seen many productions made elsewhere in the US, in Canada and in locations around the world. New production centres have emerged and older centres have been retooled and revitalised by migrating Hollywood production. The 'Global Hollywood' has been made possible by a growing number of local Hollywoods locations equipped with the requisite facilities, resources and labour, as well as the political will and tax systems to attract and host high-budget, Hollywood-standard projects. Using the Gold Coast as a case study, this important new book shows how a combination of circumstances created our own outpost of Hollywood in Australia. Forces in the US pushed Hollywood studios and producers to work outside California, while a unique situation in Queensland provided an