Lights, camera, action: La Brea makes return to inject $118m into the economy

The Australian economy will receive a $118 million shot in the arm as American sci-fi drama series La Brea returns to Victoria for a second season of production.

Receiving $16 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Location Incentive grant, the second round of filming is expected to create 390 jobs for Australian cast and crew and make use of approximately 800 local businesses.

Initially airing on NBC in September last year, the show tells the story of a family that tries to survive after they are separated by a massive sinkhole that mysteriously opens in Los Angeles.

“The return of this series to Australia is a testament to our talented screen sector and stunning landscape, which both caught the attention of viewers across the globe and earned La Brea a nomination at the 2021 People's Choice Awards,” said Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities & the Arts, Paul Fletcher.

The first instalment of the series secured a $9.66 million grant from the Location Incentive program, making it one of the biggest TV projects shot in Victoria in the past decade.

“The production of La Brea Season 1 injected an estimated $84 million into the Australian economy and created more than 475 jobs for local cast and crew,” said Fletcher.

“The production of season two in Victoria will provide us with another opportunity to create a pipeline of continued jobs to develop the next generation of screen industry professionals.”

Last year, the $540 million Location Incentive program injected $6.3 million into the production of Young Rock,$3.9 million into Australian Survivor and $23.3 million into Nautilus.

“The Victorian Government is proudly backing the state's screen industry through our $191.5 million VICSCREEN strategy, strengthening Victoria's position as a global screen powerhouse,” acting minister for creative industries Martin Pakula said.

During the show’s operation, Universal Studio Group and Matchbox Pictures will partner with the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) to launch a training initiative dedicated to virtual production.  

“Paul Fletcher, the Australian Government and local creative industry helped support the success of the series, and we’re looking forward to giving back to the community with our new training initiative,” Universal television president Erin Underhill said.

To date, the government has distributed more than $272 million under Location Incentive to attract 28 international products to Australia, generating more than $2.1 billion in private investment and providing more than 17,800 employment opportunities.