Amazon dystopian drama 'The Wilds' relocates to Australia for season 2

Amazon dystopian drama 'The Wilds' relocates to Australia for season 2

Rachel Griffiths (pictured) will star in Season 2 of 'The Wilds' (Image via Amazon).

Amazon Original series The Wilds will start filming its second season on the Gold Coast this week after relocating production from New Zealand.

Cast and crew of the TV show, that centres around a group of teenage girls who are left stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, will utilise the Gold Coast hinterland and beaches for location filming.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the series starring Rachel Griffiths was just one of many high-profile projects that will be in production over the coming months.

"This is boom time for Queensland's screen industry and it means jobs for Queenslanders, and millions of dollars for our economy," the Premier said.

"The amazing response of Queenslanders to the global pandemic ensures our State is safe, open for business and good to go, and the international and local screen production industry recognises this."

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said Queensland-based productions like The Wilds Season 2 are creating job opportunities for local creatives and crew.

"Queensland's talented and experienced producers and writers are creating original, compelling content for Australian and international audiences," Munnich said.

"Supporting script development and local production through Screen Queensland's Ideas and Finance Investment programs enables homegrown creatives to deliver productions with entertainment and cultural value, and real economic benefits for the State."

The Federal Government has provided $9.8 million to co-producers ABC Signature to film Season 2 of The Wilds in Queensland.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said the production was expected to bring investment of more than $73 million to the Australia economy and create more than 270 jobs for cast and crew.

"A major benefit of international productions filming in Australia is building capacity in areas of skills shortages for our screen industry," Fletcher said.

"I'm pleased that ABC Signature has committed to undertake training and development opportunities for Australian crew both for those who live in Queensland and across Australia."

"We have a world-class film industry, extremely diverse filming locations, outstanding studio facilities, and a careful management of COVID-19 risks. These factors have cemented Australia as an attractive destination for international studios to film their productions."

The announcement comes as the Federal Government extended two measures to support the continued production of local screen content in Australia.

Government support fund extended

The $50 million Temporary Interruption Fund (TIF) will be extended for a further six months, to provide coverage for productions that commence principal photography prior to 31 December 2021.

The Federal Government will also retain at 40 per cent the Producer Offset rate for feature films with a theatrical release. In addition, as announced last year, the Government will raise the Producer Offset rate from 20 to 30 per cent for other eligible formats such as drama and documentary content for television and streaming platforms.

"TIF has been vital in providing the certainty that productions need to secure financing, and it will have assisted with more than 12,000 production roles and 5000 business contracts in its first year of operation," Fletcher said.

"Australian feature films play an important role in our cultural identity and resonate strongly with audiences at home and abroad. After consulting with Australian feature film producers and considering the feature film environment abroad, we have determined that retaining the offset at 40 per cent is appropriate to ensure the ongoing vitality of the sector."

Since the beginning of 2020, Queensland has secured 39 locally made and international productions.

"These productions have injected an estimated $437 million into the local economy and created approximately 5,500 jobs for Queenslanders," Palaszczuk said.

"Clearly, for movie and TV makers, Queensland is the place to be."

Escape from Spiderhead - a Netflix Original film starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller - recently wrapped on the Gold Coast, as did the Baz Lurhmann Elvis biopic.

Queensland is currently hosting production of the Ron Howard-directed film Thirteen Lives about the Thai caves rescue.

Further, filming of All My Friends are Racist, an ABC comedy series with Queensland Executive Producers Hoodlum Entertainment in partnership with Oombarra Productions, is underway in Brisbane.

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