Screen Makers Conference

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Industry and Skills. Can the minister update the house on the recent Screen Makers Conference and the Marshall Liberal government's support for the South Australian screen industry?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:37): I can actually do that. The Screen Makers Conference is the leading event for emerging and early career screen content makers in Australia. The conference was sold out well in advance, with 250 people attending the two-day event opened by the Premier last Friday. I was very pleased that the Premier was there. People were saying, 'Well, look, you're the minister. Why is the Premier opening it?' and I said that I was always happy to play second fiddle when the Premier is there. I am still in the orchestra, sir.

It is the only conference of its type in the country that attracts emerging and entry-level screen practitioners from right around Australia; in fact, 40 per cent of attendees came from interstate. Delegates had the chance to hear from accomplished writers, directors and producers—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and national organisations, including Screen Australia, Screen Producers Australia and the Australian Directors Guild, producers and leading production companies all keen to connect with young talent.

Some of the highlights included the Screen Makers Lab, a unique opportunity to learn the art of creating and developing a studio-based entertainment show, where attendees heard from some of the biggest names in television, with representatives from the ABC, SBS, the Nine Network, Fremantle Media and CJZ.

Pitch-o-rama provided the opportunity for attendees to pitch their screen concepts to a panel of industry representatives. The contest saw Anna Lindner win $10,000 in prize money for the development of her project, The Dash. She also will gain assistance from ABC TV to help her progress the idea. The highlight of the conference was the opening session. It was a one on one with the acting CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, Amanda Duthie—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and acclaimed US producer E. Bennett Walsh. Of course, he is in Adelaide for the production of Mortal Kombat, the largest production in South Australia's film history.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: The story of the Liberal Party.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Bennett traced his career in the film industry. We reviewed the back catalogue of productions that he has worked on, such as Men in Black, Robin Hood, The Great Wall, The Amazing Spiderman 2 and, of course, Kill Bill: 1 and Kill Bill: 2. He spoke of how he sees SA.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: All those swords in the back, Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Of course, he discussed his role in the production of Mortal Kombat right here in South Australia, with 580 jobs created and a $70 million spend—foreign currency, $70 million coming into South Australia, 1,500 extras. Mr Speaker, for your benefit (I know you will be interested in this), we have already spoken with the HIA and the MBA about the trades that they need for building sets—four kilometres of lighting for one particular scene. It is an extraordinary project for South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Cheltenham is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Of course, all those hundreds of names that will appear on the credits, many will be South Australian names, as they have worked behind the scenes to produce this blockbuster Hollywood production. The Marshall Liberal government is proud to have provided $255,000 to secure the Screen Makers Conference here in South Australia for the next three years so it can continue to grow this state's reputation in the Australian screen and creative industries. The Premier and I look forward to seeing the Screen Makers Conference go from strength to strength in coming years.