Australia showcasing for first time at FOCUS 2018

FOCUS talks to Andrea Gorddard of production service company Australian Fixer HQ.

FOCUS caught up with founder and film fixer extraordinaire Andrea Gorddard to hear more about Australian Fixer HQ and the locations and production services Andrea and her team will be promoting at FOCUS 2018.

Andrea what brings you and Australian Fixer HQ to FOCUS this year?

I’m so looking forward to FOCUS 2018! This will be my first year attending this Market and I see it as a fantastic opportunity to network with many production companies and producers from the UK and Europe and to promote every element of the magic of bringing their productions to Australia. I have been researching which Market in the UK and Europe I should attend to fly Australia’s production flag and FOCUS 2018 seems to be the perfect opportunity to do just that. It will great to meet many of the UK clients who have already contacted me – and also a wonderful chance to assist my plans to expand into Europe.

I have been researching which Market in the UK and Europe I should attend to fly Australia’s production flag and FOCUS 2018 seems to be the perfect opportunity to do just that.

What are you hoping to get out of the event and what in particular will you be promoting at FOCUS 2018?

Demystifying distance and geography! Letting everyone know that the long flight “down under” is absolutely worth making!! Filming in Australia offers the most diverse spectacular landscapes you’ll ever see; desert, rainforest, alpine, farming, tropical, coastal, historical towns, cosmopolitan cities – and much, much more. I will be promoting Australia as a filming destination to international producers and broadcasters and emphasizing Australian Fixer HQ’s expertise and experience in assisting companies with a full production and fixer service for their filming trip to Australia.

Filming in Australia offers the most diverse spectacular landscapes you’ll ever see; desert, rainforest, alpine, farming, tropical, coastal, historical towns, cosmopolitan cities – and much, much more.

Please tell us about Australian Fixer HQ.

Australian Fixer HQ was created after more than 25 years of Television production and filming experience. I’ve been in the role of Line Producer and Head of Production at a number of production companies in Australia. I have spent many years budgeting and setting up shoots and overseeing teams of productions filming in Australia and internationally where I problem solved and run the logistics and finances of all shoots. My years of experience line producing blue chip productions for Discovery Channel US, National Geographic, the BBC and many European broadcasters and Australian networks, as well as a lot of work for Qantas, led me to create the business. My brain was FULL of all things logistics, crewing, travel and locations over SO many years that I have brought it all together in one service! Australia is a very large and incredible country to film and Australian Fixer HQ will personally look after every production requirement from the first point of contact.

What productions have you recently been servicing in Australia?
I have been busy assisting many UK, Indian and US productions with location permits, crewing and visas and at the moment I am working with a US production company assisting them in setting up their shoot for a fishing series being filmed around the world with an episode in the Northern Territory. The logistics and location permits in this area are extremely complex as this is Indigenous Land and incredibly special and sacred. The opportunity for an international crew to film in the stunning Northern Territory National Parks is breathtaking on camera, but does require a local fixer and knowledge. I have been very fortunate to have had many years of experience filming in this ancient part of Australia. It’s so exciting to help a production have this amazing opportunity.

At both a national and state level, there is a great range of incentives to attract international producers and productions to Australia, for film, television and other screen production.

Are there any filming incentives on offer in Australia on a national level as well as regional / state incentives that producers would be interested in knowing about?

At both a national and state level, there is a great range of incentives to attract international producers and productions to Australia, for film, television and other screen production. The Federal Government offers many generous tax incentives with the Producer Offset which entitles production companies to a 40% rebate on eligible feature films and 20% on documentary formats with significant Australian content. Also post-production is not forgotten with an attractive 30% rebate if the post work is done in Australia (even if not filmed here). Australia is VERY competitive and very keen to attract feature film, television, content and stills filming down here from around the world with many incentives and each individual State funding body also offers many appealing financial and non-financial incentives such as location scouting assistance…there are so many reasons to choose Australia to film!

Andrea, many thanks for your time and we are very much looking forward to seeing you and the Australian Fixer HQ at FOCUS 2018.

More info at www.australianfixerhq.com.au/