This is according to Screen Tasmania executive manager Alex Sangston, who said the screen industry can drive economic benefit into the state. 

The release of the Screen Tasmania strategic plan in July has highlighted the areas for growth to ensure the industry continues to expand. 

The focus is on growing the industry sustainably, which will bring several benefits to the island state. 

“Over the two financial years up to the end of 2015-16 … $22 million was spent in Tasmania alone on drama production,” Mr Sangston said. 

“That’s on the back of the state government putting in $1.7 [million] per financial year so the actual multiplier of money in compared to money out is huge.”

The direct economic input from developing productions in the state is also boosted by the flow-on effect of tourism benefits.

A Screen Australia report released this year showed an economic benefit of $725 million to Australia directly from international tourists attracted by screen content.

“That’s not the aim of investing into screen product, that’s just an extra outcome,” Mr Sangston said. 

“If we are able to invest in projects that actually make money and hits in a big way, that can have a huge economic benefit back into the economy.”

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While Tasmania does face challenges, such as competing with larger screen centres for funding, Mr Sangston believes Tasmania also has unique advantages. 

“Because we’re an untapped market and we’re an unseen location and we have undiscovered talent,” he said. 

A key strategic aim of Screen Tasmania going forward is to increase diversity in Tasmanian production, including regional diversity, spreading the benefits across the state. 

“We’re in discussion with a number of northern creatives and northern production companies … increasingly the North West coast as well,” Mr Sangston. 

“It’s one of our major growth areas that we see in the coming years.”

Mr Sangston is focussing on developing a full time cast, crew and key creative base in the state.