Entertainment Partners Strengthens Operations to Support Production Growth in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand have cemented a firm position as production hot spots on the coveted world stage. Producers have become increasingly eager to take advantage of stunning shooting locations, access to award-winning talent, some of the best incentive programs in the world and an attractive exchange rate. And with ever-increasing investments in infrastructure, both countries are poised to thrive as global production hubs for many years to come.

Entertainment Partners is also expanding operations in Australia and New Zealand with initiatives to serve our clients—now and in the coming years.

Providing access to best-in-class production software

In an ever-evolving film industry, productions—and the tools that support them—must be agile.

That’s why at EP, we consistently invest in advancing our technology to keep pace with industry and technology changes. In 2022, we acquired Moneypenny, a company providing production payroll, accounting, and incentive services to Australian productions for over forty years, further displaying our commitment to supporting local production growth.

Today, we offer indies and major studios alike access to a full range of tools and services that help productions increase efficiency, boost productivity, and alleviate common pain points. Our digital solutions, including Movie Magic Budgeting, Scenechronize, SyncOnSet, Smart Hub, Smart Accounting, and the Moneypenny platform, equip productions in Australia and New Zealand with an array of services they need to be successful. And our commitment to growth extends beyond our technology. EP is continually investing to secure talented experts across multiple divisions; notably, in recent months we have grown our post accounting, incentives and product teams—ensuring we are well positioned to provide optimal service and support to local productions.

Helping producers maximize local incentive programs

In July 2023, Australia's Location Offset rebate skyrocketed, jumping from 16.5% to 30% uncapped for qualifying projects. As an added benefit, productions have the option to stack the federal Locations incentive with various State incentives to deliver up to a 40% rebate on Australian spend when it exceeds AUD20m.  As EP’s Australian incentives expert, Jane Corden and her team leverage their decades of knowledge and experience serving the industry to help productions optimize their budgets and maximize their incentive returns.

Together, EP’s team in Australia has helped to successfully deliver over 500 Offset certificates since the program’s inception, streamlining the incentive process and seamlessly guiding clients through every step of qualifying for co-production, state or federal incentives.

A long-time supporter of local incentive programs, Corden is an active member of multiple industry organizations, including the Screen Producer’s Association of Australia and Ausfilm, which work to attract global filmmakers to the area. Over the past several years, and with the help of Corden’s leadership, EP has delivered on our commitment to helping local and international producers benefit from the amazing incentive programs and infrastructure Australia and New Zealand have to offer.

Building the next generation of production support staff

In addition to inward investments to better serve our clients, EP is also dedicated to supporting vital training programs that advance the careers of critical below-the-line and accounting production staff and bolster the local workforce. Today, EP offers production accounting training courses led by Director of Training, Jill Hewitt. These specialized training and job placement programs are available through the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS) and the Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE). Each program is designed to educate accountants on big-picture planning and the day-to-day tasks involved in working on set.

Screen Australia is also invested in promoting skills development and opportunities to boost below-the-line capacity. EP was honored to be one of twelve recipients of Screen Australia's $1.7 million industry development training initiative funding in 2023. We’re using our share of the funds to develop at least four program participants: Two focused on payroll accounting and two on post-production accounting.

Grow with EP, wherever production takes you

At Entertainment Partners, we pride ourselves on having the largest global team of production experts on standby, ready to help you navigate incentives, optimize your budget, hire the right team, manage day-to-day operations, and simplify the complex world of residuals. No matter your shoot location or project size, you’ll receive the same level of quality and service you’ve come to expect from EP. Are you ready to bring your next project to life? Get in touch with our experts today!