Malaga film studios aim for two movies next year as $290 million project reaches halfway point

WA’s film studios in Malaga are aiming to sign two productions in its first year, its new boss has revealed, as work on the project reaches the halfway mark.

Home Fire Studios director Howard Cearns told media on Thursday the construction project to build the $290 million production facility was on track to open in April next year, but there was already interest within the market to come to Perth to film.

Mr Cearns said WA was aiming to increase its share of spend from film projects shot in Australia from one per cent to 10 per cent within the first decade of operations.

But the first year, he said, would likely just feature “one to two small to medium productions” to allow the studio to find its feet.

“The way the industry works is really projects don’t become green-lit until a few months out of actually trying to book a destination, in fact, it can be a week out,” Mr Cearns said.

“We’ve been out in the marketplace, making the world aware that there is, there are film studios here, and they’ll be open for business early next year.

“The awareness is huge already. So now it’s just a case of landing a project which we anticipate, we’d love to be looking at later in the year, towards the back in the year, being able to announce something.”

Mr Cearns said the facility was aimed at projects within a budget of $30 million to $80 million, including TV series from streaming services.

“There’s a billion dollars-plus of production expenditure on the East Coast, and we’re not getting our share.

“If currencies remain the same and all the macro dynamics that currently in our favour remain then it’s looking good.”

Speaking on one of the four sound stages in Malaga, Premier Roger Cook said the project would create jobs both in construction and in operation.

“When it’s up and running, even more direct and indirect jobs will be generated, creating significant economic benefits for the state over the long term,” he said.

“This is a important piece of infrastructure to stand up a whole new creative industries industry here in Western Australia.

“It will continue to help grow our economy. It will attract national and international investment, and it’s a win-win for WA.”