The former head of the NZ Film Commission, Graeme Mason has now been in the role of CEO of Screen Australia for eight months. Mason described again how when he arrived back in Australia to take on the role, ‘the sense of entitlement just did my head in.’ He was also surprised by the level of negativity given the appetite for Australian content on Australian screens.
As outlined by host Sandy George, the May budget cuts saw Screen Australia lose $38m over four years. Some of the recent changes to the agency include: all funding up to $500,000 except P&A loans will be grants, Screen Australia will relinquish copyright to the producer, there will be a Business and Audience department to replace the Marketing Department and State and Industry Programs Department. The state resource agencies have also had their funding cut.
