By Travis Johnson
Technicolor is setting up shop in Adelaide, having just announced plans to create Mill Film, a visual effects (VFX) centre that will employ some 500 people. It is anticipated that the media giant’s new centre will make South Australia a major production and post-production destination for the global screen industry.
Costing $26m, Mill Film aims to supply VFX for major film studios and streaming services, expanding later into the emerging virtual and augmented reality sectors. It will be only the latest of Technocilor’s worldwide holdings; the French firm has facilities in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Vancouver, Bangalore and Shanghai, employing more than 15,000. Their work can be seen in The Shape of Water, Jungle Book, The Martian, Blade Runner 2049, Wonder Woman and Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
“We picked Australia as an opportunity for expansion because it provides an ability to engage with a pool of proven creative talent; work with leading universities; and build on a modern and mature infrastructure that is critical for working on high-end VFX projects.” said CEO Frederic Rose.
The South Australian government will kick in up to $6 million from the Economic Investment Fund, with an expected economic benefit for the state of $252.6 million over ten years.
“We are standing up for South Australian jobs,” said Premier Jay Wetherill, “And investing in the new industries that will provide these jobs. We have a strong track-record of attracting new companies to SA, and will continue to grow the industries of the future so that our children can have great careers here.”
