Australian Capital Territory Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in the Australian Capital Territory? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Australian Capital Territory

For an introduction to shooting in Australian Capital Territory see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, premiums, fringes, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Australian Capital Territory Film Locations 

The Nation’s Capital. The Australian Capital Territory is located within the state of New South Wales. It is best known for Canberra, the capital of Australia. Film locations include government buildings, museums, centres of education, and parks.

The public sector is the main driver of economic activity. Agricultural film locations include farms that produce cattle, sheep, and lambs. Energy locations include solar power farms.

The Australian Capital Territory has hosted productions including Blacklight (2022), The Dish (2000), and The Castle (1997).

Canberra

Canberra is located on Lake Burley Griffin.

Government buildings include the Parliament House, Old Parliament House, Government House, High Court of Australia, John Gorton Building, Royal Australian Mint, National Library of Australia, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Building.

Museums and memorials of note include the Australian War Memorial, Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, National Museum of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Questacon National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra Railway Museum, and Canberra Museum and Gallery.

Centres of education include the Australian National University, and Australian Institute of Sport.

Parks of note include the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and National Arboretum Canberra.

As the nation’s capital Canberra is also home to embassies from all over the world.

The Shine Dome is a unique structure.

Kingston Powerhouse is a disused power plant.

Mount Stromlo Observatory is located just outside of Canberra.

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is located in Tidbinbilla.

Namadgi National Park has a landscape of grassy plains, snow gum forests, alpine meadows, and wetlands. Wildlife includes eastern grey kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, magpies, rosellas, and ravens.

Australian Capital Territory Film Location Permits 

Location Permits. Saturday afternoon and Sunday are the best times to film in Canberra’s downtown business district. All other times are much more restricted. Most inner city locations requiring exclusive use of public space require at least 7 days to process permits. Tracking shots and road closures require up to 10 days. Locations outside of major cities are easier to permit. Please contact us for location specific information.

Insurance. It’s also important to note that most locations require proof of public liability insurance of at least $20 million.

When To Shoot?

Spring runs from September to November with warm, sunny days. Summer runs from December to February with hot days. Autumn runs from March to May with rainy days. Winter runs from June to August with chilly, wet days.

For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Australia Day on 26th January.
• ANZAC Day on 25th April.
• Australia holds federal elections roughly once every three years.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Australia.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Recent devaluations in the Australian dollar have made filming in Australia a more cost competitive option. Distance is a major expense. Both in terms of getting to Australia as well as getting around Australia (the country is roughly the size of the US Lower 48). Australia is a very well established and sophisticated production centre so factors of production cost accordingly. Post production is one area that remains a cost saving attraction with high quality post 30-40% less expensive than in the US. Ultimately, whatever the project, our locally based fixers and service producers will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. Australia offers qualifying co-productions a Producer Offset 40% tax rebate for feature films, and a Producer Offset 30% tax rebate for documentaries, TV series, telemovies, and short form animation. Some states may offer additional production incentives. For more information visit AUSFILM. There are no tax incentives for commercials.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Canberra has a very small pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DoP / cinematographer, videographer / camera operator, stills photographer, or any other film crew for your shoot in Canberra, Australia.

If you are an exceptionally talented Canberra based director, DoP / cinematographer, videographer / camera operator, or stills photographer, introduce yourself here.

Talent is union and non-union. Talent buyouts are negotiable since the Offshore Agreement expired. For more information about the talent union please visit MEAA.

English is the official language but given Australia’s culturally diverse population, hundreds of other languages are also spoken.

Australia boasts a very large and experienced pool of multicultural talent. The majority of Australians are of European decent. The country’s large population of Asian actors and models makes it a popular destination for visiting productions from Japan, Korea, China and India. Australia also has talent minorities of Pacific Islander and African decent.

Heading outside of the cities, filmmakers and photographers can find a wealth of aboriginal cultures.

Australia also offers unique animals for filming including kangaroos, crocodiles, koalas, wombats, emus, and a wide variety of birds, bugs, and reptiles.

Fringes. Crew are either Company or Pay As You Go (PAYG). If the crew member is Company then they take care of their own superannuation and in some cases, workers compensation. Some crew members with Australian Business Numbers require workers compensation to be paid for them. If crew is PAYG then we must pay an additional 9% superannuation and 3% workers compensation. There is a 6% payroll tax.

Premiums. Australia has an eight hour shooting day, time and a half for the next two hours and double time after that. Shooting after 8:00pm is a 25% loading. Sunday is a 100% loading. The industry is currently campaigning for a 10 hour day.

Australian Capital Territory Film Equipment

Equipment. Australia offers both Panavision and Arri equipment as well as many boutique equipment companies. There is a great depth of standard and more specialised camera gear including digital cameras (Alexa, RED, Sony, Canon), film cameras (16mm and 35mm), high speed cameras (Phantom), Three-axis stabilized heads (Scorpio, Libra), Motion Control, and much more.

Unlike the US system most gear is provided by individual crew. Grip and lighting trucks are privately owned by crew who accompany them to set. Anything required in addition to this is outsourced. Crew charge a rate for the truck and then individually for lights and gripping gear, burn time and labour rates. Australia offers a great variety of standard and specialised grip and lighting gear including cranes (Technocrane, Phoenix, Giraffe), 3D camera rigs, car rigs, tracking vehicles, sea rigs, helicopter mounts, and underwater housing. Companies of note include Panavision, Red Apple, Brownie Grips, and Big Toys.

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Australia is an ATA carnet country.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction. Australian Capital Territory art department and set construction crews are limited.

Studios. Local facilities are limited.

Post Production. Local facilities are limited.

Visas & Work Permits

Short stay visa for visits under three months or business visas (meetings) are the most expedient way of gaining entry to Australia. Please note that you cannot attend meetings through the Tourist stream and may be turned around at the airport if there is suspicion in relation to your motives whilst in Australia. In addition, the business holiday visa can only be to attend meetings, sign contracts or undertake (limited) training. Any activity that would normally attract remuneration would need a work visa.

Productions that intend to stay longer than 3 months require Entertainment Visas, unless the production is not being shown in Australia, then a subclass 400 visa will be required.

For international crew to enter into Australia for work purposes, they must be covered by a subclass 408, Entertainment Visa. The local service company sponsors each visitor. For a 408 application the service company also needs to get approval from MEAA, the local Entertainment Union. To process the sponsorship visas, MEAA requires to see the deal memos between the overseas production company and each crew personnel. A similar thing has to be done with the cast’s deal memos as well.

Western passport holders travelling as tourists can an obtain an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. Passport holders of EU nations can enter under the E-visa program. Both allow stays of up to 90 days. Given recent changes to Australian immigration policy we would only advise travelling to Australia as a tourist if you intend to only undertake genuine tourist visa activities. Anyone found working on the wrong visa will be deported from Australia and face an immediate three-year ban from applying for temporary Australian visas.

Our local service producer / fixer can assist with organising Australian visas, including turning around last-minute applications.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Major roads are up to international standards. Some outback roads require 4WD transport. Australia is serviced by most major international carriers and several domestic airlines.

Accommodation. See here for recommended film friendly hotels in Canberra.

Final Notes

Safety. Australian Capital Territory is a very safe and reliable filming centre. Strict work place procedures also ensure safety on set. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Visit the capital museums.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Australian Capital Territory, please see below:

Hire Australian Capital Territory Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Australian Capital Territory, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Australian Capital Territory, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.