Beyond expands west with Perth office launch

Australia-based producer-distributor Beyond Screen Productions has opened an office in Perth, which has already scored a trio of coproduction agreements.

The new business will be called Beyond West and the agreements are with Factor 30 Films’ Melissa Kelly, Spear Point Productions’ Kelrick Martin and Zinc Finger’s Russell Vines.

Under terms of the agreements, BSP, which is part of the larger Beyond group, will provide production advice and legal, management and accounting support during development of new projects. Beyond West will coproduce the shows, with Beyond International providing sales and marketing support through staff in the UK, Ireland and the US.

Harry Bardwell will be the Perth office’s executive producer and business coordinator between Perth producers and Beyond’s Sydney base. Ron Saunders will executive produce for Beyond.

“We have been impressed by the growing pool of talented filmmakers in the West for some time, and have been examining ways to do more work there, both through coproductions, and in international distribution,” said Beyond International’s managing director and CEO Mikael Borglund. “Opening an office in Perth will allow us to work much more closely with local producers.”

Screen West CEO Ian Booth added: “We welcome the arrival of Beyond in WA as an important step in building the WA production community. Beyond will be an invaluable partner to local producers.”