PRESS RELEASE
The operators of the new Perth Film Studios are pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Avison as Chief Executive Officer following a global recruitment search.
High-quality applications from domestic and international markets were received and assessed by a selection panel that included Home Fire Operations, the Arts and Culture Trust and industry specialist recruitment firm, Entertainment Personnel Australia.
Tom is currently the Director of Operations at Sky Studios Elstree in London, regarded as one of the UK’s newest, most modern, sustainable, and innovative screen facilities. Tom has led operations from pre-launch to date, accommodating recent major films such as Wicked, Paddington 3, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and Jurassic World: Rebirth. Prior to Sky, Tom has spent much of the past 10 years in leadership roles across the UK Studios industry, having previously led 3 Mills Studios in East London and the historic Twickenham Studios in West London.
Home Fire Director Howard Cearns said:
“Tom Avison is a proven leader in the screen industry, with nearly 20 years of experience across the sector including studio management, sales, operations, production and post-production. Importantly for Perth Film Studios, Tom was the first operational hire at Sky Studios Elstree, employed to lead the delivery of operational excellence, driving recruitment, process and systems development and the creation of a dynamic, collaborative culture across the facility.
“Sky Studios Elstree, owned and operated by Sky (part of Comcast), is one of the UK’s largest studios, a 35-acre facility with 12 stages covering 260,000 sq ft. To successfully host the production of Wicked and Wicked: For Good as its opening client, followed by a significant number of productions from NBCU and other major US Studios and streamers, across multiple stages, highlights Tom’s expertise, experience, and reputation. We are delighted to have attracted someone so qualified and genuinely excited to assist us open Perth Film Studio’s in 2026”.
Tom Avison said:
“I have always been attracted to opportunities that are full of creative energy, having the chance to visit Perth and spend time with the major stakeholders and Home Fire team it was clear that what is happening in WA with Perth Film Studios is one of those opportunities.
“Not only did I see a world class studio facility emerging, but also an experienced and successful screen sector growing at pace - I saw a chance that was too good to resist. I am very excited and honoured to be joining this team.”
Additionally, Home Fire has appointed James Grandison as Business and Industry Development Director. James has been working as a consultant for Home Fire up to this point but has now become an official member of the Home Fire team.
James is one of WA’s most experienced producers and production managers with credits including The Surfer with Nicolas Cage, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Mystery Road: Origin, Blueback and Sweet As. Based previously in London and Melbourne producing on location and in studios, he is now Perth-based and a current member of Screenwest’s Industry Advisory Group.
Howard Cearns said:
“James will contribute to the overall industry development work required to support incoming productions and ensure WA is increasingly film-friendly. It is a role that requires close collaboration with the local industry, Screenwest, Ausfilm and the WA State Government. We have been working with James for a while now and recognise the respect he has in the industry and know what great value he brings to Perth Film Studios.”
Screenwest CEO, Rikki Lea Bestall, said attracting the likes of Tom Avison and James Grandison to join the Perth Film Studios team adds to the confidence and further momentum building behind our screen industry sector.
“Western Australia has seen growth year-on-year for screen production and the arrival of Perth Film Studios is an exciting time for the sector,” she said.
“We look forward to working closely with the Perth Film Studios team to fill the studios with local, national and international screen productions’
ABOUT PERTH FILM STUDIOS
Perth Film Studios offers purpose-built infrastructure and services to support the production of feature films, television series, and other audio-visual content. The facility is in Malaga, approximately 25 minutes from the Perth CBD, and only 15 minutes from the domestic and international airport.
The studio's facilities are designed to cater to the diverse needs of production teams by offering:
- 2 x 20,000 sq ft and 2 x 25,000sq ft sound stages (90,000 total)
- 2 x large workshops
- A 5-acre backlot plus multi use area (“boneyard”)
- Stage annexes containing spaces for costume, make-up, offices, editing, storage and green rooms.
LOS ANGELES –AUSFILM WEEK OCT 2024
Perth Film Studios was recently admitted as a Platinum Member of Ausfilm and joined a delegation with Screenwest to meet potential customers in Los Angeles at ‘Fall Ausfilm Week’, which included representatives from Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Paramount and Warner Brothers.
“It was a timely opportunity to present the design and progress of Perth Film Studios and the possibilities for screen production in Western Australia,” said Home Fire’s James Grandison.
“The opportunity to promote Perth, Western Australia, and Perth Film Studios alongside Screenwest Head of Production Chris Veerhuis was a great privilege,” he said.
“The interest in our state and what is possible for the future of screen production in Western Australia is one of the most exciting things I’ve been a part of in my 20+ years in the screen industry.”
Home Fire and Screenwest are looking forward to returning to LA with Ausfilm in March 2025 to continue to build these relationships as we work towards securing the first booking for Perth Film Studios.
PERTH FILM STUDIOS LOGO
The Los Angeles trip provided the opportunity to unveil the Perth Film Studio’s logo. The logo incorporates ‘frames’ that use the aspect ratios of film.
The classic Hollywood 4:3 'Academy' and the wide ‘Cinemascope' frames represent “windows of possibility” for storytelling and showcasing WA’s extraordinary light, sky, and space.
The frames can be utilised according to application and message type providing versatility and adaptation. The logo is currently being rolled out across promotional material and digital platforms.
CONSTRUCTION
The construction of Perth Film Studios remains on schedule to be delivered in time for an early-mid 2026 opening. The four sound stages, annexes and workshops are now highly visible to commuters on Marshall Road as they travel through Malaga where the studios are located.
SCREENWEST
2025 is looking to be another bumper year of production in Western Australia with a number of film and television projects soon to be announced. 2025 releases include The Surfer, Invisible Boys, Scrublands: Silver, The Twelve Season 3, Big Backyard Quiz, Mystery Road: Origin Season 2, Birthright, We Bury the Dead, Proclivitas, Overture and Kangaroo Beach Season 3.