Don Page, Minister for Local Government and Minister for the North Coast has welcomed the cast and crew of the major new Australian feature film Mental, starring Toni Collette and Liev Schreiber, to the Northern Rivers.

Mr Page said the film, which is directed by one of Australia’s most successful international directors, PJ Hogan (Peter Pan, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Muriel’s Wedding), is filming in several locations from Ballina to the NSW-Queensland border.

Mr Page visited the set of Mental, which is a romantic comedy, during filming at Ballina Olympic Pool and Waterslides, where he witnessed the actors and the crew in action.

“The decision by the producers to bring Mental to the Northern Rivers has created more than 100 jobs for local actors, `extras’ and crew, while the film’s production will also boost local businesses as money is spent on production requirements such as accommodation, food and transport,” Mr Page said.

“PJ Hogan’s films have delighted audiences wherever they’ve screened and Mental is sure to do the same, while also showcasing our beautiful region to the world.

“As Local Government Minister, I recognise the direct cultural, tourism and broader economic benefits of such a large production for a local community and a local government area, so I urge councils right around NSW to do everything they can to attract and facilitate similar productions in their own areas.”

Mr Page said the NSW Government has invested in Mental through the Screen NSW Production Investment Fund, and secured its filming for the Northern Rivers region through a grant from the Regional Filming Fund, which was established to ensure that regional NSW shares in the benefits that the film industry brings to communities which host them.

Mr Page said that in the past two years, more than $640,000 has been spent on seven screen projects through the Regional Filming Fund.

“These productions have filmed in eight regional locations around NSW, injecting more than $5.7 million into regional economies and creating more than 800 jobs for locals.”

The producers of Mental are Todd Fellman (Bait) and Jocelyn Moorehouse (Peter Pan, Proof and Muriel’s Wedding).