The Australian newspaper reports that the John Marsden classic is about to be made into a movie.

Film boost for NSW

Imre Salusinszky

A MAJOR new Australian film will be shot in NSW, generating 200 jobs and $60 million in economic activity for the state, according to Premier Nathan Rees.

Rees has this morning announced production of Tomorrow: When the War Began will be based at Sydney’s Fox studios and will include extensive filming in the Hunter Valley, near Newcastle.

“This is a big tick for NSW and especially the Hunter region,” Rees said.

“Securing this movie will also ensure that our skilled film crew are kept working in NSW.”

Tomorrow: When the World Began will be the first film produced from the highly successful series of young-adult novels by popular Australian author John Marsden.

The series tells the story of the fictional invasion of Australia by an an-named foreign power, as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl, Ellie Linton.

Following a jobs summit in February, Rees announced a number of incentives to secure major films for NSW, including payroll-tax rebates.

“This policy is already paying off,” Rees said this morning.

“Films like this invest heavily in the local economy and (there are) flow-on effects for local services such as transport, construction and the hotel industry.”

Filming of Tomorrow: When the War Began will begin later this year.