Netflix Inc. is a multinational entertainment content platform and production company headquartered in Los Gatos, California, with annual revenue in 2020 of US$24.99 billion, has 81 per cent of its total employee pool resident in the United States and is listed on the stock exchange – although only est. 16 per cent of its shares are owned by the general public with the majority of shares apparently held by institutional investors.
It quietly boasts in its Annual Report 2020 that the global COVID-19 pandemic has increased its paid membership by 24 per cent and its annual income by $5.13 billion.
For some reason it has turned an exploitative eye on Byron Bay and many Indigenous traditional owners, local residents and businesses remain unimpressed…..
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| Byron Bay locals want Netflix show Byron Baes to be shut down. IMAGE: The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2021 |
ABC News, 18 April 2021:
Byron Bay in northern New South Wales is defying conventional wisdom that says film and TV productions should be welcomed with open arms for the money and exposure they bring.
A petition calling on business owners to refuse the use of their premises as a location has attracted thousands of signatures.
Netflix declined to be interviewed, but in a press release it said the show would be a "docu-soap following a feed of hot Instagrammers living their best lives, being their best selves, creating the best drama content, #nofilter guaranteed".
A 'Truman Show' portrayal
Mayor Simon Richardson said the show was "offensive" to the community.
"We've almost got a Truman Show-type portrayal of who we are where everything is quite idyllic and superficial, where out the back it's an empty parking lot," Cr Richardson said.
"We've got a community that is in real stress, we've got a community that has real life issues dealing with housing, work, affordability.
"While we are here trying to deal with this as best we can, to have this pamphlet of an idea of who we are without any input by us.
"It's quite offensive."
Cr Richardson called on the producers to make the series in another town that would welcome the exposure or, if they were determined to stay in Byron, to engage with the people and the stories in the town in a more meaningful way.
He said the council's hands were tied, however, when it came to stopping the production from happening……
'Byron deserves better'
Cafe owner Ben Gordon was one among a list of businesses – including fashion behemoth Spell and boutique hotel Rae's – that said no to Netflix when location scouts came knocking.
Mr Gordon said Netflix did not offer a location fee, just the chance of greater exposure and marketing opportunities.
"All the business owners need to realise is it's not good for your business," he said.
"They will tout that it's going to be seen by millions of people and that it's free marketing but it's not good marketing and you don't want to be involved with that."
Mr Gordon said, although he benefited from people posting shots of his cafe on social media, the Netflix production "crossed the line".
"This is a show that is targeted to 790 million Netflix subscribers in America about people who aren't actually from Byron," he said.
"Anyone from Byron who represents Byron in an authentic way wouldn't be involved in this show.
"It's really low and Byron deserves better."
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