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As Hollywood effectively shuts down for filming for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19, production companies are scouting further afield for safe locations to send the stars. With Australia and New Zealand topping their lists, the ACT might just be the next LA. Blacklight producer Paul Currie has been in Canberra for the past week filming car stunt scenes for the Liam Neeson movie. Mr Currie, alongside stunt director Guy Norris and locations manager John Greene, has applauded the capital’s quiet streets, nondescript cityscape and efficient approval processes. In town to film scenes supposedly set in Washington DC, the travelling troupe of around 50 industry professionals has been pleasantly surprised with what they’ve found in Canberra, according to Mr Currie. While the idea of ‘Collywood’ might seem far fetched, a proposal to build a national film studio in the capital was a real possibility in the eighties. In 1981, United American and Australasian Film Productions proposed a 25-hectare site including film studios, processing laboratories, screening rooms, set design space and accommodation. According to The Canberra Times archives, UAA considered Canberra over other Australian capital cities due to “the lack of air pollution, ease of movement, variety of landscapes and access to other scenery” such as the coast and mountains. While plans to build a studio at Western Creek were quashed when concerns were raised over the use of film investment schemes to exploit Australian tax laws, the Hollywood dream is far from dead. Screen Canberra CEO Monica Penders said to grow the profile of the screen industry in Canberra there was a few key criteria the city must meet. “The first thing is always the incentives, as in, what can we offer them in terms of money?” Ms Penders said. “But if you really want to attract these large-scale productions you need to have studio space,” Ms Penders said. “That could be an old warehouse, it doesn’t have to be something that’s purpose-built. Ms Penders said having a skilled crew available locally and ensuring the government approval process was seamless was also necessary. Filmed in the CBD over four days, Blacklight looks set to bring in almost $2 million to the local economy, with close to 100 jobs created. Canberra was chosen because of its similarity to Washington DC and the capacity to lockdown London Circuit with just five road closures. Mr Currie said Melbourne, Sydney or even Brisbane would be a lot more complicated to achieve the kind of lockdown the car scenes required. “If Canberra could become known as the car chase capital of Australia, that’s great branding not only here in Australia but also internationally,” he said. Mr Currie said Australia was like the Mecca of the film industry right now, given the way we had handled coronavirus. “Everyone’s wanting to come to Australia to make films because they know it’s safe, they know we’ve got good crews and we’ve got great locations,” he said. READ MORE: “In terms of where you are going to travel around the world Australia has become a pretty hot-property target for filmmaking. In the next couple of years I think there’ll be a big boom here.” Mr Currie said he anticipated a battle between states to attract the big productions with skilled crews becoming their most valued asset. “Canberra is a great international looking city with really good infrastructure and coordinated ability to organise things so I think that lends itself to all sort of opportunities both for local Australian and international projects,” he said. A spokesperson said the ACT government would continue to invest in Canberra’s screen industry, aiming to capitalise on the boom in Australia resulting from the country’s handling of COVID-19. The spokesperson said that would include ongoing support for Screen Canberra and the CBR Screen Fund, a $5 million investment established in 2018 to support the local industry. “We will also deliver on our election commitment to attract more major screen projects through incentives and whole-of-government administrative support,” the spokesperson said.
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As Hollywood effectively shuts down for filming for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19, production companies are scouting further afield for safe locations to send the stars.
With Australia and New Zealand topping their lists, the ACT might just be the next LA.
Blacklight producer Paul Currie has been in Canberra for the past week filming car stunt scenes for the Liam Neeson movie.
Mr Currie, alongside stunt director Guy Norris and locations manager John Greene, has applauded the capital’s quiet streets, nondescript cityscape and efficient approval processes.
In town to film scenes supposedly set in Washington DC, the travelling troupe of around 50 industry professionals has been pleasantly surprised with what they’ve found in Canberra, according to Mr Currie.
While the idea of ‘Collywood’ might seem far fetched, a proposal to build a national film studio in the capital was a real possibility in the eighties.
In 1981, United American and Australasian Film Productions proposed a 25-hectare site including film studios, processing laboratories, screening rooms, set design space and accommodation.
According to The Canberra Times archives, UAA considered Canberra over other Australian capital cities due to “the lack of air pollution, ease of movement, variety of landscapes and access to other scenery” such as the coast and mountains.
While plans to build a studio at Western Creek were quashed when concerns were raised over the use of film investment schemes to exploit Australian tax laws, the Hollywood dream is far from dead.
Several streets in the Canberra CBD were closed to traffic this week with the filming of Hollywood blockbuster, Blacklight. Picture: Keegan Carroll.
Screen Canberra CEO Monica Penders said to grow the profile of the screen industry in Canberra there was a few key criteria the city must meet.
“The first thing is always the incentives, as in, what can we offer them in terms of money?” Ms Penders said.
“But if you really want to attract these large-scale productions you need to have studio space,” Ms Penders said. “That could be an old warehouse, it doesn’t have to be something that’s purpose-built.
Ms Penders said having a skilled crew available locally and ensuring the government approval process was seamless was also necessary.
Filmed in the CBD over four days, Blacklight looks set to bring in almost $2 million to the local economy, with close to 100 jobs created.
Canberra was chosen because of its similarity to Washington DC and the capacity to lockdown London Circuit with just five road closures.
Film producers turned Canberra into Washington DC this week for the filming of Blacklight. Picture: Keegan Carroll
Mr Currie said Melbourne, Sydney or even Brisbane would be a lot more complicated to achieve the kind of lockdown the car scenes required.
“If Canberra could become known as the car chase capital of Australia, that’s great branding not only here in Australia but also internationally,” he said.
Mr Currie said Australia was like the Mecca of the film industry right now, given the way we had handled coronavirus.
“Everyone’s wanting to come to Australia to make films because they know it’s safe, they know we’ve got good crews and we’ve got great locations,” he said.
“In terms of where you are going to travel around the world Australia has become a pretty hot-property target for filmmaking. In the next couple of years I think there’ll be a big boom here.”
Mr Currie said he anticipated a battle between states to attract the big productions with skilled crews becoming their most valued asset.
“Canberra is a great international looking city with really good infrastructure and coordinated ability to organise things so I think that lends itself to all sort of opportunities both for local Australian and international projects,” he said.
A spokesperson said the ACT government would continue to invest in Canberra’s screen industry, aiming to capitalise on the boom in Australia resulting from the country’s handling of COVID-19.
The spokesperson said that would include ongoing support for Screen Canberra and the CBR Screen Fund, a $5 million investment established in 2018 to support the local industry.
“We will also deliver on our election commitment to attract more major screen projects through incentives and whole-of-government administrative support,” the spokesperson said.
