QUEENSLAND TO HOST SPIELBERG’S LATEST PRODUCTION

Arts Minister Rod Welford today welcomed Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ multi-million dollar international television production The Pacific to Queensland.

“This is another fantastic achievement for our local film industry for Queensland to be chosen as the backdrop for this big budget television series,” Mr Welford said.

“This mini-series about America’s battle with the Japanese in the Pacific in World War II is set to be the largest budget television series made globally in 2007-08.

“Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are co-executive producing the project and this is the first time either of them has worked in Australia. Their decision to film in Queensland is testament to the State’s strong filming history, which includes war epics such as The Thin Red Line and The Great Raid.

“Queensland competed fiercely with Hawaii for the production, specifically for the beach and jungle scenes. Our locations, their accessibility and the assistance of Government agencies was a major factor in securing the series, which is expected to be as highly regarded as its predecessor, Band of Brothers.”

The 10-episode series is an HBO Films production in association with Playtone and DreamWorks Television. It is scheduled to be filmed north of Port Douglas in the far north in the second half of this year, with intensive pre-production starting soon.

“This will create local jobs and significant economic benefits for the region, which has recently hosted part of the filming of the major film, Fool’s Gold,” Mr Welford said.

“As with that production, the Government’s Pacific Film and Television Commission has been instrumental in attracting The Pacific to Queensland. It played a major role in facilitating stakeholder meetings with key State Government agencies and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.”

Production expenditure in Queensland is estimated to be equivalent to that of a major feature film and the state’s locations will feature in many of the episodes. Melbourne will also feature as a principal location for the series.

Mini-series co-executive producer Tony To said The Pacific would provide significant business opportunities and create local employment prospects.

He said the production was environmentally committed to the region and was pursuing a re-vegetation offset program where through services of independent organisations such as Far North Queensland Natural Resource Management Ltd, potential sites would be identified for re-vegetation/rehabilitation.

“The re-vegetation offset program will operate in conjunction with the production,” Mr To said. “We will work closely with the community to design outcomes that secure training and long-term employment opportunities, together with high quality natural resource management.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985