LOCAL FILMMAKERS LURE BIG NAME STARS TO QUEENSLAND
Published Thursday, 12 July, 2007 at 05:31 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Queensland’s popularity as an international film destination continues with another multi-million dollar movie now underway on the Gold Coast, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
Mr Beattie said Daybreakers, featuring international star Ethan Hawke and Australian screen favourite Claudia Karvan, was currently in pre-production at Warner Roadshow Studios.
“Daybreakers will deliver significant economic benefit to the Smart State economy, and the Government was pleased to offer $950,000 in development and production investment, through the Pacific Film and Television Commission.
“Domestic film and television production in Queensland is stronger than ever, bringing in a record $73 million in production expenditure for the past year,” he said.
“Daybreakers will increase economic activity by approximately $27.4 million and create around 500 jobs.”
“I’m delighted these two popular stars have come to Queensland to work on this much-anticipated film, which was written by Brisbane brothers Michael and Peter Spierig,” Mr Beattie said.
“Daybreakers is one of the biggest budget films to come out of Australia in recent years and it demonstrates that Hollywood is taking notice of what Queensland has to offer.”
Daybreakers is a horror film about a plague that transforms the majority of the world’s population into vampires.
Ethan Hawke (Dead Poet’s Society, Reality Bites) stars as Ed, a vampire who makes a discovery that can save the human race. Claudia Karvan (Love My Way, Secret Life of Us) stars as one of the few humans untouched by the plague.
Arts Minister Rod Welford, who will visit the Daybreakers set on the Gold Coast today to meet the cast and crew, said the film was a Queensland success story.
“The unique vision of the Spierig brothers’ script secured a lucrative deal through US production and distribution company Lionsgate International,” Mr Welford said.
“The film is also being produced by Queensland’s own Chris Brown (The Proposition) along with US producers, Bryan and Sean Furst.
“Filming is set to start next Monday 16 July at Warner Roadshow Studios and locations across south east Queensland.”
Media contact: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3237 1000 (Minister Welford’s office)
Mr Beattie said Daybreakers, featuring international star Ethan Hawke and Australian screen favourite Claudia Karvan, was currently in pre-production at Warner Roadshow Studios.
“Daybreakers will deliver significant economic benefit to the Smart State economy, and the Government was pleased to offer $950,000 in development and production investment, through the Pacific Film and Television Commission.
“Domestic film and television production in Queensland is stronger than ever, bringing in a record $73 million in production expenditure for the past year,” he said.
“Daybreakers will increase economic activity by approximately $27.4 million and create around 500 jobs.”
“I’m delighted these two popular stars have come to Queensland to work on this much-anticipated film, which was written by Brisbane brothers Michael and Peter Spierig,” Mr Beattie said.
“Daybreakers is one of the biggest budget films to come out of Australia in recent years and it demonstrates that Hollywood is taking notice of what Queensland has to offer.”
Daybreakers is a horror film about a plague that transforms the majority of the world’s population into vampires.
Ethan Hawke (Dead Poet’s Society, Reality Bites) stars as Ed, a vampire who makes a discovery that can save the human race. Claudia Karvan (Love My Way, Secret Life of Us) stars as one of the few humans untouched by the plague.
Arts Minister Rod Welford, who will visit the Daybreakers set on the Gold Coast today to meet the cast and crew, said the film was a Queensland success story.
“The unique vision of the Spierig brothers’ script secured a lucrative deal through US production and distribution company Lionsgate International,” Mr Welford said.
“The film is also being produced by Queensland’s own Chris Brown (The Proposition) along with US producers, Bryan and Sean Furst.
“Filming is set to start next Monday 16 July at Warner Roadshow Studios and locations across south east Queensland.”
Media contact: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3237 1000 (Minister Welford’s office)