THE PACIFIC JOINS QUEENSLAND PRODUCTION BOOM
Published Thursday, 09 August, 2007 at 06:17 PM
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
Far North Queensland’s reputation as a hot spot for film and television production will be boosted today when filming starts today (10 August) in Port Douglas on the multi-million dollar TV mini-series The Pacific.
Premier Peter Beattie and Arts Minister Rod Welford welcomed the start of filming on the epic 10-hour HBO Films mini-series The Pacific in the far north.
“The Pacific is the latest production to go north and it will be a major boon to the local economy,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queensland production expenditure is expected to exceed $32 million and generate approximately $60 million in economic activity from now until shooting ends in November.
“The Pacific will also create more than 1000 jobs and provide an irresistible hook for tourists with local retailers, hospitality, construction and tourism industries set to profit.
“It will employ 145 full-time Queensland crew in accounting, locations, production, art department, transport, hair and makeup, special effects, stunts and construction and hire up to 1000 Queenslanders as extras.
“Far North Queensland has been the location of choice for several high profile productions such as Fool’s Gold, Dutch film The Ship Boys of Bontekoe and Nim’s Island.
”It also follows hot on the heels of the filming Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia in Bowen,” Mr Beattie said.
The Pacific is executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, the creative team behind the Emmy®-winning 2001 HBO mini-series Band of Brothers.
Mr Welford said Queensland would be the setting for four-and-a-half of the 10 episodes in the ambitious mini-series.
“Along with the huge economic benefit, The Pacific, produced by HBO Films in association with Playtone and DreamWorks Television, will cement our international reputation as a world-class filmmaking destination with the industry’s major players,” Mr Welford said.
“Our Government’s Pacific Film and Television Commission has been instrumental in attracting The Pacific and other recent major productions to Queensland.
“Film and television production is booming, with filming just wrapping on the Ben Stiller-produced horror flick The Ruins while shooting is continuing on the locally-produced Daybreakers.
“Jodie Foster is also on the Gold Coast filming Nim’s Island, and we will soon welcome the feature film Subdivision, the documentary My America, the second series of Sea Patrol and the 26-part children’s television series K9.”
Friday August 10, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500 or Minister’s Office - Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Premier Peter Beattie and Arts Minister Rod Welford welcomed the start of filming on the epic 10-hour HBO Films mini-series The Pacific in the far north.
“The Pacific is the latest production to go north and it will be a major boon to the local economy,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queensland production expenditure is expected to exceed $32 million and generate approximately $60 million in economic activity from now until shooting ends in November.
“The Pacific will also create more than 1000 jobs and provide an irresistible hook for tourists with local retailers, hospitality, construction and tourism industries set to profit.
“It will employ 145 full-time Queensland crew in accounting, locations, production, art department, transport, hair and makeup, special effects, stunts and construction and hire up to 1000 Queenslanders as extras.
“Far North Queensland has been the location of choice for several high profile productions such as Fool’s Gold, Dutch film The Ship Boys of Bontekoe and Nim’s Island.
”It also follows hot on the heels of the filming Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia in Bowen,” Mr Beattie said.
The Pacific is executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, the creative team behind the Emmy®-winning 2001 HBO mini-series Band of Brothers.
Mr Welford said Queensland would be the setting for four-and-a-half of the 10 episodes in the ambitious mini-series.
“Along with the huge economic benefit, The Pacific, produced by HBO Films in association with Playtone and DreamWorks Television, will cement our international reputation as a world-class filmmaking destination with the industry’s major players,” Mr Welford said.
“Our Government’s Pacific Film and Television Commission has been instrumental in attracting The Pacific and other recent major productions to Queensland.
“Film and television production is booming, with filming just wrapping on the Ben Stiller-produced horror flick The Ruins while shooting is continuing on the locally-produced Daybreakers.
“Jodie Foster is also on the Gold Coast filming Nim’s Island, and we will soon welcome the feature film Subdivision, the documentary My America, the second series of Sea Patrol and the 26-part children’s television series K9.”
Friday August 10, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500 or Minister’s Office - Emma Clarey on 3237 1000