Jodie Foster returns to Queensland for Nim's Island premiere
Published Thursday, 20 March, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Arts Minister Rod Welford will today welcome Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster back to Queensland for the Australian premiere of Nim’s Island at Sea World.
Mr Welford said the American actress spent three months in Queensland during 2007 filming the Walden Media family adventure production.
“Today Jodie Foster will share the limelight with Sea World’s resident sea lions, Spud and Friday who co-starred in the movie,” Mr Welford said
“It’s wonderful to have Ms Foster on the Gold Coast for this event and it’s a major coup to have an actress of her calibre name Queensland among her favourite production locations.
“By all accounts, she thoroughly enjoyed Queensland’s hospitality, lifestyle and the local filmmaking experience while she was here last year.
“Nim’s Island is the second US blockbuster to premiere on the Gold Coast this year – Fool’s Gold opened in February.
“This confirms Queensland’s growing reputation as a world-class production destination and screen industry hub.”
Mr Welford said Nim’s Island created 1,155 jobs for Queensland cast and crew, including over 100 extras from Cardwell. It also contributed significantly to the state’s $159 million production expenditure total last financial year.
Nim’s Island is based on the award-winning children’s book by Australian author Wendy Orr. Oscar-nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) stars as Nim, a feisty young girl left alone on a tropical island who seeks help from a reclusive writer (Foster).
It was filmed in far north and south east Queensland with Hinchinbrook Island as Nim’s island paradise.
Mr Welford said the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC) worked closely with Walden Media to host location scouts and offer production incentives for the project.
“It was a combination of PFTC’s marketing, our highly skilled cast and crew and Warner Roadshow Studios’ impressive infrastructure – including the outdoor tank purpose built in 2007 for Fool’s Gold – which attracted Walden Media to Queensland,” he said.
Smart State Ambassador and Oscar-winner John Cox’s Creature Workshop, on the Gold Coast, created Nim’s island friends – Selkie the sea lion, Fred the marine iguana and Chica the sea turtle.
Nim’s Island will be released in cinemas in Queensland and Victoria on 3 April, a day ahead of its US release, and Australia-wide on 10 April.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336
Mr Welford said the American actress spent three months in Queensland during 2007 filming the Walden Media family adventure production.
“Today Jodie Foster will share the limelight with Sea World’s resident sea lions, Spud and Friday who co-starred in the movie,” Mr Welford said
“It’s wonderful to have Ms Foster on the Gold Coast for this event and it’s a major coup to have an actress of her calibre name Queensland among her favourite production locations.
“By all accounts, she thoroughly enjoyed Queensland’s hospitality, lifestyle and the local filmmaking experience while she was here last year.
“Nim’s Island is the second US blockbuster to premiere on the Gold Coast this year – Fool’s Gold opened in February.
“This confirms Queensland’s growing reputation as a world-class production destination and screen industry hub.”
Mr Welford said Nim’s Island created 1,155 jobs for Queensland cast and crew, including over 100 extras from Cardwell. It also contributed significantly to the state’s $159 million production expenditure total last financial year.
Nim’s Island is based on the award-winning children’s book by Australian author Wendy Orr. Oscar-nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) stars as Nim, a feisty young girl left alone on a tropical island who seeks help from a reclusive writer (Foster).
It was filmed in far north and south east Queensland with Hinchinbrook Island as Nim’s island paradise.
Mr Welford said the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC) worked closely with Walden Media to host location scouts and offer production incentives for the project.
“It was a combination of PFTC’s marketing, our highly skilled cast and crew and Warner Roadshow Studios’ impressive infrastructure – including the outdoor tank purpose built in 2007 for Fool’s Gold – which attracted Walden Media to Queensland,” he said.
Smart State Ambassador and Oscar-winner John Cox’s Creature Workshop, on the Gold Coast, created Nim’s island friends – Selkie the sea lion, Fred the marine iguana and Chica the sea turtle.
Nim’s Island will be released in cinemas in Queensland and Victoria on 3 April, a day ahead of its US release, and Australia-wide on 10 April.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336