Page 24 - Port Douglas Magazine 34

Pete West filming on the Great Barrier Reef Crew on location
While the new studios will doubtless give producers another reason Pete, a diver by trade, and Louise, a marine biologist, set up in shop on
to choose Far North Queensland as a location, this unique and Macrossan Street in 1992. Originally trading as the National Underwater
spectacular part of the world has long been a favoured destination of Marine Agency (NUMA), the business was conceived to service film
filmmakers far and wide. and television companies arriving in town.
Just wrapped at Mission Beach is Irreverent – a Matchbox Pictures “Our core business was to provide location and film coordination
drama series about a crook who poses as the new reverend in a small services for the Port Douglas area, and particularly the Great Barrier
reef town. Other recent productions in the Far North include the UK’s Reef,” explains Pete. “Plus we provide the support services, such
number one Netflix hit This Little Love of Mine in Palm Cove, and the as hiring boats and equipment — cameras, underwater housings,
Network Ten series Dive Club in Port Douglas. They’re just the latest underwater lighting.”
in a long and illustrious list of Australian and international productions The couple soon realised there was a niche market for specialist work
such as the rom com Fools Gold, starring Kate Hudson (2008) and the on the Barrier Reef that others couldn’t afford to do for themselves.
Oscar-nominated war drama The Thin Red Line (1998), both shot on
location in and around Port Douglas. “You can’t bring a team out here and sit for weeks on the Reef to
Playing a key role in each of these productions is Karen Jones, get one shot,” says Pete. “We’ve had decades of experience in highly
specialised work, and have developed techniques over the years in
director of Kite Fish Film in Cairns. Kite Fish provides services for the underwater photography, understanding the marine science and the
film industry from recommending and scouting locations to providing techniques. We started Bioquest Productions six years ago, basically
logistics reports and procuring permits. doing that task for marine research companies, and film and TV
“There’s a lot of paperwork!” says Karen. “I came here from New Zealand production companies all over the world.”
with the idea that I’d live on a boat, go fishing and eat coconuts. I’m Testament to their expertise is the projects they’ve worked on with
still dreaming.” natural historian and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, from Blue
Karen says the hands-down number one reason Port Douglas and its Planet in 2001 to last year’s Life In Colour.
surrounds is such a draw for filmmakers is its incredible and diverse With all this film action going on, it’s perhaps not surprising that Port
scenery. And it’s not just dramas and features — our pristine waterfalls, Douglas has its own annual film festival. The first Port Shorts was held
swaying cane fields and iconic palm-fringed beaches also get more in 2002 at the Clink Theatre, with five sittings attended by curious locals
than their share of big brand advertising campaigns, among them in one night.
Country Road, Herbal Essence, Myer, Optus, Pantene, Qantas and
XXXX Gold.
“It’s the diversity that people are after,” says Karen. “Here, you can go
from rainforest to rolling hills to beach in a matter of minutes. And it’s “Port Douglas is the perfect place for a film company
all within easy reach of the airport, so it’s easy to fly in and fly out. In a
lot of places now, the urban sprawl means you have to go further and to come on location,” says Pete West. “It’s set up for
further afield to find the isolation you need, but careful town planning
has meant Port Douglas remains a great option for filming.” tourism, which means it’s set up for film crews”
Karen hopes Screen Queensland Studios Cairns will encourage more
homegrown productions, so the Far North isn’t reliant on interstate and
international business.
“On all our projects, we have opportunities for people who are keen to “The atmosphere was amazing,” says festival director Ali George.
get a foot in the door. More local productions would act as a training “We had a DJ playing at the outside bar all night, and the last show
ground for local people to learn and upskill from entry level roles. That screened at midnight.”
way, we’d have experienced local crew on the ground, and that in turn By 2015, with support from the Douglas Shire Council, the festival had
will encourage others to come here to film.” morphed into a national event, with producer Matt Hearn (Wolf Creek,
One hyper-local recent production is Puff: Wonders of the Reef, released Rogue) on board as an ambassador, and Stephen Curry (Hounds of
worldwide on December 16. Narrated by Kate Winslet, it follows the Love, The Castle) front of house. In 2018, Port Shorts moved to its
adventures of a baby pufferfish as he travels through a wondrous current open-air location in Rex Smeal Park, with films screened on
microworld full of fantastical creatures, as he searches for a home a giant 25 metre screen. “It was a magical evening,” says Ali. “Crystal
on the Great Barrier Reef. The film — Netflix’s first Original Australian clear, with the backdrop of palm trees, and just as it was about to start,
documentary — was made by Bioquest, a production company run by the full moon rose up out of the water. You couldn’t have scripted it.”
Port Douglas cinematographers Pete West and Louise Polain.