Page 24 - Port Douglas Magazine 43

local talent.

REEL

SCENE

THE JOURNEY
Growing up, Thomas always had a passion for film but never really
considered it as a viable career option - until Mr Spielberg arrived. “I was
working in the local pizza shop at the time and would make short films in
my spare time just because I loved it,” he recalled. “One day a friend called
and said he’d landed a job as a set runner on The Pacific and told me to
apply. I got the job and it all started from there”.
Without realising, Thomas had just made a serendipitous move that would
open his eyes to a bigger world and turn a casual hobby into a life altering
career.
I n 2007, Hollywood descended into the small town of Port passion, ultimately leading him to spend the next few years chasing jobs,
WORDS by Lisa Keller
Working on the film set, Thomas’ love for film evolved into a burning
Douglas when Steven Spielberg chose it as the destination
stopping at nothing to get himself to where he knew he needed to be.
“I’d drive to the other side of Australia just to get two days’ work,” he said.
for his mini-series, The Pacific. For the town, this was huge
“Eventually, I ended up moving to New Zealand and that’s when it started
but for one young local, it was life-changing.
Growing up in the small coastal town, Thomas Salpietro could never getting consistent and I realised that I actually had a shot at turning this
into a full time job.”
have imagined that one day he’d be creating fantasy worlds for some of the
world’s biggest productions. Now a film set decorator by trade, Thomas Rising from a set runner to Head of Department Set Decorator is a
has spent the past 17 years taking scripts from paper to reality and is living testament to Thomas’ drive and determination but he credits his Far North
proof that big opportunities can arise from even the unlikeliest of places. roots more than anything. “Growing up in Port Douglas is weird because
it’s the sort of place where you don’t really know what’s next because
24 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner