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Film production in far north Queensland is set to take off with the state government’s go-ahead to build a film studio in Cairns.
Key points:
- Queensland government announces construction of $ 6.8 million film and television studio in Cairns
- Actor and producer Aaron Fa’aoso says studio will encourage future generations of filmmakers
- Construction is expected to start in early 2022 and be operational by mid-2022
Far North Queensland has always been a popular location for filmmakers and production studios.
Portions of the 2008 Warner Brothers film Fool’s Gold were filmed in the region, as was the 1998 Fox Studios blockbuster The Thin Red Line and 2010 Steven Spielberg’s miniseries The Pacific.
As rich as the Far North’s connection to the world of film and television, the region lacked studio space.
Queensland Speaker of Parliament and Member of Mulgrave State Curtis Pitt today announced that a former Bunnings site in Cairns will soon house a $ 6.8 million film and television studio.
“We will be installing a sizeable soundstage in the Bunnings building, along with many other facilities,” Pitt said.
“Including audio recording, a projection room, and we are also considering a green screen room.
Black Comedy and The Straits star actor, screenwriter and producer Aaron Fa’aoso said it took 15 years to set up a film studio in Cairns.
“It is quite moving that this has finally become a reality,” said Fa’aoso.
“It means so much not only to the local film and television industry, but the big picture here is that it is about the future of filmmakers in Far North Queensland.
“It’s about legacy and creating a path for the next generation of filmmakers who haven’t yet taken the plunge.”
Mr Fa’aoso said the studio has the potential to attract national and international production companies to the region already valued for its natural beauty.
Mr Pitt said the Cairns studio space would be linked with other Queensland film and television assets to create a statewide network.
“Obviously we have Village Roadshow on the Gold Coast and Screen Queensland has a facility in Brisbane,†he said.
“It will become an additional piece in this puzzle, so the screen across Queensland is going to be a huge part of our economy going forward.”
Construction of the studio is expected to begin in early 2022.
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