Page 23 - Tropic Magazine Issue 37

TROPIC • SOUND AND SCREEN

High-profile

wizardry

FILM Construction delay
Some big names in American Screen Queensland’s Cairns
entertainment have descended film studio is now scheduled
to be operational by
on Far North Queensland mid-2023, 12 months later
for the filming of a feature- than initially forecast.
length comedy.
Words: Renee Cluff
US comedian Pete Davidson and actor 1
Orlando Bloom have been calling the
Daintree Rainforest home to shoot the
comedy Wizards!, co-produced by Brad
Pitt’s company Plan B Entertainment
(12 Years a Slave) and See-Saw Films
(The Power of the Dog). Based on the story by It’s surreal working in my
David Michôd and Joel Edgerton, it delves backyard with these great
into the comical exploits of two pot-head
beach bar operators who stumble across actors
some stolen loot. Sam Arnold, 2
Wizards! is projected to inject $14.7 million Actor Filming has taken place at various
into Queensland’s economy, creating locations around the Daintree,
around 100 jobs for local cast and crew, “I play a bartender alongside the main including Silky Oaks Lodge, Cape
as well as nearly 300 opportunities for characters but I only come up to Pete’s Kimberley and the abandoned Cape
extras. Among those with a speaking role (Davidson) shoulders, so that took me by Tribulation Resort and Spa. A couple of
is Sam Arnold, a long-time Hollywood surprise. Behind the bar, they did give me Cairns-based shoots are also in
actor who calls Port Douglas home for a step ladder to make me a little taller.” the schedule.
half of the year. He’s no stranger to film Also on set after securing a role as an “What a coup,” said Premier
sets, having previously worked on movies extra was 17-year-old Port Douglas Annastacia Palaszczuk. “Once again,
such as Pearl Harbour and the Lethal resident Ziggy Johnston. “Acting is a our local film industry and picture-
Weapon series, however he told Tropic this career I have an interest in,” he said. “It perfect locations have lured another
time was different. “It’s great, it feels like was awesome to see the reality of filming valuable production with big budgets
Hollywood has come to me this time,” and to see how it all works and how long to spend in our regions.”
he said. it takes to get the scene right.” Tropic understands the state and
federal governments chipped in around
$14-million combined as an incentive to
Doco drive bring the film to our shores.

The Australian International Documentary Conference together with
Screen Queensland and Screenworks, is hosting a special event in
Cairns for documentary content creators. It includes project pitching 1. Orlando Bloom on the set of Wizards! Credit: Sam Arnold
opportunities, masterclasses and industry panels. 2. Sam Arnold
The ticketed event will be held on September 2 at CPAC.
MORE: aidc.com.au
MORE: screenqueensland.com.au

23 • tropicnow.com.au