Filming for Ivan Sen’s contemporary western thriller, Goldstone, has
drawn to an end with international star, Chinese actress Cheng Pei-pei
(Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) joining the Australian all-star cast
in the final week of filming in outback Queensland.
Ms Cheng, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Martial Arts” in
Hong Kong kung fu classics has graced screens for over 50 years,
appearing in as many films including Come Drink With Me and Dragon
Swamp. She attained worldwide fame with her role as the villainous
Jade Fox in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning 2000 film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon.
Ms Cheng takes her place beside an all Australian cast including Aaron
Pedersen reprising his role of Indigenous detective Jay Swan from
Mystery Road, Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom), Alex Russell (Unbroken),
David Gulpilil (Charlies Country), David Wenham (Oranges and Sunshine)
and Tom E. Lewis (The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith).
‘What a thrill for Queensland and the Australian film community as a
whole to have this latest film from acclaimed writer and director Ivan
Sen and producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin and which follows on
from the award-winning and critically acclaimed Mystery Road,‘ said
Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira.
‘We are equally as thrilled for the opportunities our support of this
production has afforded our local industry including one of the leads,
Alex Russell, who grew up in Rockhampton and who also recently starred
in Unbroken, plus Aaron Fa’Aoso also from Far North Queensland and who
has been an attachment on Goldstone.’
Goldstone has been shot exclusively in Middleton, two hours west of Winton.
‘The film is about the quintessential Queensland outback and has a
direct impact in providing employment and skill development
opportunities for Queensland’s technicians and creative talent,’ said
Ms Vieira.
‘The producers have built an entire township of ‘Goldstone’ and
tourists and locals alike can be forgiven for thinking that the
motels, police stations and old buildings and town icons have been
there for years.’
Goldstone has played a big role in giving an economic boost to the
local outback community, positively impacting local regions in areas
of transportation, construction, accommodation, retail and hospitality.
‘We estimate the production has already spent over $500,000 in the
small townships of Middleton, Winton, Boulia, Longreach, Barcaldine,
Townsville and Cairns,’ said producer David Jowsey.
‘This figure also includes fuel and meals in other small towns
including Dalby, Roma, Charleville, Blackall and Mt Isa. And then
there is the incidental spend by our cast and crew in the local
butchers, bakers, pharmacies and pubs.
‘We have called upon these local communities to get involved and all
of our Indigenous and Chinese extras have come from Boulia, Mt Isa,
Winton and Longreach.’
The tough conditions of the outback are not only felt on screen but
off screen as well. All sets are within 10 kilometer radius and there
are no mobile phones on this production, only two-way radio
communication.
‘We expect Goldstone to entice domestic and international inbound
tourism to the region which will be an added benefit of this
production,’ said Ms Vieira.
The overall Queensland spend will be over $2 million.
Goldstone is written and directed by Indigenous filmmaker Ivan Sen
(Mystery Road, Toomelah) and is produced by David Jowsey (Mystery
Road, Toomelah) and Greer Simpkin (Executive Producer The Code, The
Secret River).
Goldstone is a Bunya Productions film in association with Screen
Queensland and Screen Australia and will be distributed in Australia
and New Zealand by Transmission Films, with international sales by
Arclight Films.
