From pink lakes to crystal clear beaches and red earth, these are some of the spectacular locations luring filmmakers to all corners of WA.
The State’s vast and varied landscapes mean there’s something on offer for every production — helped along by long days of brilliant sunshine and minimal location fees.
In the State’s South West, Margaret River and Yallingup already have a strong history of attracting surf movies.
The 2013 film Drift was produced there and now rumours are swirling that the same towns are set to become scenic backdrops once again — this time for new film, The Surfer, starring Nicolas Cage.
Then there’s the remote and rugged North West with its other-worldly feel. It could be the perfect backdrop for sci-fi projects or a western mystery thriller and has already played host to big name films and TV shows.
Perth City, with its thousands of new hotel rooms, revitalised urban hubs and foodie scene, adds to the appeal.
In fact, Aussie screen legend Sam Neill will head to Perth shortly to shoot the second season of The Twelve after having already brought star power to Mt Barker to film 2020 comedy-drama Rams.
The Cook Government estimates it will contribute $9.6 million to the economy when filming kicks off in the metro area and the Wheatbelt.
“WA has a wealth of talented local filmmakers creating original content across the State and we are also fast becoming a sought-after filming destination for national and international production companies, thanks to our beautiful and varied landscapes, our talented and hardworking crew and our $20m WA Production Incentive,“ Rikki Lea Bestall, head of Screenwest, added.
We’ve rounded up five spectacular film locations for amateur and professional filmmakers that are right here on home soil.
Pemberton
Filmmakers spent six weeks in 2015 shooting scenes for the motion picture Jasper Jones, released in 2017, in the picturesque town of Pemberton, making the most of its charming timber mill houses, old-fashioned laneways and towering trees.
According to the Shire of Manjimup, the “history and authenticity of the buildings and streets” was a major drawcard.
Pemberton’s hovering mist, forest lakes, pockets of lush farmland and lofty karri trees make for an idyllic backdrop.
Fremantle
Australian comedy drama How to Please a Woman starring English actor Sally Phillips (she played Shazza in the Bridget Jones films) was mainly filmed in Fremantle.
Freo is a very film friendly place with a great mix of locations.
What’s more, the City of Fremantle offers a huge amount of support through its Film Friendly City policy, including offering a single point of contact at the City to assist film productions with approvals, advice and local information.
Depending on criteria such as the size of the production, it will also waive or reduce filming permit fees, provide parking for production vehicles, assist in identifying temporary office space for the production crew and write letters of support to potential funding bodies or other stakeholders.
“Fremantle is a really attractive destination for filmmakers because we’ve got a great mix of locations, from beautiful heritage buildings to big industrial warehouses, funky shops and cafes and the river and the ocean,” former Mayor Brad Pettitt said in 2019 when announcing the policy.
East Kimberley
Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman was the film’s leading lady, sure, but some may argue the real star of Baz Luhrmann’s outback epic Australia was the East Kimberley region.
Encompassing about 420,000 km of diverse landscape, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley features everything from hot springs and gorges to rugged ranges and waterfalls.
The region has hosted many movies and TV series already, including Satellite Boy, Mad Bastards and multi-award winning series Mystery Road starring Judy Davis.
Albany
This warm and welcoming community in the Great Southern is very experienced in supporting medium-scale screen productions.
Albany is already a regular host to production companies, having recently hosted children’s television series ITCH and feature film H Is For Happiness.
Director John Sheedy is a huge fan of filming in Albany. He appreciates its old world charm.
“What I love about Albany is that it has a sense of old world charm in its architecture, in its landscape,” the H Is For Happiness director said of filming there in 2019.
“It has quirky hills and boulders, a beautiful bay, and for me, I could be anywhere in the world … Cinematically it is elevated and no matter where you are, you are going to be able to frame something beautifully no matter where you turn the camera in this landscape, in this town.
Denmark
Denmark’s rugged coastline, crystal blue surf and spectacular beaches with pure white sand offers an idyllic backdrop for filmmakers.
It was recently home to the feature film Breath starring Simon Baker and executive producer Tom Williams gushed about filming there, saying it was a magical experience for the cast and crew.
“I really had very little idea of what to expect here in the Great Southern and have gotten to explore every nook and cranny between Albany in one direction and Walpole in the other direction, and Mad Fish Bay, and Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool …” he said.
“We’ve all, I think, been able to take full advantage of all this place has to offer and we will not be forgetting it any time soon.”
Did you know:
There’s no need to head to foreign shores to start learning how to make movies. Many successful WA-based filmmakers studied at:
WA Screen Academy
WAAPA
SAE Institute
Central Institute of Technology
Curtin University
Murdoch University
For more details on The Best Australian Short Film Competition, visit bestshortfilm.com.au. Entries are open from September 22, 2023 until January 22, 2024.
There is an almost $80,000 prize pool, including a $10,000 prize for the best WA made short film.