FILM maker Andrew Arbuthnot, of LaLa Productions in Sydney, says he will be back after describing the Redlands as "film friendly" during a recent film shoot of his latest production Blackbuster at Cleveland.
Andrew said he found the site (Grand View Hotel) by luck and good fortune late last year when he "accidentally" took the Gateway Bridge from the airport during a location survey.
"I thought I'd keep driving and check out Cleveland and I pulled up at the Grand View. The car just drove me there," he said.
"It was everything we were looking for - a typical old Queensland pub that was a little bit country looking and near the water. We found all those things in one location. It's a beautiful old pub - one of the most beautiful heritage pubs I've seen - and Gerald (GV licensee Gerald Brock) has been fantastic," he said.
Gerald said the main setting for the shoot was Key Club, Bob's bar and the front office.
During the filming, from January 23 to 28, the Grand View was modelled as a hotel in North Queensland and the backdrop to this indigenous comedy.
Blackbuster revolves around a young boy selling pirated DVDs outside a local pub and falls in love with the daughter of the publican.
"Through a series of fantasies, most of them based on themes from his favourite movies, he finally has the courage to do something about it. The film ends in an explosion of dance and music on the street," Andrew said.
The film includes a cast of 40 extras who have been cast locally, playing various roles including pedestrians, kung fu fighters, tradies, Elvis impersonators and an astronaut.
Extras coordinator Jo Millard said she had been overwhelmed with interest and apologised for not getting back to everyone.
Extra Rowena Plant, of Birkdale, said she had found the experience "really interesting".
"I like watching the other scenes and seeing all the work that goes behind the scenes. The crew really know what they are doing. It works like clockwork and fits like a jigsaw," she said.
Rowena said her role was basically as a towns person "on a pub crawl".
Fellow extra Rob van der Wefthuizen, of Birkdale, said the single thing he would take away from the experience was "not to look at the camera".
Andrew said Redlands had gained its "film friendly" reputation since the filming of Nania, which road tested a big production in the region and the word has spread that things went well. That means the project has the support of the locals, the businesses and the council," Andrew said.
"The community has really embraced the project - got involved and got excited. I have two more projects in the pipeline and I will be back."
Blackbuster will be aired on ABC television later this year.
It stars Martin Sacks (Blue Heelers), Ben Taylor, Kimi Swindells, Naomi Bowly, Jeremy Ambrum and Roxanne McDonald.
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