Chance to get a drop on Tassie film props

SMALL towns around Tasmania are enjoying a taste of stardom as a highlyanticipated movie is filmed in the state. The period thriller, The

Nightingale, is taking advantage of Tasmania’s rugged scenery and colonial towns as backdrops.

The feature film has also transformed the Hobart Showground into its headquarters, which is abuzz with the film’s administration staff, props and costumes.

Purpose-built props and antique items, ranging from possum skins to rustic furniture, will be sold when filming winds up.

The film, written and directed by Jennifer Kent, is set in Tasmania in the 1820s and follows the story of a 21year-old female convict who witnesses the murder of her family.

Seeking justice, she take an Aboriginal tracker through the wilderness to seek revenge. One of the film’s actors, The

Hunger Games star Sam Claflin, has posted stunning Tasmanian scenes on his Instagram account.

Last week some of the action took place in the Central Highlands, around the lakeside town of Miena.

Great Lakes Hotel owner Kaylee Hattinger said “they were the best group of people”.

Ms Hattinger said they booked accommodation throughout the area.

“They booked with us and ate with us — they really looked after the community, it was awesome,” she said.

The State Government has forecast the crew will spend $3.6 million in the state during the filming period, which began late March and continues for another couple of weeks. The Government invested $200,000 in the film.

Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania chief executive Scott Gadd said it was the first time the showground had been used as a movie headquarters. “The producer’s view is that more and more film companies will look to Tasmania because of the unique light here,” he said.

The Nightingale film props sale is June 2-3, starting 8am.