Shoots keep rolling Dora the Explorer ramps up as war movie wraps
AS filming on a big-screen story based on the Battle of Long Tan wrapped on the Gold Coast this week, production is ramping up on another movie set locally.
Kriv Stenders, director of war drama Danger Close, has spent 40 days capturing footage on location on the Coast including at Nerang.
Due for release in 2019, Danger Close has been based in the Arundel studio set up by Mako Mermaids creator Jonathan M. Shiff for production on his new children’s TV series The Bureau of Magical Things, due to screen on Channel 11 later this year.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira called in to the Arundel studio to catch up with Danger Close producers John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz and Martin Walsh this week.
Stenders posted a picture of the film’s indoor set on Instagram on the final day of his shoot on Tuesday, captioned: “A big heartfelt thanks to my amazing cast and crew, and everyone who has brought this incredible project to life.”
The film stars Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith, who was awarded a Military Cross for his service during the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most savage and decisive engagements of the Vietnam conflict.
The film shoot employed numerous Vietnam veterans as crew and also hosted set visits by veterans, including members of the Caloundra RSL sub-branch, who allowed the filmmakers to use their Iroquois helicopter — affectionately known as ‘Huey’ — for the shoot.
The chopper (pictured behind the Premier in the photo on the right) was used to drop ammo during the Battle of Long Tan.
As Danger Close bumps out, production is ramping up on the next major Hollywood project to film on the Coast — Paramount Pictures’ twomonth shoot for a live action version of Dora The Explorer starring Isabela Moner.
Director James Bobin’s production, to be based at Village Roadshow Studios, will also use a location on Old Tamborine Rd, Oxenford, where sets are under construction. A sign reading “Dora The Explorer, notice to residents and visitors” advises a section of the causeway car park, enviro park and boat ramp will be affected by a partial road and location closure from now until August 27.
The site will be Dora’s much-smaller scale equivalent of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ village set at Maudsland.
Cameras are due to begin on August 3.