War drama turns Coast into Burmese jungle
IT’S a jungle out filmmakers love it.
Currumbin and Tallebudgera valleys set the scene for a gritty new war drama that will hold its world premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on April 14.
Producer Blake Northfield, a former Home and Away star who is enjoying critical success on the other side of the camera with Bronte Pictures, said Escape and Evasion’s hinterland set was used to recreate the steamy Burmese jungle. there and
“There was this amazing property out there, a space as big as Burleigh Heads, and it’s all lush rainforests, creeks,” he said.
“Staying in the Gold Coast area was a priority for us – it’s the only council in Australia that supports film on this scale – and it’s attractive for a lot of reasons. Here you can really replicate anything.”
The film, which stars Josh McConville, Hugh Sheridan, Firass Dirani and another Home and Away expat, Bonnie Sveen, also shot at Mt Tamborine and in Palm Beach bar The Scottish Prince.
After his men are killed in Burma, a lone soldier returns home in search of solace. Hiding a dark secret and confronted by an unrelenting journalist, he’s forced to face the ghosts of his past one last time.
Escape and Evasion employed around 160 people, offering a foot in the door for local university students.
Northfield said premiering at the Gold Coast Film Festival was a way to pay homage to where the film was shot.
“It’s also about reputation – this festival is now at the point where it’s recognised as important by the industry,” he said.