Extras cast for film production
Wimmera-mallee residents will soon have an opportunity to see themselves on the big screen as a production crew prepares to begin shooting major film The Dry in the region.
A casting call for extras for the feature film went out in Beulah and Minyip at the weekend, with more than 100 people from across the Wimmera attending the sessions.
The casting call did not specify the name of the film and The Dry’s media spokespeople have refused to divulge filming locations, but Beulah and Minyip residents and public figures confirmed the casting call was for The Dry.
The project, based on a novel by Jane Harper, will star and be executive produced by Australian film icon Eric Bana.
Mr Bana visited several Wimmera locations with a production crew in December, and the owner of Minyip’s Emma’s Café confirmed producers of The Dry had been keen to use the town’s Club Hotel as a location.
Beulah Historic Learning and Progress Association helped organise the casting session for extras in Beulah on Saturday.
Progress association secretary Barb Moore said more than 100 people attended.
“We had people come from far and wide – it wasn’t just locals, but we did have some locals as well,” she said.
“Everyone was keen to get into the movie. People came from Horsham, Swan Hill – everywhere.
“The producers were very happy. It was a lot more people than what they expected.”
Mrs Moore said producers had asked her not to reveal the name of the movie, but said they needed ‘60 or 70 extras for a funeral scene’.
In the novel The Dry, protagonist Aaron Falk returns to his fictional home town of Kiewarra to attend the funeral of a childhood friend who has apparently killed his wife and child before committing suicide.
Falk is drawn into an investigation and it becomes clear things are not as they seem.
Excitement
Mrs Moore said people in the region were thrilled to have a chance to be involved in a film production.
“Everyone around town is excited about it and can’t believe that a movie is going to be shot in town,” she said.
“The producers have come to a little town with not much in it.
“My understanding is it is going to be shot between Minyip, Hopetoun and Beulah and a little bit in Warracknabeal.
“There are other locations that they needed as well that are further away.
“Everyone is most excited and looking forward to it.
“The crew loved how friendly a small country town like Beulah was when they arrived.”
Information on the casting call for extras suggested filming in the region would be between February 25 and March 30.
Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Graeme Massey said a major film production would benefit the region financially.
“My understanding is that the story is going to be shot based on a country town which is mainly going to be Beulah, with some scenes being in Minyip and surrounding areas,” he said.
“In terms of the benefits to the shire, we will have the cast and the crew – which is about 60 people – here for about four or five weeks.
“They will be accommodated in the towns around here and they will spend money and they will enjoy themselves and go away with a greater understanding and awareness of how we live up here in the country.”
Cr Massey said the project would also bring recognition to what was sometimes a forgotten part of rural Victoria.
“It does draw a bit of attention to the area,” he said.
“We’re a bit of a neglected part of Victoria. Any publicity that is positive is a definite benefit.
“We’re still getting visitors for the silo art trail that has put us on the map, but I know for sure people do travel to places where films have been shot.
“And for people who live in the region, seeing their towns on the big screen will be a benefit to them.”
The Dry is slated for release in January 2020.