ABC hit TV series scouting the Douglas Shire for locations and casting extras
By Cassandra Pulver
Published Wednesday 5 August 2015
Morgan Smallbone the extras casting scout for the series was in Port Douglas Monday after spending the weekend in Cairns for the TV casting call for people with various ethnicities in particular people from West Papua, Papua, PNG, TSI and Indonesia.
Morgan clarified his role in the production as more of an aesthetic scout and street caster.“The casting director does all the speaking roles whereas I do the background and it is a design role like costume.
“You can’t make a film without every person involved in the production from the director to the extras and everyone in between. Extras need to feel that they are contributing as much as the cast, gaffers, runners and drivers, because we can’t do it without them. If people have a good experience they will come and will give of themselves and it is important to create that universe because fear is the death of art.
“The call out for extras in Cairns was not an audition casting session. We asked people to fill out their details, we took measurements for costuming and pictures. I will then collate this information and go back to Sydney and lay out and discuss with the casting director. We are casting nationwide and casting locals as extras,” he said.
The Code is a 6 x 1 hour political thriller for ABC TV. Stretching from the spectacular red desert of Australia’s outback to the cool corridors of power in Canberra.
THE CODE tells the story of two very different brothers who unearth information that those at the highest levels of political power will kill to keep secret. The series explores the value of freedom of speech and privacy in the digital age and just how we balance national security with personal liberty in the face of rapidly spreading cyberweaponry with the capacity to bring whole countries to their knees.
With a growing list of film and television productions being shot in Port Douglas the more domestic and one day international shows and movies are recognized as being filmed here, the stronger our brand strength develops.
Sam Cullen from tourismPORTDOUGLAS.com.au says "The growth of the Australian Film Industry particularly in the way of Federal and State grants and the demand for Australian story lines by international production companies, locations such as Port Douglas have an opportunity to play a valuable part in the industry.
Sam continued to offer that "with local business and Council offering high quality services, incentives and benefits to the film industry allows produces to easily add Port Douglas to their location lists. This is great news for the region. The immediate economic benefit from film crews and location hire spends is fantastic,” says Sam Cullen
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The recent announcement of high profile Australian Actor Steven Curry who has appeared in The Castle, The Cup, Underbelly and Hiding as well as Matt Hearn Executive Producer of blockbusters Wolf Creek and Rogue being judges for the resurrected Port Shorts Film Festival is an enormous opportunity for Port Douglas to host and showcase Port Douglas to some of the industry silk.
While Morgan can not reveal anything script related he states that he is not even aware of the locations where filming will take place. “The location manager Colin McDougall will never give away his secrets, he is a location whisper.”
“The location managers know the script and they look for the perfect combination of location that fits the script but also has the infrastructure for a large number of crew to be accommodated with the suitable facilities. It is hard to make films in regional towns. Port Douglas is great you have all the accommodation of a really high standard,” he said.
Mayor Julia Leu advised us they have been working with the production team of the series.
“It’s fantastic the producers of The Code have chosen the Douglas Shire to film a significant portion of the new series.
“Council’s General Manager Operations Paul Hoye has been working closely with the production for several weeks, identifying specific locations and helping to clear any logistical hurdles to ensure the production is based here and not somewhere else.
“The filming will take place primarily in and around Mossman over about three weeks from next month and there will be minimal disruptions for locals.
“Hosting the crew for three weeks will be a great boost for the local economy and will create a real buzz in the town.
“The Code is one of the most impressive programs on TV and we’re very proud they’ve chosen to film here over competing locations.
“The Douglas Shire is the most film-friendly in Australia with our diverse selection of breathtaking locations, great local businesses that can cater for large productions and a community that embraces this type of activity,” said Julia.
While Port Douglas offers the infrastructure to host large productions and an amazing canvas to work with for the film and TV industry "the competition for locations in film and TV is very high. A dedicated acquisitions approach is hopefully being undertaken by our region to secure these film industry opportunities."
Morgan said filming will begin in Sydney in August and September in our region stating that they like to keep the dates very general “the nature of these productions is that things change constantly in the industry,” he said.
