Queensland is a northern state of Australia that is nicknamed the ‘Sunshine State’, due to its warm weather and tropical positioning. The region is surrounded by warm ocean waters and features the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef.

The new James Cameron film, Sanctum, joins the growing list of international productions being filmed in Queensland. For the filming of Sanctum, the water tank facility at Warner Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast will be utilised. This is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the moment, there are over $52 million of Queensland Government supported film and television being shot in Queensland. Last year, production expenditures were approximately $160 million. This is a very good figure, considering that the world was in the throes of the Global Financial Crisis in 2009.

The British reality TV series ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ was recently shot at locations around the Gold Coast and Stradbroke Island. Meanwhile, the major international production ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ wrapped production at the end of last year.

Part of the Baz Luhrmann epic ‘Australia’ was shot in Queensland. Apart from the generous government incentives on offer, one of the main reasons for filming occurring in Queensland is the natural beauty of the Whitsundays (location of the Great Barrier Reef). Much of this region is characterised by turquoise water, palm trees and pristine white beaches.

For more information on shooting a film or TV production in Australia or the Asia-Pacific in general, please email me at ggoodsell@navitaslegal.com or call +61 (0) 488 139 921.