Bill Leimbach's
end of 2008 update:
My last
trip to Townsville for 2008 was once again fruitful. The
plans to build the Western Front at the back of the city
are still going well with the excavator, Shane Pool. He
has been a font of information and inspiration and
guarantees that the trenches and No Man's Land will be
dug in two shakes. Ross and David are still sniffing
around to find the right shed in which to build the
tunnels. We need at least 1500 square meters and that
size space is not easy to find! The tunnels will be
re-created above ground in this shed so we are sound
proof and weather proof and the camera team can get to
the cast inside.
Antonia: the
little 'African Queen' schooner that brings
Capt Woodward the news that War has broken out. |
Looking for mine
shaft film locations |
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Real
Estate Entrepreneur Sally Elliot's Christmas Party was the
highlight of the trip, with just about half the business
city attending, in the big parking lot at the back of her
building. Great to hear so many of the Townsville
townsfolk wishing us well with our filming plans. Seems
the whole town wants to see the film made there. AUSTRALIA
the movie premiered in the city while we were up there,
coincidentally. Townsville watched all the kudos brought
to their southern neighbour, Bowen, 100 km down the
highway - for Baz Lurhmann's film being made there. They
now would like to see some limelight thrown on their great
town for the birthplace of BENEATH HILL 60. A lot of
pressure on us.
Executive Producer Ross
Thomas and David Roach
searching for the right WESTERN FRONT battle ground |
Shane Pool: the man who
will excavate
the western front tunnels at the back of Townsville |
The Exchange Pub re-opened in Townsville while we were
there - celebrating its place as the oldest pub in town.
They have embraced the film and its owner Greg Rains is
becoming one of our investors. He loves the film and the
period and wants to redecorate one of the rooms in the
Pub, as the HILL 60 ROOM. Looks like we will have our film
office not too far from the bar. Sweet.
One interesting development kickstarted while we were
there was the notion to create Beneath Hill 60 as a
'carbon neutral' film. Bill and David are now working with
a few different firms in Townsville to conjure up the best
plan of action to build a production that leaves no
footprint, other than the its legacy.
David and Bill on
location hunt from the top of Townsville's Castle Hill |
David Roach co producer/
writer gets dolled up
to do a spot on Townsville TV. |
Elisa
Fraser is our Townsville co-ordinator and her job is
getting busier as more and more things need to be tended
to as we get closer to Pre Production. She is now joined
by Townsvillian, Col Kenna, taking on the roll of Business
Development Manager, chasing our local investment and
sponsorship opportunities.
I took a trip over to beautiful Magnetic Island, and was
welcomed by John Domelow who with more Beneath Hill 60
enthusiasts, wants to create a syndicate of investors from
the locals on that magic island. Magnetic Island is just
offshore from the city and has effectively become a suburb
of Townsville with over 2000 permanent residents.
Accessible by ferry the island has long become established
as a holiday destination and a haven for wildlife. More
than half the island is National Park which is mostly
located on the steep hilly interior and rugged
north-western side. Two of the most distinctive features
are the native bush stone-curlew - a bird with a piercing
cry and the Koalas are which are relatively common on the
island and can easily be spotted just overhead on a walk
in the park. The name of the island came about because of
the apparent "magnetic" effect it had on the Captain
Cook's compass as he sailed up the coast in 1770.
We cant wait to do some filming of our hero's Queensland
home before the war started, in this glorious spot.
Magnetic Island
home of Beneath Hill 60 enthusiasts |
Watch out for
those horses on the beach, Dave! |
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