Film to ‘put city on map’
Internationally acclaimed Australian film director Fred Schepisi will arrive in Kalgoorlie-Boulder tomorrow for a whirlwind tour to “get a feel” for the history and landscape of the area, as well as identify suitable film locations for the movie The Drowner.
The multi-million dollar film production, to be shot on location on the Goldfields, looks set to bring a tidal wave of tourism and economic benefits to the region.
Based on West Australian author Robert Drew’s award-winning novel The Drowner, about engineer CY O’Connor’s determined quest to build a water pipeline at the turn of the last century to supply fresh water to Kalgoorlie, there are high hopes the film will also bring an image change to Kalgoorlie-Boulder along with increased tourism.
The multi-award-winning Mr Schepisi, who whose film achievements include The Eye Of The Storm, The Russia House, Evil Angels and The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith, will take a helicopter along the pipeline from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie-Boulder with producer Stephen Van Mil and there are hopes of a similar flight to Leonora on Wednesday.
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder councillor Laurie Ayers, one of a number of local investors in the project and a personal friend of the producer, said The Drowner has the potential to define what Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields means to WA.
“This movie is going to be bigger than big for this area,” he said.
“Instead of thinking skimpies, brothels, Kalgoorlie Cops and the wild west, people will be reminded about the economic and historic importance of the region.”
Mr Van Mil said pre-production was now at an “exciting stage” with discussions under way for casting.
“We’re in discussions with big names such as Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, James McAvoy and Emily Blunt and also in the process of finalising the script with scriptwriter John Colly,” he said.
