Film's success lifts Bunbury's spirits
An audacious plan to turn Bunbury into the movie capital of Australia has been buoyed by the success of a film by the South West production company developing a new movie studio.
Vue Group managing director Alan Lindsay said its cartoon Kung Fu Style drew nearly 380,000 people on its opening day in China.
While other sources had differing attendance figures, all sources confirmed it was the most popular of more than 10 movies released on the day.
In a deal witnessed by dignitaries from the State Government and Bunbury last year, Vue and joint venture partner Shanghai Hippo Group agreed to build a multi-storey movie studio and training facility in Bunbury.
The companies plan $160 million in film deals.
There are plans to float the joint venture in Australia, Hong Kong or London.
Mr Lindsay, who is on the board of ScreenWest, revealed yesterday that initial plans for a five-storey movie and training facility had grown to eight or 10 levels after other businesses sought rental space in the new facility.
Shanghai Hippo's chief executive Kerr Xu last year told _The West Australian _ that Bunbury was an unusual location for a movie studio, but he was confident the picturesque area would draw filmmakers and talented staff from around the globe.
Mr Xu claimed Bunbury would not only become the film capital of Australia, but would become an "Asian Hollywood."
Efforts to boost the South West's movie credentials got a fillip earlier this year when Mr Lindsay drew one of China's leading film-makers, Jia Zhangke, to film in Bunbury and Dawesville.
The movie, called Mountains May Depart, portrays the two towns as an ideal future world with blue skies and clean air. Perth and Fremantle also appear in the film briefly.
The movie, filmed mostly in China, will debut at the Cannes Film Festival if it is finished.
"It was originally intended to shoot the film principally in Victoria but the director decided that Bunbury has the right look," Mr Lindsay said.
