And Action! Film Tourism launches on the Gold Coast

Bond University will be part of the action when the Gold Coast joins major cities around the world such as Los Angeles, New York and London, to host tours of movie location sites as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival next month.

Bond University’s Abedian School of Architecture – which served as a set for several scenes of the 2015 Hollywood blockbuster San Andreas - is part of the Gold Coast Movie Locations Tour will take guests on a 3-hour journey visiting shooting locations for over 20 films also including Kong: Skull Island, The Shallows, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Muriel's Wedding.

The Gold Coast-first tour will also feature interviews with film crew, an exclusive virtual behind-the-scenes tour of Village Roadshow Studios and share previously untold celebrity stories and hotspots.

Tickets have now been released for six tours, which will run during the Gold Coast Film Festival in April, marking the launch of the film tourism industry on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he was pleased to see the launch of the film tourism industry on the Gold Coast and hoped it would continue to flourish in coming years.

“The Gold Coast has become a key filming location for some of the world’s biggest blockbusters, which is a reflection of the Gold Coast being a world-class destination with superb facilities. New York, LA, London and other major cities around the world have been operating movie location tours for years and it’s fantastic to see us moving into this direction,” he said.

Economic Development and Major Projects Chair, and Bond University alumnus, Councillor Hermann Vorster said the launch of the Gold Coast Film Festival’s movie locations tour would have a positive impact.

“The film industry is a significant contributor to the Gold Coast economy and over the past few years our unique landscapes and facilities have attracted a myriad of high-profile filmmakers from all corners of the world, putting the Gold Coast on a global stage,” Cr Vorster said.

“We are pleased to see the film tourism industry launch across the city, especially in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™.”

A new report by Screen Australia has found that Australia’s screen industry contributed $3 billion to GDP in 2014-2015 and created 25,000 jobs – more than the gas and oil industry.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said the screen industry is an integral part of the Gold Coast and the launch of the film tourism industry was welcomed.

“The screen industry in Queensland is growing exponentially and the launch of the movie location tour will create excitement and opportunity for local filmmakers, as well as cinema fans across the city,” Ms Vieira said.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to learn about Queensland’s screen industry and be inspired by the work of local and international talent.”

Gold Coast Film Festival Director Lucy Fisher said the team is thrilled to introduce the movie locations tour during the festival and encourages both locals and tourists to experience it.

"With a film like San Andreas, shot extensively at Bond University, the architecture of the building there is really recognisable," Ms Fisher said.

“As the city’s flagship film event, Gold Coast Film Festival is committed to promoting the Gold Coast as a filmmaking destination and supporting the filmmakers and crew working in the local industry, and we are so excited to introduce the movie locations tour as part of this year’s festival program,” she said .

“The tours will be a unique way to experience the Gold Coast for both locals and tourists, allowing people to peek behind the curtain of the local film industry. People are genuinely interested in filmmaking – it has a real magic to it and we’re aiming to bring some of the magic to life in this tour.”

“Aside from film locations, we also get the chance to share some favourite celebrity haunts – whether it’s where Johnny Depp ate dinner, Daniel Radcliffe got a tan or Blake Lively got coffee, there’s always something exciting about knowing what A-list actors shooting on the Gold Coast love to do and where!”

The tour will make four major stops, including Bond University’s Abedian School of Architecture and a stop at Emmy-award winning makeup-effects studio JMB FX where guests will receive a tour of the workshop. JMB FX is famous for its work on films including Ghost Ship, The Ruins, The House of Wax, San Andreas, Scooby Doo, Street Fighter and most recently Thor: Ragnarok, Kong: Skull Island, The Shallows and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

The tour traverses the Gold Coast, driving past and highlighting many cafes and attractions endorsed on social media by Hollywood stars who have recently filmed on the Gold Coast, including Harry Potter and Jungle actor Daniel Radcliffe, The Shallows’ actress Blake Lively, The Wolverine’s Hugh Jackman and Thor: Ragnarok’s Tom Hiddleston.

Between stops and points of interest, the tour will feature video entertainment and film snippets, plus guests will have an opportunity to hear from Queensland filmmakers and crew members about their roles, what films they have worked on and interesting set stories, providing industry insight into the production process.

Along the way, the movie locations tour introduces guests to the unique character of the Gold Coast, taking in views of everything from coastal beaches to multi-million dollar real estates as it journeys around the city.

Tours will run on Saturday 22rd, Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th April during the Gold Coast Film Festival at 9am and 1pm each day. Tickets are $55 and are now available.

Thanks to a divisional donation by Division 2 Councillor William Owen-Jones, A.B. Paterson College and Helensvale State High School students will be offered free places on the tour.

Held from 19-30 April, the 15^th annual Gold Coast Film Festival will bring an action-packed program to Queensland, captivating audiences with a host of film screenings, events and interactive workshops.

Earlier this month, the Gold Coast Film Festival announced a sneak preview of events and special guests expected in April, including the Zoolander Model Party, a one-night-only floating cinema atop Wyndham Cruises brand new vessel ‘Spirit of Elston’ on Thursday 20 April and the third annual Women In Film lunch with special guest and award-winning producer Sue Maslin on Friday 21 March.

Tickets are also now on sale for selected events including the Movie Location Tour, The Chauvel Award: Deborah Mailman in Conversation with David Stratton, the Zoolander Model Boat Party, Women In Film Lunch, Flickerfest, Movie Trivia Night, YScreen (schools only) and Adaptation: From Script to Screen. The full program will be announced in March. Please visit www.gcfilmfestival.com for more information.