MovieChat Forums > The Hollowmen (2008) Discussion > How about filming in Canberra

How about filming in Canberra

posted 16 years ago by mnorthco-2
5 replies | jump to latest

If it's set in canberra, how about they film in Canberra instead of shooting locations in Melbourne that they think look like Canberra. It's not that hard guys, and would add abit more credibility to the show.

[–] cardd-1 15 years ago

Why would you move a whole cast and crew to somewhere you dont have to be? Establishing shots do the trick just fine, its not a travel show, its about the dialogue. I think they have done a great job! Do you think Northern Exposure was filmed in Alaska?

[–] Lacy_Lucy3000 15 years ago

Does anyone know where the 'Antarctica' scenes were filmed?

[–] cardd-1 15 years ago

I am pretty sure they were filmed in the Victorian high country, up at one of the resorts.

[–] Bogong-the-Magnificent 11 years ago

The Antarctic scenes were filmed at Ben Lomond ski resort near Launceston, Tasmania.

Ben Lomond is treeless and much rockier than mainland ski resorts, so it looks far more Antarctic and seems to be the preferred place for Australian film crews to film Antarctic scenes. That said, shows with a tighter budget have been known to do a day trip to places like Mt Buller or Falls Creek and do their best to frame shots without any snow gums in them.

[–] et_tu_Brute 14 years ago

If you noticed, the majority of scenes for this series are interior shots. The rest (exterior) are for the most part stock film from various archives nominated in the end credits. There was no need to film the series in Canberra at all.

There is not not only the costs and logistics involved in shooting it all in Canberra, but exterior shooting relies heavily upon weather conditions, traffic, aircraft, pedestrian, public events and other noise which can intrude and be difficult to edit out, hence the extensive use of stock footage.

Other observations:
Interior locations were shot using DV cameras whereas the exteriors (including stock footage) were film.

From the end credits, you could see that this was a tightly budgeted series with many of the cast and crew doubling up on roles. e.g. Santo Cilauro writing, camera operator and also cast member, Rob Sitch, cast member as well as Director.

Finally, but not generally known, the 1998/2000 series "The Games", a comedy series about Sydney's 200 Olympic Games preparations was filmed and produced in Melbourne with stock footage of various Sydney locations used throughout. I lived in Sydney at the time and hadn't noticed.

I am happy that the producer's forsake parochial niceities and make these series the way they do, else they couldn't afford to make them at all...

Don't forget that this is a standard industry practice, You could name any US sitcom series and you will generally find the same thing happens. e.g. "Seinfeld" is set in New York but shot and produced in Los Angeles.

Anyway, back to watching the rest of "The Hollowmen", which I must say, convinces me that they are in Canberra and not Melbourne because it's the content that matters.

Cheers & beers

et tu, Bruté

Locked my wire coat-hanger in the car - good thing that I always carry spare keys in my pocket :)