The Hastings, and in particular Timbertown Heritage Park, is going global with the major feature film “The 34th Battalion”.
The brainchild of former Wauchope teacher and now Australian Film Industry producer Ian Sparke, The 34th Battalion is set between 1916 and 1923 and will take the audience on an ANZAC journey from the town of Wauchope in 1916 to the Western Front and back.
“The story will be portrayed without any of the typical clichés,” Sparke said.
“The young soldiers left a beautifully sunny Wauchope in 1916 knowing exactly what they were in for, unlike their comrades who had fallen at Gallipoli.
“They headed to the grim Western Front, which was already soaked with death, knowing that they had a job to do and that, if they did return, they would never be the same again.”
Sparke senior is joined by son Luke, as director, with this being Luke’s first feature film.
Both father and son bring an enormous amount of experience, with each of them having been heavily involved with blockbusters such as “The Pacific”, “Wolverine” and “Kokoda” as well as having produced a number of music videos.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for all of us and a chance to showcase the amazing amount of Australian talent within our industry,” said the young director.
“Whilst negotiations are continuing with high profile Australian actors, there will also be an international element to the stars,” he added.
An opportunity for locals to unleash their ‘inner star’ will also exist, with up to 200 extras being required at various stages of shooting.
Acting hopeful Shane Green impressed in his first encounter with movie executives.
“It would be absolutely amazing to be part of this movie,” Green said. “My family have been in Wauchope for over 150 years and it’s more ‘real life’ than Hollywood for me.”
Casting agent Tom McSweeney from Village Roadshow on the Gold Coast will be conducting auditions in August, with specific details yet to be confirmed.
Tim Walker from the Hastings Co-op, who has been instrumental in securing Wauchope as the location for this film said, “There will be the opportunity for other groups from all areas of the Hastings to become involved, including construction workers for set construction, catering, security, accommodation – and the list goes on.
“I have been working on securing a feature film here in the Hastings for six years now and have a strong feeling that the Australian Film Industry will now be lining up to film here,” he added.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s Neil Porter agreed, saying, “The economic ripple effect that this venture brings to our community will continue for years to come.”
Luke Sparke spoke of the advantages of shooting at Timbertown.
“It allows us to be able to shoot in 3600 where as, if we rotate our cameras too far in the studio, you would end up with a great deal of lighting and crew in the shots.
“It gives us the freedom to create an authentic feel to the young diggers as they farewelled their loved ones,” he added.
David and Alison Waite, the custodians of Timbertown Heritage Park, said, “The filming of The 34th Battalion in our backyard will help to showcase what Timbertown has to offer and take us into the future.
“We want to ensure that we support the local community who helped create this Park and believe this will be a step in the right direction,” he said.
“From our first meeting with film executives, both Alison and I have felt that they also have the best interests of the park and the community in mind.”
Sparke senior also added that he intended “to construct the sets in such a way that they are able to remain at Timbertown as attractions which will add to what is already an outstanding historical treasure”.
The film will be released in late 2013 and will involve two weeks of shooting at Timbertown, as well as another ten weeks in Gold Coast Studios and the canefields of Yatala, also in Queensland ‘The Western Front’.
Whilst a definitive amount for the cost of the production was not forthcoming, it is believed that the total budget for the film was “substantial”.
Story: Darrell Nash
