Perth residents have a chance to use their homes to get a taste of Hollywood.
Residential properties from mid-century homes to mansions, shacks, farmhouses and apartments are in hot demand as film locations as the level of screen production grows in WA.
Screenwest is calling for new suggestions of residential properties for its online locations gallery as location scouts seek out new spots for film projects.
“Production teams and location scouts are contacting Screenwest daily for location packages for potential shoots in Perth and regional WA, so we are looking to build out the number of residential properties we have in our gallery,” Screenwest acting head of industry development Gabrielle Cole said.
“It’s not just luxury homes that are in demand for screen production. All sorts of properties can be used as film locations depending on the genre, location and era of the storyline. Character homes are really sought after, as are impressive mansions and even unrenovated retro homes from the 1960s and 70s.
“In some cases, property owners have been used as extras or have found themselves in cameo roles, which can be quite a thrill to be involved in the production and eventually see yourself on screen.”
Screenwest said there had been more calls from homeowners and tenants checking if unsolicited approaches and letterbox drops were scams.
Locations manager Rachael Hawkins said “filming request” letters would be left in mailboxes.
“Location scouts are always on the lookout for unique properties whilst on the road searching for filming locations,” she said.
“We will doorknock locations that align with the creative brief, and if no one is home will leave a letter expressing an interest in the property, and request that the owners or occupiers contact us.”
A location fee is paid to each location used in filming. This fee differs with each location and production, and is dependent upon access requirements and filming lengths and times.
Currently the Screenwest WA Locations Gallery has 1900 listings, including more than 600 residential properties, registered as possible film locations.
Randall and Emma Tapp’s 1970s home in Hamilton Hill was used for Stan’s Invisible Boys series last year after a location scout knocked on their door.
“It was just random. There was a knock on the door,” Mr Tapp said. “It was a bit left field but once we received an official letter, we realised it was real.”
The family moved out to an Airbnb for a week, while set designers transformed the couple’s bedroom for football fanatic character Hammer, painting it burgundy and using Mr Tapp’s old footy trophies on the bedhead.
“They used everything — our bed, my old footy trophies, all our furniture. They changed our bedroom around a little bit and painted a wall — and by the time we got back home, it was as if it hadn’t happened. Everything was back in place,” Mr Tapp said.
“It was really good fun. We loved it. It was a great experience. Actually, the whole street loved it. It was really exciting to be involved and the excitement continues once the production is screened as well. It’s a nice little story to tell over a beer with your mates.”
Tenants Mikaela Trenorden and Naomi Halls used their rental property in Embleton for the recent Warner Bros/Foxtel Group production about WA bank robber and prison escapee Brenden Abbott.
“It is a very quirky house. It’s a mid-century vibe, with only a few newer updates. It’s got the original wood staircase and bannisters, it’s got the original timber door frames and lots of amber glass. We love houses with character, we both grew up in old houses,” Ms Trenorden said.
“What they liked about it was that parts of it look nice but parts of it are original. It is also a very odd house, generally speaking, with fake floors and hidden safes and a big roundabout in the centre of the front yard.
“They also loved our furniture and a lot of our things; we have a pretty eclectic style which ended up fitting with the look they were going for.”
Ms Trenorden said their landlord was happy for the home to be used as a location.
“They did two separate blocks of filming, inside and outside. We sat in on the set for one day, which was really cool. They put us up in an Airbnb. We have a dog and a cat so they found us a pet-friendly place to stay and we got to take them with us,” she said.
“We just wanted to be a part of it. It’s not something you get to do every day and it’s an interesting thing to be a part of.”
Kevin Sanderson’s distinctive Fremantle home was used as a location for the upcoming Bruce Beresford film The Travellers, which is scheduled to open in Australian cinemas on October 9.
As manager of the Buffalo Club in the port city, he has seen a steady stream of location scouts at the old workers’ club and found his own home being used as a film location by chance last year.
“While they were there scouting they mentioned they were looking for a house for an apartment, so they came and had a look at my place around the corner, and they chose the first floor,” he said.
Retirees Lane and Shelley Long hit pay dirt when they upgraded their kitchen and the renovation business featured it in a TV advertisement. The ad led to their East Fremantle home being used in other commercials and production of Binge series The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer, starring Sam Neill.
“For The Twelve, we were supposedly a house in England. They used our ensuite bathroom and bedroom, and our living room, and even put a green screen up outside the window so they could change the exterior view to an English street,” Mr Long said.
“They used a lot of our furniture, and brought a lot in. They rearrange things. They take thousands of photographs and when they leave you wouldn’t know they’ve been here. Everything is back where it was.”
Anyone can nominate a location on the Western Australian Locations Gallery. Visit screenwest.com.au/filming-in-wa/locations/locations-gallery/
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.perthnow.com.au ’
