South Australia’s vibrant capital city Adelaide is surrounded by crystal coastline to the east and red dirt to the north, while the Adelaide Hills and southern Fleurieu region are home to a diverse green palate. Within a few miles of the Adelaide Studios’ production base, film crews can find themselves amongst the trees creating that ‘middle of nowhere’ feeling with full city convenience.

Award-winning production Girl Asleep used Blackwood Forest Recreation Park to create atmosphere and deliver a stunning depth of character on screen. The forest is a rich metaphor in storytelling. It is a liminal space full of dark beauty, danger and the unknown. It also speaks to the majesty of nature.

“In Girl Asleep the forest is a central character, sometimes this was represented in a highly stylised way when we shot on set. When we needed to find a real forest South Australia offered some brilliant locations. We chose Blackwood as we wanted the linear pines and it was only 15 minutes from the centre of town.The light was fantastic and the local community all came out to watch the shoot. One family allowed us into their home hairdressing salon to use as our base for costume and makeup.”
Rosemary Myers – Director Girl Asleep.

Location Manager Sarah Abbey (The Water Diviner, Red Dog) highlights the film-friendly attitude from Forestry SA, “The forests offer easy access and safe environments to film, especially for moving vehicles and horse action with limited use by the general public. Forestry SA Rangers have been incredibly supportive and love their forests. They enjoy helping out the film industry and the fees are extremely reasonable.”

Location Manager Mark Evans (Hotel Mumbai, The Babadook) echoes the ease of working with Forestry SA noting they are ‘always helpful with allowing easy access to some fairly remote locations.’

All within easy reach of the city, the region boasts pine forests that have doubled for Scandinavia (Sam Fox Extreme Adventures) and the WWI battlefields of France (Deadline Gallipoli) to the historic stories of the Australian bush landscape.

The close proximity of wilderness to the city and ease of access sets South Australia apart.

‘One of the best things about shooting in South Australia is the accessibility to great locations. For Rabbit, we needed to find a forest that felt completely isolated to sell the idea that our characters were a long way from any help. Kuitpo forest was perfect. Not only is it a huge space with pine trees as far as the eye can see in all directions, but it was less than an hour’s drive from the city. There’s something a bit magical about that forest, but I wouldn’t want to sleep out there alone.’ David Ngo, Projector Films – Producer Rabbit.

For location shoots, productions can be based at the Adelaide Studios facilities with modern production offices and the support of the South Australian Film Corporation on site. The studios also feature two sound stages and a set construction workshop, as well as state-of-the-art post sound facilities

With competitive incentives that can be used in addition to the Federal incentives, South Australia is an excellent option for projects set anywhere.

Fast facts

• Blackwood Forest Recreation Park – 7 Miles from Adelaide Studios, Managed by National Parks South Australia
• Kuitpo Forest – 30 Miles from Adelaide Studios, Managed by Forestry SA

Get SA Location Manager Contacts here.

To request a location gallery contact:

Sarah Lancaster
Production Attraction & Business Development Executive
South Australian Film Corporation
[email protected]
www.safilm.com.au