Written by on Oct 1, 2013. Posted in On Location

Queensland formally announces filming for Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken

Queensland in north-east Australia has formally announced that Angelina Jolie will be filming her World War II feature Unbroken on location in the state. Jolie’s second directorial effort will film partly at Village Roadshow Studios near Gold Coast.

Based on a non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken will tell the true story of Louis Zamperini. The American was an Olympic track runner before being shot down in World War II and spending nearly 50 days adrift in the Pacific before then surviving more than two years as a Prisoner of War at the hands of the Japanese.

Filming at Village Roadshow Studios will involve shooting in a water tank facility that is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Jolie has secured financial support from Screen Queensland’s Production Incentive programme.

It is testament to the many unique locations and quality of crew that we have to offer. It will create a substantial amount of jobs for the film and television industry in Queensland.

Jennie Hughes, Screen Queensland

“This is great news for Queensland and the Queensland film industry,” said Arts Minister Ian Walker: “Unbroken is projected to contribute millions to the Queensland economy. It will increase the skills and experience of local crews and talent and boost employment, as well as economic benefits for wider businesses and the flow-on effect for tourism."

“It is testament to the many unique locations and quality of crew that we have to offer,” said Jennie Hughes of Screen Queensland: “It will create a substantial amount of jobs for the film and television industry in Queensland putting the business back in show business.”

The Australian government is under pressure from the production industry to increase its Location Offset filming incentive – currently set at 16.5% of eligible spend – to appeal to more international shoots. A special AUD20 million fund was set up earlier this year to help attract more big-budget projects with additional one-off payments, but this is officially a temporary measure.

(Photos: Village Roadshow Studios Gold Coast)