Screen Illawarra lent a helping hand to the BBC’s new locally filmed murder-mystery, Return to Paradise.
The six-part series will be released on Sunday, September 8 at 7.30pm on ABC iView and ABC TV as an Australian spin-off in the British Death in Paradise franchise.
Screen Illawarra chair Nick Bolton was excited to get involved.
“It was September last year when the BBC was first looking at the Illawarra. They were looking at various locations around New South Wales and Australia,” Nick says.
“It was our job to point them in the direction of all the beautiful beaches and little spaces that we knew for locations that could be good for filming,
“A few months later they said that they were going to film here! So I’m really happy that we played that role of introducing them to the area and convincing them to invest in the area.”
Return to Paradise is produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia and Red Planet Pictures. The producers worked with Screen Illawarra to source filming resources locally.
“During the production, [extras casting assistant] Holly [Trenaman] and I were getting texts almost daily asking ‘Where can I get scaffolding from?’ ‘Oh, I need some bollards’ or ‘ We need a minibus’ – all those little peripheral things that a film needs,” Nick says.
“They’ve spent a lot of money down here. It’s very good for the economic development of the region. That boosts the local economy and gives new revenue streams for local businesses. I really like that part of it, the fact that all the local businesses do well out of it.”
Earlier this year ‘outdoorsy’ locals were invited to sign on as an extra in the series, with no acting experience required. Screen Illawarra aimed to get as many local people as possible involved as cast and crew.
“Holly looked after all the extras. On some days there were 50 extras required – in pub scenes, there was a beach scene with surfers, and the Wombarra Bowlo, the day I went along – loads of extras on that day.” Nick says.
“It was really lovely that we got a load of locals some really good experience and portfolio work by working on the show.”
In recent years, Screen Illawarra has given local students, practitioners and businesses the opportunity to get involved with other notable productions filmed in the Illawarra.
“After [Kingdom Of The] Planet of The Apes, One Night and Exposure, the number of sizeable productions a year is increasing,” Nick says.
“I like to think that's part of the job that Screen Illawarra has done in promoting the cast, the crew and the location to these production companies,
“This has created a really good case study for us to take to other production companies and give to Destination Wollongong and the Creative Wollongong team.”
Ones to watch
Screen Illawarra has a possible screening of Return to Paradise in the works, hoping to show the series locally in September.
Coming up on September 3, Screen Illawarra is hosting a screening of Kaugere: A Place Where Nobody Enters at the Gala Cinema, Warrawong. The production won the best documentary award at 2023 Byron International Film Festival. Director Stephen Dupont and producer Elizabeth Tadic will be present for a Q&A after the screening. Book your seat via Humanitix.
On Saturday, September 7, Wollongong City Council and Screen Illawarra will host the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival at Lakeside Reserve, Kanahooka.
“We’ve got five films in that festival, so that will be lovely! I encourage people to come along. It’s a free event, it’s outdoors… bring your picnic out at Lake Illawarra and have a nice night under the stars watching all locally made films.” Nick says.
Join Screen Illawarra
Locals wanting to get involved with Screen Illawarra can join via their website. Membership costs professionals $40, and $25 for students/concession.
