The foundations have been laid for Docklands Studios Melbourne’s $46 million sixth sound stage.
Set to measure 3,700 sqm, construction company Kane Constructions is now erecting the steelwork for the main structure.
When completed, the stage will feature a 900,000 litre sub-floor tank (more than one third the capacity of an Olympic pool) for filming of underwater scenes.
Construction on the stage comes as production around the country booms, putting unprecedented demand on infrastructure, particularly studio space.
The stage’s construction has been supported by the Victorian state government, who unveiled the plans back in October 2019.
Docklands Studios Melbourne CEO Rod Allan said: “The stage will bring large international film and TV projects to the state, providing skills development and a long pipeline of work for cast and crew.
Artist’s impression of the stage’s interior.
“Stage Six will expand total stage capacity at the complex by more than 60 per cent,...
Set to measure 3,700 sqm, construction company Kane Constructions is now erecting the steelwork for the main structure.
When completed, the stage will feature a 900,000 litre sub-floor tank (more than one third the capacity of an Olympic pool) for filming of underwater scenes.
Construction on the stage comes as production around the country booms, putting unprecedented demand on infrastructure, particularly studio space.
The stage’s construction has been supported by the Victorian state government, who unveiled the plans back in October 2019.
Docklands Studios Melbourne CEO Rod Allan said: “The stage will bring large international film and TV projects to the state, providing skills development and a long pipeline of work for cast and crew.
Artist’s impression of the stage’s interior.
“Stage Six will expand total stage capacity at the complex by more than 60 per cent,...
- 3/16/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Steven Jones-Evans with Rod Allan, CEO Docklands Studios.
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
- 12/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Artist sketch of Dockland Studios’ new sound stage.
In a dual boost for the Victorian screen industry, Dick Cook Studios (Dcs) will shoot two big budgeted movies at Docklands Studios as the facility unveiled plans to build a sixth sound stage costing $46 million.
The production company founded by the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios will set up its Australian base at the lot, headed by Melbourne-born Kate McLean.
A former vice president, office of the CEO to Bob Iger and senior director of the business development group at the Walt Disney Company, McLean will oversee creative content, production, business strategy and operational plans for Dcs Australia. She will start recruiting full-time staff early next year with the aim to build towards 25 personnel.
In Melbourne for the announcement with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for the Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts, Cook said Dcs Australia is...
In a dual boost for the Victorian screen industry, Dick Cook Studios (Dcs) will shoot two big budgeted movies at Docklands Studios as the facility unveiled plans to build a sixth sound stage costing $46 million.
The production company founded by the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios will set up its Australian base at the lot, headed by Melbourne-born Kate McLean.
A former vice president, office of the CEO to Bob Iger and senior director of the business development group at the Walt Disney Company, McLean will oversee creative content, production, business strategy and operational plans for Dcs Australia. She will start recruiting full-time staff early next year with the aim to build towards 25 personnel.
In Melbourne for the announcement with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for the Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts, Cook said Dcs Australia is...
- 10/20/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ranger’s Apprentice, The Alchemyst based on books.
Dick Cook, the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, has struck a deal to establish the Asia Pacific headquarters of Dick Cook Studios at Melbourne and announced two projects that authorities said would inject A$200m (Usd $137m) into the state of Victoria.
At the same time it emerged that Docklands Studios Melbourne is to build a new “super stage” at its facility that is expected to be ready by late 2021. Construction will not affect work at the other five sound stages and filming will continue into 2020 on Apple TV+ show Shantaram,...
Dick Cook, the former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, has struck a deal to establish the Asia Pacific headquarters of Dick Cook Studios at Melbourne and announced two projects that authorities said would inject A$200m (Usd $137m) into the state of Victoria.
At the same time it emerged that Docklands Studios Melbourne is to build a new “super stage” at its facility that is expected to be ready by late 2021. Construction will not affect work at the other five sound stages and filming will continue into 2020 on Apple TV+ show Shantaram,...
- 10/20/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Filming on HBO.s 'The Leftovers' in stage 4 at Docklands Studios Melbourne, courtesy Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
If speaks to Docklands Studios CEO Rod Allan about strengthening connections in La, working with HBO on Season 3 of 'The Leftovers' and gearing up for 'Winchester'.
How did you go in La for Ausfilm week?
A lot of these productions have long lead times, so it.s very unusual to go over there and meet someone who has a production ready. That doesn.t happen. What happens is the producers usually explore a number of options for Australia. It.s much more a relationship-building exercise. When we went to Ausfilm week last October, The Leftovers was not on the horizon. It wasn.t until March this year that they came out and subsequently we made the booking, and they.ve shot and wrapped since then.
How did you nab them?...
If speaks to Docklands Studios CEO Rod Allan about strengthening connections in La, working with HBO on Season 3 of 'The Leftovers' and gearing up for 'Winchester'.
How did you go in La for Ausfilm week?
A lot of these productions have long lead times, so it.s very unusual to go over there and meet someone who has a production ready. That doesn.t happen. What happens is the producers usually explore a number of options for Australia. It.s much more a relationship-building exercise. When we went to Ausfilm week last October, The Leftovers was not on the horizon. It wasn.t until March this year that they came out and subsequently we made the booking, and they.ve shot and wrapped since then.
How did you nab them?...
- 1/9/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
After extensive renovations, the new completed upgrade to Stage.Five and the Workshop at Docklands Studio Melbourne is ready to be officially opened.
Chief Executive Officer of Docklands Studios, Rod Allan, spoke to If in December about what the upgrades will mean for production.
Of the work done to Stage Five, he said, .The intention was to take it from being a traditional film sound stage to a stage which is more suitable for fast turnaround TV.
.The extension. was an extension to the stage annex, not the sound stage itself, and is intended to make and create more support for the stage, which makes it more suitable for fast turnaround audience based TV production."
The upgrades also include the creation of more office and storage space, a new large room to hold audiences and a motorised lighting grid which has been added to the stage itself.
These developments will...
Chief Executive Officer of Docklands Studios, Rod Allan, spoke to If in December about what the upgrades will mean for production.
Of the work done to Stage Five, he said, .The intention was to take it from being a traditional film sound stage to a stage which is more suitable for fast turnaround TV.
.The extension. was an extension to the stage annex, not the sound stage itself, and is intended to make and create more support for the stage, which makes it more suitable for fast turnaround audience based TV production."
The upgrades also include the creation of more office and storage space, a new large room to hold audiences and a motorised lighting grid which has been added to the stage itself.
These developments will...
- 2/5/2013
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Underbelly: Razor took home two key awards at the Australian Production Design Guild Awards last night.
The ceremony was hosted by Academy Award winner Adam Eliot with presenters At the Movies’ Margaret Pomeranz, Rod Allan, CEO of Docklands Studios Melbourne and Simon Wood, designer of video game La Noire.
The Underbelly series’ production designer Patrick Reardon and art director Scott Bird won the best Design for a Television Drama while Louise Wakefield won for Best Costume design for Screen.
In the Best Design for a Feature category went to Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’s Roger Ford, production designer, and Lucinda Thomson, art director.
CommBank’s Centenary ad won best design on an advertisement, awarding Annie Beauchamp, Nicki Gardiner and Edward Cotton.
A full list of winners can be found on the Apdg website.
The ceremony was hosted by Academy Award winner Adam Eliot with presenters At the Movies’ Margaret Pomeranz, Rod Allan, CEO of Docklands Studios Melbourne and Simon Wood, designer of video game La Noire.
The Underbelly series’ production designer Patrick Reardon and art director Scott Bird won the best Design for a Television Drama while Louise Wakefield won for Best Costume design for Screen.
In the Best Design for a Feature category went to Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’s Roger Ford, production designer, and Lucinda Thomson, art director.
CommBank’s Centenary ad won best design on an advertisement, awarding Annie Beauchamp, Nicki Gardiner and Edward Cotton.
A full list of winners can be found on the Apdg website.
- 10/18/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
The Australian Production Design Guild has presented its award for outstanding contribution to design to Roger Kirk.
Kirk is an Australian costume designer working primarily in stage and film. He has also previously won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design for The King and I and was nominated for 42nd Street. His Australian film credits include Brilliant Lies, Dad and Dave: On Our Selection, and Turtle Beach.
The Apdg Awards were presented at Sydney's Doltone House by Oscar-winner Adam Elliot. Other presenters included the ABC's Margaret Pomeranz, Aftrs head of screen design Sarah Stollman, Docklands Studios Melbourne chief executive Rod Allan, and L.A. Noire game designer Simon Wood.
The full list of Apdg Award winners can be found below and showreels at the Apdg website.
The Aftrs 2012 Apdg - Student Award Lauren O Flaherty - Designer Loot
The Digistor...
Kirk is an Australian costume designer working primarily in stage and film. He has also previously won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design for The King and I and was nominated for 42nd Street. His Australian film credits include Brilliant Lies, Dad and Dave: On Our Selection, and Turtle Beach.
The Apdg Awards were presented at Sydney's Doltone House by Oscar-winner Adam Elliot. Other presenters included the ABC's Margaret Pomeranz, Aftrs head of screen design Sarah Stollman, Docklands Studios Melbourne chief executive Rod Allan, and L.A. Noire game designer Simon Wood.
The full list of Apdg Award winners can be found below and showreels at the Apdg website.
The Aftrs 2012 Apdg - Student Award Lauren O Flaherty - Designer Loot
The Digistor...
- 10/18/2012
- by Staff Reporter
- IF.com.au
The Australian Production Design Guild has announced its shortlist for this years awards for excellence in stage and screen design.
The announcement:
The Australian Production Design Guild in association with Docklands Studios Melbourne is delighted to announce the nominees for the 2012 Awards for Excellence in Stage and Screen Design
The Australian Production Design Guild’s 2012 Awards for Excellence in Stage and Screen Design will be held on Wednesday 17th October 2012 at Parkview Room, Doltone House Darling Island Wharf from 6.30pm, where the winners across 16 categories will be announced.
“The number of entries was impressive” announced George Liddle, Chair of the Apdg Board. With so many quality entrants this year it was difficult for the judges to make a decision.
The Apdg Awards is an annual event first held in 2011. It gathers together a myriad of talents and associated production design professionals from the Australian film, television, stage and interactive multimedia...
The announcement:
The Australian Production Design Guild in association with Docklands Studios Melbourne is delighted to announce the nominees for the 2012 Awards for Excellence in Stage and Screen Design
The Australian Production Design Guild’s 2012 Awards for Excellence in Stage and Screen Design will be held on Wednesday 17th October 2012 at Parkview Room, Doltone House Darling Island Wharf from 6.30pm, where the winners across 16 categories will be announced.
“The number of entries was impressive” announced George Liddle, Chair of the Apdg Board. With so many quality entrants this year it was difficult for the judges to make a decision.
The Apdg Awards is an annual event first held in 2011. It gathers together a myriad of talents and associated production design professionals from the Australian film, television, stage and interactive multimedia...
- 8/31/2012
- by Georgina Pearson
- Encore Magazine
The Broken Hill City Council is considering five expressions of interest to develop its fledgling film studio complex 12 months after the departure of major production Fury Road.
Earlier this year, the council called for partners to invest, develop, manage and/or operate all or part of the 2.5 hectare Broken Hill Studios. Broken Hill mayor Wincen Cuy said the council was pleased to receive five submissions and a decision would be made after the current Nsw local government elections were completed on September 8.
.We.re at a stage where the tenders have been put in and now we.re just going through the whole process,. Cuy told If Magazine.
The proposed-$10 million Broken Hill Film Studios, built on a former Central Power Station Site, had received about $2.1 million in funding (including about $1 million from the Nsw state government) by early-2011 when it was still working on the assumption that the fourth Mad Max film,...
Earlier this year, the council called for partners to invest, develop, manage and/or operate all or part of the 2.5 hectare Broken Hill Studios. Broken Hill mayor Wincen Cuy said the council was pleased to receive five submissions and a decision would be made after the current Nsw local government elections were completed on September 8.
.We.re at a stage where the tenders have been put in and now we.re just going through the whole process,. Cuy told If Magazine.
The proposed-$10 million Broken Hill Film Studios, built on a former Central Power Station Site, had received about $2.1 million in funding (including about $1 million from the Nsw state government) by early-2011 when it was still working on the assumption that the fourth Mad Max film,...
- 8/14/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Australia now boasts four main production studios with facilities of international calibre. Set to take on the Hollywood big league, Georgina Pearson gives a brief snapshot of each studio in its current state.
In order to compete with such universal giants, Australia’s studios must offer that little bit extra – a uniqueness not found anywhere else. While perhaps considerably smaller in comparison to the backlots of Hollywood, Australia’s absolute landscape versatility has proved to be a substantial draw-card.
Jon Cassar executive producer for Stephen Spielberg’s Terra Nova (which shot on location in the Gold Coast Hinterland as well as the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios) told Encore when searching for the right studio you have to weigh up several factors. “You look at two things. You look at infrastructure and studio space. We started with two studios and we’re already up to three. Having the volume...
In order to compete with such universal giants, Australia’s studios must offer that little bit extra – a uniqueness not found anywhere else. While perhaps considerably smaller in comparison to the backlots of Hollywood, Australia’s absolute landscape versatility has proved to be a substantial draw-card.
Jon Cassar executive producer for Stephen Spielberg’s Terra Nova (which shot on location in the Gold Coast Hinterland as well as the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios) told Encore when searching for the right studio you have to weigh up several factors. “You look at two things. You look at infrastructure and studio space. We started with two studios and we’re already up to three. Having the volume...
- 10/25/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Domestic productions are becoming increasingly important for Docklands Studios Melbourne, at a time when Australia is failing to attract big international projects.
“Our commitment remains to both domestic and international productions, but the reality is that we are picking up more domestic production and we are catering for a domestic market,” CEO Rod Allan told Encore.
“In this climate, it’s important that we look after domestic clients. In fact, that is always important… but we will go after international clients as well,” he said.
This domestic focus has resulted in a new contract with the Nine Network, which will base its Melbourne production at Docklands Studios. The announcement was made on Monday by CEO David Gyngell and executive director Jeff Browne.
“It’s a win-win for us and GTV9; it means there will be more production at the studio and it means that GTV9′s local audience-based programming will remain in Melbourne,...
“Our commitment remains to both domestic and international productions, but the reality is that we are picking up more domestic production and we are catering for a domestic market,” CEO Rod Allan told Encore.
“In this climate, it’s important that we look after domestic clients. In fact, that is always important… but we will go after international clients as well,” he said.
This domestic focus has resulted in a new contract with the Nine Network, which will base its Melbourne production at Docklands Studios. The announcement was made on Monday by CEO David Gyngell and executive director Jeff Browne.
“It’s a win-win for us and GTV9; it means there will be more production at the studio and it means that GTV9′s local audience-based programming will remain in Melbourne,...
- 10/29/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Starting next week, Melbourne Central City Studios will be officially known as Docklands Studios Melbourne.
“Now is the right time to formally adopt the studios’ commonly used name, which is widely accepted in the industry. It is easy to remember and emphasises our unique and highly attractive location,” said CEO Rod Allan.
The rebranding follows the $10m State Government investment into new infrastructure, which Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings says will create a more flexible multi-use complex for Victoria’s films and television hub: “The planned modifications look set to boost domestic television production levels, while keeping the studios in the market for major domestic and international film projects.”
The studios opened in 2004, and the upgrade will commence in early 2011, starting with the modification of sound stage 5 and improvements to the workshop. Construction of an horizon tank has not yet been approved.
According to information provided by the studios, long term...
“Now is the right time to formally adopt the studios’ commonly used name, which is widely accepted in the industry. It is easy to remember and emphasises our unique and highly attractive location,” said CEO Rod Allan.
The rebranding follows the $10m State Government investment into new infrastructure, which Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings says will create a more flexible multi-use complex for Victoria’s films and television hub: “The planned modifications look set to boost domestic television production levels, while keeping the studios in the market for major domestic and international film projects.”
The studios opened in 2004, and the upgrade will commence in early 2011, starting with the modification of sound stage 5 and improvements to the workshop. Construction of an horizon tank has not yet been approved.
According to information provided by the studios, long term...
- 10/7/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Rivalries between the states are inevitable but ultimately unproductive. While Victoria may not have the highest production investment total of the year, the cultural capital of Australia is strengthening its local slate.
Victoria is considered Australia’s cultural capital, so why isn’t it the country’s screen production capital too, or at least not anymore?
According to the National Survey of Feature Film and TV Drama Production, in 2008/09 the value of the feature and TV drama production slate in Victoria was $157m, 23 percent down from last year’s
$251m. The drop placed Victoria behind Nsw and its $434m, for the third time in the last five years.
All states savour the moment when statistics favour their efforts, but sometimes the numbers are not on their side. However, there are reasons behind this apparent under-performance, and things that those same numbers are not telling.
The dramatic statistical fluctuation is the...
Victoria is considered Australia’s cultural capital, so why isn’t it the country’s screen production capital too, or at least not anymore?
According to the National Survey of Feature Film and TV Drama Production, in 2008/09 the value of the feature and TV drama production slate in Victoria was $157m, 23 percent down from last year’s
$251m. The drop placed Victoria behind Nsw and its $434m, for the third time in the last five years.
All states savour the moment when statistics favour their efforts, but sometimes the numbers are not on their side. However, there are reasons behind this apparent under-performance, and things that those same numbers are not telling.
The dramatic statistical fluctuation is the...
- 5/26/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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