New South Wales is a global filmmaking destination. It is a leading state for screen production and home to almost half of Australia’s screen industry. Recently, Sydney’s pristine beaches and spectacular Harbour views were on display in rom-com Anyone But You and Ryan Gosling starrer The Fall Guy, but Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, also hosts vital screen infrastructure to support large-scale projects and bring any story imaginable to life.
In addition to being home to Disney Studios Australia, the largest sound stage complex and screen industry hub in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney also boasts a key backlot, the former Sydney Water Reservoir at Potts Hill. Located 15 kilometers south-west of the city, the reservoir site has been transformed into a secure 22-acre backlot option, that can meet the needs of most large international productions.
The site hosted Sir Ridley Scott’s futuristic Alien: Covenant and George Miller’s Oscar winning Mad Max: Fury Road, and continues to be an in-demand location. Recent productions that utilised the site include Marvel Studio’s Thor: Love and Thunder and 20th Century Studios Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
For Thor: Love and Thunder, the reservoir was transformed into Thor’s home-world, Asgard and a large tank was constructed at the site for the unique water needs of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Location Manager Colin McDougall, who was Supervising Location Manager on both Thor: Love and Thunder and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, praised the site for its easy access and excellent security.
“On Thor: Love and Thunder and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, we were based at Disney Studios Australia, and the site was easily accessed. This is now even easier since the opening of the WestConnex.” (WestConnex is a key underground motorway which opened in Sydney in late 2023).
“The site is also completely security fenced and has a 24-hour security system, so combined with productions’ security, this makes the site very secure when there are internationally recognised cast on set. It is also illegal to fly a drone over the site without a special permit, so this limits the risk of paparazzi.”
The site is also an all-weather option with capacity for large-scale set builds.
“The hardstand base of the reservoir provides a great scope for constructing and filming very large exterior sets on a hard surface. There is also a large earth area where it has been possible to excavate for set construction including the river set tank for The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” said McDougall.
It is NSW Government policy to make the state as film friendly as possible. Screen NSW aims to streamline processes and provide the highest possible level of co-operation with filmmakers to encourage screen production and maintain NSW’s position as a premier destination for screen production in Australia.
The team at Screen NSW can assist you with any aspect of screen production. They can advise on locations, technical and creative talent, studio space, post-production, visual effects facilities and any other production needs. Supported by the NSW Government, Screen NSW offers a range of grants, incentives and rebates including the Made in NSW and Made in NSW – TV Drama funds, which attract footloose productions to the state.
The Screen NSW Film Scout App has recently been revised and is a must-have for location scouts and filmmakers looking for exceptional locations across NSW. The app enables you to search for locations across the state, discover local filming protocols for different government areas, and collect all the location contact information you need for a successful shoot. Screen NSW also offers bespoke location packages and production support – contact the team for more information. Your next filming location is in the palm of your hand.