The vibrant city of Melbourne is cementing its place as a global screen centre, with the opening of a new super stage at Docklands Studios Melbourne.
Located just five minutes from downtown Melbourne the 40,000 sqft (3,700 sqm), state-of-the-art sound stage is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere and can accommodate anything from high-octane action sequences to spectacular underwater scenes in the huge 240,000 gallon (900,000-litre), 15-feet (4.5 metre) deep water pit.
A three-storey annex houses operations and production offices as well as support facilities including a makeup room, dressing rooms and audition spaces. Plus, the studios’ refurbished mess halls are right next door.
The AU$46 million expansion of the Victorian Government-owned facility, complements the competitive incentives offered by the state’s creative and economic screen development agency, VicScreen (formerly known as Film Victoria).
These incentives have seen Docklands Studios Melbourne recently host the first series of NBC hit drama La Brea, Paramount Television’s highly anticipated Shantaram and homegrown Netflix thrillerClickbait.
The first production to shoot in Stage 6 will be Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man, directed and co-written by Victorian Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman)
The studios’ 2022 slate also includes Season 2 of La Brea, and sci-fi thriller Foe, produced by AC Studios, I Am That and See-Saw Films for Prime Video.
Melbourne offers a large pool of world-class production crew, creative and technology businesses, a range of film-friendly locations close to Melbourne and a lifestyle that’s hard to beat.
Docklands Studios Melbourne opened in 2004 and has five other stages ranging from 8,000 to 25,000 sq ft (743 to 2,323 sq metres).
The opening of the new super stage coincides with CEO Rod Allan passing the keys over to Antony Tulloch, who previously headed Iskandar Malaysia Studios, the largest purpose-built filming facility in South-East Asia.
“Victoria is already host to unique and adaptable production destinations with world class crew and talent, now with the addition of the super stage Melbourne can host larger productions than ever before.”
“This new stage, combined with the government’s support for some of the most competitive incentives in Australia, cements Melbourne as one of the best places in the world for screen production.”
Danny Pearson, Minister for Creative Industries
“I am excited to be taking over the running of Docklands Studios Melbourne at a watershed moment for the screen industry in Victoria. The studio already has a reputation for supporting productions every step along the way, and I look forward to building on its profile in the global market.”
Antony Tulloch, CEO, Docklands Studios Melbourne
“Melbourne has long been a production destination of choice and the launch of this purpose-built sound stage will allow Melbourne to welcome even more complex and ambitious productions than ever before.”
Caroline Pitcher, CEO, VicScreen
“Docklands [Studios Melbourne] is great, it’s a top-notch facility. The studios are all the right size, they’re very film friendly. We’ve used two stages, and built multiple sets. Working with Australian crews has been excellent. I’d like to shoot more here.”
ADAM DAVIDSON, La Brea Executive Producer and Director
