Screenwest is pleased to announce US feature film, Where All Light Tends to Go, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright and Hopper Penn, is heading to WA for post-production.

Where All Light Tends to Go is the powerful cinematic adaptation of the award-winning novel of the same name, which recently wrapped filming in Atlanta, Georgia with Western Australian director, Ben Young (Clickbait, Hounds of Love) at the helm.

Set in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains, Where All Light Tends to Go sees eighteen-year-old Jacob McNeely (Penn) torn between appeasing his meth-dealing kingpin father and leaving the mountains forever with the girl he loves.

Thanks to post-production support from Screenwest, the film will now complete all sound and picture post-production including grade, VFX, online, score composition, sound design, foley, final mix and delivery in Western Australia.

Alongside the director, the West Australian influence on the picture was already strong, with Perth based producer Jamie Hilton (Breath, Long Story Short), Director of Photography Michael McDermott (Judas Collar, Hounds of Love) and WA actress Emma Booth (The Gloaming, Glitch) starring as Josie.

Now joining the team are West Australian Editor Merlin Eden (1922, Last Train to Freo), Composer Adam Spark of Birds of Tokyo fame, Sound Designer and Mixer Ric Curtin (Three Summers, Hounds of Love) and a raft of editorial, sound, musicians, VFX and post-production crew.

“This is a great coup for the State, and for several local post-production screen businesses including Sandbox and Curtin Productions. Where All Light Tends to Go will be a fantastic opportunity for many Western Australian artists and technicians to showcase their talents to an international audience.”

Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO

“The post-production crew here in Perth are as talented as anywhere I’ve worked, but most haven’t had the opportunity to work on projects with well-known movie stars. Thanks to Screenwest for their support and to my producers for trusting us to take this far away and to finish it here with my friends and collaborators. There are a lot of people now on board who helped me make my first film, and it’s a great feeling to know I get to help them make their first international picture. Most importantly, they are the best people for the film.”

Ben Young, Director

“It’s a great privilege to be working alongside Ben, on a picture with some of my favourite actors in Robin Wright and Billy Bob Thornton. It’s also a coup to capture the imagination of composer Adam Spark, one of WA’s biggest international music exports. There are too many world-class West Australian post-production companies, artists and technicians to list, who will now be employed on the picture thanks to Screenwest and Lotterywest, this is a career milestone for many of us, and a wonderful outcome for the State’s post-production sector.” said Jamie Hilton, Producer.

The Where All Light Tends to Go novel and screen adaptation were written by Robert Knott, who also serves as a producer. Producers are Griff Furst for Curmudgeon Films, Josh Kesselman for Thruline, Robin Wright and Jamie Hilton for See Pictures. Universal Pictures will release the film worldwide and Screen Media in the United States.

Screenwest is Western Australia’s screen industry development organisation, supporting the development and production of film, television, and interactive projects in WA. Screenwest also provides funding to support skills and business support opportunities for WA crews, creatives and companies, Indigenous, diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives, and activities that promote WA productions and practitioners to WA audiences.

Where All Light Tends to Go is expected for release in 2023.

Media Contact
Lauren Elliott
Head of Communications, Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2126
M: 0424 368 839
E: [email protected]