Cameras roll on Bowen blockbuster

DIRECTOR Baz Luhrmann begins filming his movie epic Australia today, in the transformed town residents have nicknamed "Bowenwood".

DIRECTOR Baz Luhrmann begins filming his movie epic Australia today, in the transformed town residents have nicknamed "Bowenwood".

Bowen got its first taste of the action to come on Saturday afternoon when 300 head of cattle were driven through Herbert Street in a practice run while hundreds of people watched from behind barricades.

Although filming starts today the date the big stars arrive in town is still top secret. However, they are expected to make a public appearance with director Baz Luhrmann at the end of this week.

Nicole Kidman has already begun rehearsing for her part of English aristocrat Lady Jane Ashley.

In the movie she and Hugh Jackman (who plays a cattle drover) team up to drove 1500 head of cattle across Northern Australia.

The film has a whopping $100 million budget, and when you discover the painstaking process of making the set alone, you understand why.

"The challenge was to turn a corner of Bowen into 1940s-era Darwin, including a picture theatre, police station, hotel, brothel, shantytown and stockyards. Even the street lights have been replaced with more traditional fittings," a spokeswoman for the production said.

The bitumen road and driveways of nearby homes will be covered in red dirt, reminiscent of the Northern Territory.

The dirt had to be mixed to find the right colour and was then sent to Sydney to undergo testing under cameras and lighting before the final shade was chosen, she said.

"On the vacant blocks, (on the waterfront) ... has arisen an entire town, with many of the buildings being built from scratch. The newly erected buildings have been painted with dirt and water to create a run-down effect. The set extends along six streets," she said.

Bowen has opened its arms to the Australia team, with the film's crew booking into all the hotels and bunking down in private homes.

"We are in 21 motels and private accommodation in Bowen and also at Airlie Beach," the spokeswoman said.

"Everyone here is so lovely ? there is a sign up as you enter town from Proserpine Airport which says 'Bowen welcomes Baz Luhrmann, cast and crew'," she said

Originally published as Cameras roll on Bowen blockbuster