First look inside Screen Queensland’s newest film studio in Cairns

Take a sneak peek inside the massive, under-construction Screen Queensland film and TV studio in Cairns.

The Queensland government has announced new training opportunities for people wanting to work in the film and television industry. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney, board member Aaron Fa'aoso, chief operating officer Dee Mundell and head of studios Mark Melrose say the new training programs and the new sound stage and production facilities under construction in Bungalow will see people carving out new careers, as well as experienced industry professionals returning to Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Screen Queensland has provided a first look at the multi-million dollar redesign of the former Portsmith Bunnings site into one of the state’s premier film studios.

The sneak peek comes amid “huge interest” in the project from industry heavyweights in Hollywood and at home.

Work is well under way on the 6500 sqm Portsmith complex, which includes permanent tenancies, production offices, editing rooms, sound booths, an event space and a 1075 sqm sound stage, with plans to open in early 2024.

Screen Queensland’s head of studios and physical production Mark Melrose said the upstairs wing, which includes four 50 sqm creative tenancies and a for-hire hot-desk space with a capacity of 6-8 people, will be dedicated to permanently housing local film businesses and creatives.

“It will be a base for businesses who support the screen industry,” Mr Melrose said, adding there was already interest to move in from FNQ production companies, casting agencies and sound engineers.

The 1075 sqm sound stage has taken shape with much of the top-grade sound cladding installed.

The Queensland government has annouced new training opportunities for people wanting to work in the film and television industry. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney, board member Aaron Fa'aoso, chief operating officer Dee Mundell and head of studios Mark Melerose say the new training programs and the new sound stage and production facilities under construction in Bungalow will see people carving out new careers, as well as experienced industry professionals returning to Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Melrose could not put a value to the sound quality but believed “it’s going to be better than Brisbane”.

Mr Melrose added the facility had seen “huge interest” from industry heavyweights in Hollywood and Australia.

The studio will mainly attract and service mid-range productions from across Australia and the world but will also provide a home for local productions with training and education opportunities.

“We want to do everything to foster and build the local industry,” Mr Melrose said.

“We want to put plans in place and develop local crew to be able to be employable on productions that come in here and at the same time, working with locals to get local productions made out of here.

“It is a magnet, absolutely everybody knows about it, everybody is interested in it but we can’t just go open the doors and off we go.”

The Queensland government has annouced new training opportunities for people wanting to work in the film and television industry. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney and board member Aaron Fa'aoso, pictured on the site of the new sound stage and production facilities in Bungalow, say that the growth of the industry in Cairns will be boosted by the new training pathways.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said the facility will also bring a new line of work for Cairns tradespeople who may have never had access to the film industry without it.

“You can’t be what you can’t see so if you don’t have this sort of infrastructure around then that stops people going, ‘oh I’ve got that skill’, I could apply it to the screen industry,” she said.

Screen Queensland board member Aaron Fa’aoso said young Far North hopefuls were calling out for a way into the industry.

“There is a genuine interest up here to access the industry,” Mr Fa’aoso said.

“We just haven’t had the access point.

“Kids will continue to move to Brisbane and Sydney, but for those who don’t want to, there’s a place.”

The first-look coincides with the launch of a Screen Queensland and Essential Screen Skills training program for below-the-line crew in North and Far North Queensland.

The program will see 30 new and emerging screen practitioners gain skills and industry experience through departments such as camera, costume, lighting, production and locations.

The participants will have access to local industry professionals through a series of workshops and will produce three new short films across the course of the program.

People interested in the program can visit the Screen Queensland booth at the Cairns Careers Expo on Thursday, August 24.

Screen Queensland will be accepting applications until Friday, September 8.

Originally published as First look inside Screen Queensland’s newest film studio in Cairns