New film to be shot at Long Jetty, Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes

The “hipster vibe” of Long Jetty and the scenic beauty of Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes have attracted a Sydney-based filmmaker to shoot his second feature film on the Central Coast.

A Sydney-based filmmaker wants to showcase the beauty of the Central Coast to Hollywood with shooting of his second feature to begin at Long Jetty, Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes next month.

Rophe Films co-founder, writer and producer Toufic Saadeh has a holiday house on the coast and said he was attracted to the “hipster vibe” of Long Jetty and the natural beauty of Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes for the background of his new film “The Story of Nadia”.

He said the drama/thriller was inspired by true events which happened to him following a chance meeting after psychic reading.

Sydney based assistant director/producer/co-creator Toufic Saadeh will be shooting part of his latest film The Story of Nadia on the Central Coast. Picture: supplied

Saadeh said he was going through a break up and his now ex-girlfriend suggested they go to a psychic to see where their relationship was heading.

The psychic told him the relationship was doomed but that he would be guided by the

Archangel Raphael.

“After I had broken up with the girl, I was at the shops one day when I met a girl selling perfume that was wearing a bracelet that had Raphael on it,” he said.

“As I was getting to know her, she began acting strange and odd things began happening, such as flickering lights when we entered a room,” Saadeh said.

“I knew something wasn’t right and ended up speaking to a friend who said she may be cursed and suggested I take her to a place that specialises in removing them.”

Actor Dylan Mahoney will be playing "Tyler"

Actor Bella Valentini will be playing "Nadia". Pictures: supplied

Inspired by that experience the film, co-written with Sarah Vaughan, follows a young man named Tyler, played by Dylan Mahoney, who’s uneventful life is turned upside down following a strange reading with a fortune-teller.

After the reading he meets a beautiful young woman named Nadia, played by Bella Valentini, who is under the influence of a supernatural being.

The pair’s new-found romance is tested as Nadia’s curse becomes worse and Tyler becomes haunted by the same demon, leaving them to decide if their love is worth fighting the forces of evil.

Director Billy El Kaddour (left), producer Sonia Qutami and assistant director/producer/co-creator Toufic Saadeh who will be shooting The Story of Nadia on the Central Coast. Picture: supplied

Saadeh is co-directing with Billy EL Kaddour and producing it with Sonia Qutami, who he worked with on his first feature The Islander Theory, which is available on Amazon Prime.

Saadeh said he went to Hollywood with this first film but was told by distributors when they think of Australia they want to see “Byron Bay”.

“After I took The Islander Theory to America, the distributors told me to do a proper film and then come back and see them, which is what this is,” he said.

“I want to go back, I want this film to advertise how beautiful the Central Coast is.”

Many of the scenes will be shot at Long Jetty. Picture: Sue Graham

A cafe and shops at Long Jetty will be used for a number of scenes in the film along with Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes.

While the script was written three years ago, Saadeh said he was going to go overseas last year but COVID hit and he came into some money, which he took as “a sign from God” to finally shoot the film.

Filming on the coast will be done from June 14-20 with a cast and crew of about 30 people.

Norah Head lighthouse will feature in the film. Picture: The Legendary Pacific Coast