Gold Coast movies: Carolyn Dante busier than ever as industry booms

A Gold Coast actor has revealed how she’s busier than ever thanks to a surprising development for the burgeoning Gold Coast film and tv industry.

COVID has officially flipped the script.

Thanks to our safe setting and cast of experienced professionals, suddenly Queensland is stealing the show from Hollywood – and our homegrown actors are upstaging their international counterparts.

After all, if the show must go on … where better than the Gold Coast?

It’s a plot twist that means Gold Coast mum and actor Carolyn Dante is busier than ever before, a storyline that surprises even herself.

“It’s ironic. I’m at an age where most women in Hollywood struggle to find work, yet here I am with more bookings than ever … and all from home in Australia,” says Carolyn, whose daughters Mia and Abby have also been acting for more than 10 years.

Carolyn recently completed filming for The Bureau of Magical Things, which is expected to be aired to 490 million people in almost 200 countries, and lists roles in Neighbours, ABC series Total Control, Fox series The End in her recent resume as well as her permanent gig as one of the lead actors in the Australian Outback Spectacular show.

Carolyn Dante with her daughters Mia and Abby. Picture: Jerad Williams.

But she says some of her most interesting roles are yet to come, but the life of an actor means remaining tight-lipped.

“I can rarely talk about what I’m working on because of confidentiality clauses but I can say I’ve been really busy,” she says.

“There is so much work heading here right now, it’s such an exciting time to be in the business and a huge opportunity for the entire film and television industry not just in Australia and Queensland but the Gold Coast itself.

“Most people know about Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, but that’s just the headliner - there are productions happening at every level, whether big, medium or small.

“Commercial work is never seen as glamorous but it’s really the bread and butter for so many in the industry - the budgets are big and the work is regular, - and the Gold Coast is becoming a centre for that because we have great weather, great scenery and great cast and crew.”

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Carolyn says while showbiz may be set to boom for the Coast, the industry suffered along with the rest of the country during the months of Covid shutdown.

She says few actors or production crew were eligible for JobKeeper payments due to the irregular nature of their work.

“As soon as the lockdowns hit, there were zero auditions, productions wrapped and everything just stopped overnight. Due to the nature of acting work, almost all of us have short-term or casual contracts and go from job to job, we were all ineligible for JobKeeper.

“Even though I work at Outback Spectacular, which is unique because it is a long-term job, I hadn’t been there for 12 months so I was ineligible for JobKeeper again.

“But I have to say, now that things are starting back up, it’s just the best atmosphere.

“When it’s a film or TV job, everyone is just so stoked to be working. It’s like party atmosphere - a socially distanced party atmosphere.

“Filming for The Bureau of Magical Things really was magical … masks and all.

“But the best vibe has been at Outback Spectacular, which is still one of the few live shows that’s back up and running.

“It’s strange because even when it’s a full house, it’s far from actually full, but the audience more than makes up for it. Everyone is just so happy to be back out, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries that happened during lockdown, seeing friends and families again … it’s one of the most special things I’ve experiences in my career.”

Carolyn Dante’s career is booming thanks to the Gold Coast’s covid-safe setting. Picture: Jerad Williams

Carolyn says she’s been studying her craft since she was a student at Newtown High School for the Performing Arts.

While she supported herself in the industry for years, she later turned to business as she married and had her children.

However, she says once her children started school she decided to dabble again in acting … and discovered her daughters wanted to follow in her footsteps.

“Once the girls were in school, I thought maybe I’d go to an audition or two.

“I already had the training from my previous life, but I had no idea there would be so much work. It really surprised me.

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“We moved to the Gold Coast 15 years ago, so I’d never worked in the industry here before. I was amazed how big it was, and now it’s just getting bigger.

“I remember I got an agent and the very next day I had a job.

“I think I’m in a sweet spot with my age as well. In Hollywood being over 40 has historically been the end of your roles, but I think women get a longer lifespan on screen here.

“We really push our female writers and directors too, which means better roles for women.

“In terms of commercial work, I think we’ve really learned to embrace the mum characters. Car companies don’t want Elle McPherson anymore, they want someone aspirational but relatable.

“But I also think that I’ve worked hard and trained hard to be where I’m at now, it’s not an easy career path that’s for sure.”

Carolyn says while her daughters also love acting, she works hard to protect them from some elements of the industry.

Carolyn Dante says she would not let her kids do “horror stuff”. Picture: Jerad Williams

But sadly, the same can’t be said for many other parents who fully inhabit their role as ‘stage mum’.

“I never pushed my daughters to act, they wanted to do it and they’ve had a lot of work,” she says.

“It’s tricky with kids though, finding roles becomes difficult when you hit that tween stage - it’s awkward in real life and awkward on screen as well.

“Rejection is part of the industry, but I’ve taught them not to think of it as rejection but to think of the audition itself as the job. If it goes on from there, great. But we bring our best to every audition and if it’s right, the role will be ours. At its worst, it’s an opportunity to build resilience.

“What does worry me in the industry is the behaviour of some of the full-on stage mums. I have seen parents so desperate for their child to be famous they’ll let them do anything. It’s alarming but I see it a lot.

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“I would never let my kids do horror stuff, I don’t like that genre in general but especially not for the kids. If it’s scary to watch, it can be scary to act. Their brains aren’t finished developing yet so it can be traumatic.

“I’m very cautious as a mum in the industry, and as a result their experience has been wonderful - fun and happy.

“My own experiences have been the same, I’ve never had a #metoo moment … but I still watch my kids like a hawk. I’m not a diva, I just don’t trust everyone.

“I also try to protect them from the kids who have that ‘child actor’ mentality. My girls are not in it for the fame but the fun. Everyone wants to be liked and appreciated, but you get that from your friends and family … not from fame.”

And while Carolyn says she’s not usually recognised on the streets of the Gold Coast, that may be set to change.

Meanwhile, she’s loving living her best showbiz life right here at home.

“It is amazing that you can make a living from acting here on the Coast,” she says.

“It’s not an overnight success story, but I think we’re on track to see more and more people make a career out of the industry from our city.

“From what I hear, there’s so many productions headed here. And why not? We have the best crew, the best cast and absolutely the best location.”

Gold Coast, get ready for your Covid-inspired close-up.