Wizards! producer said FNQ has huge production appeal as filming concludes on Thursday
Two lucky Shields St shop owners speak about their amazement to be part of Pete Davidson’s Wizards! set as filming comes to its completion in FNQ.
Cairns
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UPDATE FRIDAY 4PM: Wizards! 39th and final day of filming in FNQ wrapped on Thursday, drawing curtains on the celebrity sagas and Hollywood hype that has transfixed Cairns for the past three months.
The film’s final shoot happened on a balmy day at Wangetti beach. Liz Watts, the film’s producer, said filming in the Daintree Rainforest was a highlight for the entire cast and crew.
“FNQ has incredible landscape variety, from rainforest to reef. The natural beauty is a huge attraction I think for productions to shoot here,” she said.
“We are very grateful for all the assistance we had through the local councils and local businesses.”
The Wizards! set saturated Shields St in Cairns CBD the evening earlier. Makin’ Whoopee, a boutique gift shop that focuses on Australian makers, became the focal point of production and public attention when Pete Davidson arrived to act out his scenes.
Business owners Fany Saumure and Kirsty Mulley said their shop was picked as a set location in March but said they weren’t expecting the level of excitement that ensued.
“They started coming in every second day from June, measuring things and finalising what was going where. Their attention to detail was incredible. We were just so excited to be in it,” said Ms Saumure.
“The art director liked the look of the street, the look of the building and the view of the scene from our shop,” said Ms Mulley.
The production crew transformed Makin’ Whoopee into a Vietmanese restaurant that Ms Mulley said ended up confusing a few passing pedestrians.
“Everyone kept stopping to read the menu,” she said.
Ms Mulley said she would happily accept an invitation to be part of filming again.
“They were so professional, the communication was excellent and they came back the next morning just to check that nothing had been damaged in the shop,” she said.
Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said a film production that will broadcast FNQ’s landscape around the world is the best tourism campaign the region could hope for, and he predicts many future production companies look toward the Far North.
“You can’t buy that kind of advertising,” he said.
“Our community should be confident the Screen Queensland Cairns Studio will stimulate and diversify our economy and create more jobs and training opportunities.
“Far North Queensland is fast becoming known as an ideal spot to create screen content.”
UPDATE THURSDAY 1PM: A Hollywood star brought in a crowd to a bustling Cairns street eager to get a glimpse of the filming of Wizards! with discussions on the table for a special screening.
Actor and comedian Pete Davidson was spotted by excited passer-bys on Shields St on Wednesday night during filming of the Wizards!.
RELATED: Cairns businesses taste fame after feature in Wizards! but not everyone was happy
Scenes were shot at CBD store Makin’ Whoopee, reinvented into a Vietnamese restaurant with a change in signage and decor.
Restaurant tables complete with soy sauce and cutlery were included to add to the Hollywood illusion.
Over 100 crew members helped put the scene together while 250 aspiring actors and Far Northerners who applied for the casting call were on scene.
Among the excited residents was Division 5 councillor Amy Eden who said she has been out in the city everyday and has stumbled across sets and actors having lunch.
“It’s great for the community, there’s so many people, it’s a massive job,” she said.
RELATED: Orlando Bloom’s bizarre workout routine at Smithfield gym
“Aspiring actors get to witness quality, not just acting, but sound and lighting and a high level production.
“There’s definitely an energy (in the city).”
A message sent to Cr Eden from an extra on set told of how well they were looked after with food and drinks readily available.
“The Covid safety was also first rate. Everyone had the opportunity to be close to the camera if they wanted to be,” the message read.
“I was hugely impressed, very respectful, well organised, patient and friendly team.”
Cr Eden said there has been discussion over a special screening in Cairns when Wizards! hits the big screen.
The Hollywood blockbuster has little left to film with crew expected to begin leaving Cairns this weekend.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 7.30PM: It’s lights, camera, action at Shields St as cast and crew of the film ‘Wizards’ work through their 38th day of filming in the Far North.
A smorgasbord of directors, cast extras, lighting and camera operators have saturated Cairns’ picturesque streetscape but have somehow managed to keep the whole operation from shutting off foot and vehicle traffic.
The film’s producer Liz Watts said this evening posed a chance for the public to catch a glimpse of a celebrity “if they’re quick enough”.
“Tonight is what we call a joiner scene … we’ve got our three characters walking down the street.
“We finish tomorrow, a lot of the crew will leave by the weekend.”
Ms Watts said the street remained open to foot traffic and public spectators as long as they’re not in view of the cameras.
“When we’re actually doing a take we’ll ask people not to walk through, but generally we try and allow people to go about their business.”
Ms Watts said the cast and crew have enjoyed meeting local people while filming. The memory of meeting a group of women on Wangetti Beach came to her mind first.
“It’s been great shooting here. I think it’s unique and it’s so pristine,” she said.
“We’ve met some incredible people. Yesterday, I met a group of women from Cape York Girls Academy, they came and visited the set. The work they’re doing with young Indigenous women is amazing.
“We had a lot of left over set dressing from the scene, like bean bags, so we gave it to them.”
EARLIER: SHIELDS St is expected to be the scene of filming this evening for upcoming film Wizards!, starring Orlando Bloom and Pete Davidson, which has stirred up plenty of Hollywood buzz in Cairns over the past three months.
Pete Davidson is anticipated to be on set tonight for the filming, which has already led to parking spaces being closed to the public on Shields St and Grafton St, as well as spaces outside of Rusty’s Market.
Amanda Haines travelled with her family from Weipa to Cairns for a Netball carnival and walked past the set during its construction.
“It sounds really exciting what’s happening here tonight,” said Ms Haines.
“I think we’ll bring the children back and see if we can spot some celebrities.”
Film crews started arriving on the scene from 2pm to prepare the set, which includes prop signage and lighting being hung from existing business spaces.
Surrounding businesses on Shields St will remain open to the public at this stage.
A spokeswoman from the film’s production crew said they’ve had constant consultation with the businesses involved.
“We will close the road as needed and detours are in place,” the spokesperson said.
More to come.
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