Docklands Studios Melbourne

Docklands Studios Melbourne is a major movie and film complex located in Melbourne’s redeveloped docklands precinct. The studios opened their doors in 2004 under the former name (Melbourne Central City Studios). The site is located approximately 1.5 km from the city of Melbourne’s Central Business District. It has an area of 60,000 square metres and currently consists of five film and television sound stages.

Studio history

The first film to be shot at Dockland Studios Melbounre was the Austrailan film Hating Alison Ashley in 2004. The following year 2005 Ghost Rider was the first major American production to start filming at the Studios with a budget of almost $120 million, at the time it was the biggest feature film to be made in Victoria and features scenes involving Melbourne landmarks. Since then the studios have housed international productions such as Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are (film) the Knowing (film) with Nicolas Cage and Steven Spielberg's The Pacific (miniseries). Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011 film) starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce is due for release in early 2011. In 2010 feature films The Eye of the Storm (2011 film), directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis and Charlotte Rampling; and The Killer Elite (2011 film), starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro were housed by the studios. On 11 October 2010 the studios were re-branded as Docklands Studios Melbourne (formerly Melbourne Central City Studios), formally adopting the name by which the Studios were commonly known.^[1]

Television

The Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten and Cable operator Foxtel all use the complex. The 5 Sound Stages are becoming more common with the TV Networks, due to the closure of their own Melbourne based studios and the preference for larger and modern facilities. Television series that have been produced at the studios include Project Runway series 2, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Satisfaction series 2 & 3. Beat the Star (Australia), Australia's Got Talent, Iron Chef Australia and Winners and Losers. On 25 October 2010 it was announced that GTV9 will record larger scale studio production, such as The Footy Show and Millionaire Hot Seat from the new Docklands Studios Melbourne. Stage 4 will become home to all GTV9 productions, before moving into a refurbished Sound Stage 5 in twelve months time.^[2]

Future investment

In 2009 the Government of Victoria, together with the Studios, undertook the Future Directions project. This has resulted in the State Government committing to the Studios to focus on both the international and domestic film and television industries. Further developments to the infrastructure of the site are planned for 2010, including a refurbishment of Stage 5 as a television studio and redevelopment to the workshop. Long term plans for the Studios include a large sound stage, mess hall, workshop and retail spaces, production offices, and permanent commercial tenancies.^[3]

Feature films

• Hating Alison Ashley-(2004)
• Ghost Rider -(2005)
• Where the Wild Things Are (film) -(2006)
• Charlotte's Web (2006 film)
• The Pacific (miniseries) -(2007)
• Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King-(2007)
• Knowing (film) -(2009)
• Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011 film)
• The Killer Elite (2011 film)
• Frankenstein (2013 film)

Television productions

Seven Network

• Australia's Got Talent - (Seven Network, 2010–)
• Winners and Losers - (Seven Network, 2011–)

Nine Network

• The Footy Show (AFL) - (Nine Network, 2011–, started in 1994)
• Millionaire Hot Seat - (Nine Network, 2011–, started in 2009)

Network Ten

• Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation - (Network Ten, 2009–)

Past projects

• Between the Lines - (Nine Network, 2011)
• The Million Dollar Drop - (Nine Network, 2011)
• This Is Your Life - (Nine Network, 2011)
• Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth - (Nine Network, 2011)
• Iron Chef Australia - (Seven Network, 2010)
• Project Runway - (Foxtel, 2008)
• Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? - (Network Ten, 2008–2009)
• Beat the Star (Australia) - (Seven Network, 2010)
• Satisfaction (TV series) - (Foxtel, 2007–2009)
• 1 vs. 100 - (Nine Network, 2007–2008)
• Hole in the Wall - (Nine Network, 2008)
• Last Man Standing - (Seven Network, 2005)
• The Rich List (Australian game show) - (Seven Network, 2007)

References

1. ^ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025557?refCatId=13
2. ^ http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/10/gtv9-to-rent-docklands-studios.html
3. ^ http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/09/extra-5-6m-to-upgrade-docklands-studios.html

http://www.filmedinmelbourne.com.au/

Coordinates: 33°53′31″S 151°13′43″E / 33.89202°S 151.22851°E / -33.89202; 151.22851