Arclight Films’ wide release 3D shark action movie, BAIT 3D commenced principal photography this week at the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast in Australia. The film represents Australia’s first Singapore/Australian coproduction following the recently signed treaty and pioneers the filmmaking relationship between the two countries.
BAIT 3D follows a group of tsunami survivors trapped inside a flooded supermarket with a pack of man-eating sharks.
Shot in 3D, it stars Australia’s own Xavier Samuel (Anonymous, The Loved Ones, Twilight Eclipse) Julian McMahon (Red, Nip/Tuck, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) and Sharni Vinson (Step Up 3D and Blue Crush 2).
The ensemble cast includes Phoebe Tonkin (Tomorrow When The War Began), Dan Wylie (Animal Kingdom, Peter Pan, Chopper), Lincoln Lewis (Tomorrow When The War Began), Alice Parkinson (Sanctum, Wolverine)) Alex Russell (Wasted on the Young), Martin Sacks, Cariba Heine, Damien Garvey and high profile Singapore stars Adrian Pang and Yuwu Qi.
The film is directed by Kimble Rendall (The Killer Elite, Knowing, Ghost Rider, I Robot and Matrix Reloaded) and Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction) who wrote and developed the script. They have worked closely together with production designer, Nick McCallum (Sanctum) and DOP Ross Emery (Matrix, Underworld) to create this unique high concept 3D world. Rendall assumes directing responsibilities for the shoot while Mulcahy continues to serve as an EP.
BAIT 3D is being produced by Gary Hamilton, Todd Fellman and Peter Barber. Executive producers are Chris Brown, Mike Gabrawy and Ian Maycock.
The film is a coproduction with Arclight Films, Pictures in Paradise and Story Bridge Films with Blackmagic Design Films Ltd and The Media Development Authority in association with Screen Australia and Film Queensland.
BAIT 3D producer, Gary Hamilton said “the BAIT team is going to deliver an amazing film that will be technically and dramatically unlike anything you have ever seen come out of Australia”.
BAIT 3D is the first 3D film to be shot in Australia using Panavision’s new high resolution Red Cameras with the Element Technica Quazar rig. 3D post production and visual effects will be handled by Blackmagic Design in Singapore working with VFX supremo, Marc Varisco (Master & Commander, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, National Treasure and My Bloody Valentine 3D).
This extraordinary high concept action film promises to take the 3D reality of the shark attack to the next level.
The film is being released in Australasia by Paramount Pictures. CEO Mike Selwyn said “we are delighted to be working with Arclight and such an exciting team on BAIT 3D. It is particularly pleasing to see a high profile young Australian cast who have all had great success recently in a range of commercially successful releases.”