Village Roadshow Studios are pumping with production, with season 2 of Amazon Studios’ The Wilds utilising Stage 4 and Stage 9, and now Netflix’s True Spirit beginning production using Stage 8 and the main water tank.

True Spirit, the long-awaited screen adaptation of Jessica Watson’s record-breaking solo circumnavigation of the world, will be produced by Netflix in Queensland with backing from the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy. The production is estimated to return more than $24 million to the state economy and create more than 300 jobs for Queensland cast, crew and extras.

Starring Australian Teagan Croft (Titans, The Osiris Child) as Jessica Watson, the film follows the adventurer’s amazing 210-day journey, setting sail from Sydney on 18 October 2009 and charting the exhilaration and peril of Watson’s historic sailing odyssey.

True Spirit will be using the main water tank at Village Roadshow Studios that was also used for Fools Gold, Unbroken, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, San Andreas, Pirates of the Caribbean, Aquaman, amongst others.

“Village Roadshow Studios have been working with the True Spirit project for nearly seven years so it’s a great opportunity for our industry that Netflix secured this at Village Roadshow Studios and on the Gold Coast, creating more jobs for crew and local businesses.”

Lynne Benzie, President, Village Roadshow Studios

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland was the natural home for True Spirit—the story of a true national hero who was born and bred in South East Queensland.

“Back in 2009 and 2010 when Jessica was battling the high seas and never giving up, we all watched on—captivated and inspired by her bravery, her know-how and her tenacity.

“My Government is proud to have secured yet another screen production for Queensland, evidence that the production bonanza is gathering more momentum as word spreads about the multiple benefits of filming in our great state. Pandemic or no pandemic, we know that international production companies love making movies and television here—for the ease, the range of locations, the weather, our competitive incentives, and world-class talent and crews.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier, Government of Queensland

The City of Gold Coast is the only local government in Australia to provide a Film Attraction Program that includes financial incentives, which brings a significant amount of benefits relating to jobs to the Gold Coast. These incentive grants are in addition to the incentives provided by the Queensland and Australian Governments.

The project is the second feature film that Netflix chose Queensland for its production location following Escape from Spiderhead, starring Chris Hemsworth, which filmed last year at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and on location in The Whitsundays, Jacobs Well, Arundel and Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast.

Featured Image Credit: Sound stage at Village Roadshow Studios. Courtesy of Village Roadshow Studios.

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