Victoria, Australia

We all know the Land Down Under has several claims to fame in the movie world: Films like Shine, Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding have been hits worldwide, and many Australian actors are among Hollywood’s biggest draws, including Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and of course, MM’s latest covergirl, Cate Blanchett. What you might not have realized is the growing popularity of the world’s smallest continent as a moviemaking locale, in particular the southeastern state of Victoria.

With FilmVictoria’s help, it’s no wonder moviemakers continually flock to the region. The office provides everything from funding incentives and alternatives to online production and location directories. As Australia’s second most populous state, Victoria is home to over five million people and boasts a diverse and beautiful landscape of rock formations, caves, beaches and lakes. Several moviemakers have recently used the area (which includes the city of Melbourne) as the setting for their films, including the live-action version of Charlotte’s Web, the horror film Rogue, the superhero flick Ghost Rider (starring Nicolas Cage) and Spike Jonze’s upcoming Where the Wild Things Are.

For more information on making your next movie on Victorian turf, visit www.film.vic.gov.au.

Check out Victoria’s past film appearances in:
A Cry in the Dark
Darkness Falls
Queen of the Damned
Picnic at Hanging Rock
The Hard Word

Sound Off: From Strictly Ballroom to Where the Wild Things Are, Australia has served many a moviemaker’s needs. What films do you think could have benefited from being filmed on location in the country? Let us know in the comments section!

Photo: Dakota Fanning as Fern in Paramount Pictures’ Charlotte’s Web – 2006.