LIGHTS, camera, action: local people will have the chance to shine as extras in a new Australian movie being shot in Bathurst and Orange.
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A Muay Thai fight scene will be filmed this afternoon at Pollet’s Martial Arts gym at the bottom of Mitre Street – and you can be part of the action.
The scene will feature in Love Of My Life, starring Logie winner Peter O’Brien along with Diarmid Heidenreich and Bel Delia.
The small budget film is being produced by Michael Budd of Matrix fame.
Anyone who wants to be part of the movie shoot should dress in casual wear – T-shirts and jeans or cargo pants with a lightweight jacket or hoodie.
Women can also wear a casual skirt or dress if they wish.
It is important that the clothes are in muted colours - grey, beige, khaki or navy.
Solid black and white are to be avoided and there should definitely be no bright primary colours, big logos or brand names.
Extras are required to be at the gym from noon to 6pm.
The film has been shot at a number of locations around Bathurst including Pollet’s, Kings Parade, Machattie Park, as well as cafés around Bathurst. However, the bulk of filming has been carried out in the empty former Base Hospital building in Orange.
One of the key actors in the film Peter O’Brien has spent the past three weeks in the region.
“The Mayors of both Orange and Bathurst have been extremely supportive of this production.” Mr O’Brien said.
Mr O’Brien has appeared in Wolverine, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and Underbelly: The Golden Mile, White Collar Blue, Dr Who, Gossip Girl, Blue Heelers, The Bill, Water Rats, Queer as Folk, Neighbours, All Saints and The Flying Doctors.
He was quite taken with Bathurst, which he said has so many architecturally interesting buildings from the courthouse and railway to the prison. He was particularly impressed with Kings Parade.
“That town square in Bathurst is unique. It is certainly something I haven’t experienced elsewhere in Australia.” Mr O’Brien said.
He added that filming in a historic town like Bathurst has a lot of advantages including great locations and good access to them. Production crews also tend to get a lot of support from local people, something you need when you are
making a film like Love of My Life, which has a $200,000 budget.
The cast and crew have been staying at the Gold Panner Motor Inn and despite working long days they have enjoyed the opportunity to sit down and cook up a meal together at the end of the day.
Bathurst’s Ian Pollet is the film’s fight co-ordinator. He has been training the actors and choreographing the fight scenes.
His wife Angelique has been working as a stunt double and will appear in a fight scene in the movie.
Mr O’Brien has a monumental eight minute fight scene which took a day and a half to film and said he has really enjoyed working with the martial arts experts at Pollet’s.
“They’re world class. As good or better than a lot of the stunt people out there,” he said.
“We felt really safe, and because they use real fighters you feel you are able to really go for it.”
Mr O’Brien said he has never regretted becoming an actor, even when he is struggling to pay the bills.
He said every job presents a new challenge and every day is different.
“I have to say I really love working - I wish there was more of it,” he laughed.
“No two projects are the same and every three months you move on to a new job.
“I also love the travel. You get to see and do things you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to do.
“Of course only a very small percentage of actors make a good living from it.”
