Liam Neeson’s new Hollywood action film will feature a slice of the Macedon Ranges.
Works began last week to temporarily transform Macedon Reservoir for the $43 million film Blacklight, which is written, directed and produced by Ozark co-creator Mark Williams.
Three days of filming will take place this week for the film that has been described as a thriller “about a troubled off-the-books fixer for the FBI tasked with pulling undercover agents out of dangerous situations” who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that goes right to the top.
On-set location manager Barry Hall said the reservoir would be the backdrop for a trailer park in the film’s dramatic opening sequence.
“This is where our hero arrives to rescue someone from the caravan park who is in danger,” he said.
While the Express cannot reveal whether Neeson himself will be in the region for this portion of the shoot, local residents can at least enjoy imagining the star casually dropping into the Trading Post for coffee during downtime.
For now, access to the reservoir is restricted to comply with firm direction from the Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re working under very strict COVID-19 government guidelines. Our set is a big bubble and no member of the public can be there,” Mr Hall told the Express.
“We have traffic controllers and security guards in place, and the area is totally blocked off. That’s how it will be approached the entire time of the shoot.”
The local shoot comes as the Australian film industry is rebooted through the federal government’s $400 million location incentive scheme.
Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the federal government would contribute $5.8 million to the production, which was expected to create more than 500 local jobs for cast and crew, as well as 550 roles for extras.
