(8/2/2019) Freo bound for the big screen

Shooting is well under way on the latest big-screen film production to be made in Fremantle.

For the past two weeks the feature film I Met a Girl has been shooting at various locations around Fremantle’s historic West End, including Notre Dame University, Fremantle Railway Station, Moore & Moore Café, and The Record Finder.

Written by Glen Dolman, directed by Luke Eve and produced by Adam Dolman at Monsoon Pictures in co-production with Melissa Kelly and Ryan Hodgson at Fremantle-based Factor 30 Films, I Met a Girl follows the story of an impulsive, young musician struggling with schizophrenia who falls for a mysterious woman who may be all in his head. When she suddenly vanishes, he takes off across the country to find her.

Producer Ryan Hodgson said it had been a pleasure making the film in his home town.

“Melissa and I have long wanted to put Fremantle up on the big screen and it’s great to finally be doing it,” Mr Hodgson said.

“The City of Fremantle has been enormously supportive which has made the experience a really good one too.”

I Met a Girl stars young Australian actor Brenton Thwaites, who spent several months in Fremantle in 2013 while shooting the crime thriller Son of a Gun with Ewan McGregor.

Across town, Without a Trace star Anthony LaPaglia and Ladies in Black actor Ryan Corr have been filming the black comedy-drama Below at Fremantle Prison.

Below is the debut feature for Perth-based director Maziar Lahooti and is due for release later this year.

Mayor Brad Pettitt said the City of Fremantle was looking at ways to make Fremantle an even more attractive location for film-makers. 

“Freo’s iconic locations, from our beaches to our working port and heritage West End, provide an abundance of attractive settings for films of all types,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“Having films made in Fremantle provides an initial boost to the local economy during production, and there are also the promotional and marketing benefits that come from seeing our beautiful city up on the big screen.

“Bottom line is we want to see more films made here and are exploring how we can make it quicker and easier for film-makers to gain approvals and support from the City of Fremantle to film in our city.” 

I Met a Girl is scheduled for release next year.