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Caterpillar Wish has recently completed shooting in Robe, a small fishing town on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Shot over four, six day weeks the $1.4 million feature film was funded by the Australian Film Commission, the South Australian Film Corporation, Palace Films, and private investors.
Producer Kate Whitbread spoke with the SAFC about the realities of shooting a feature film in a small community.
Why did you choose Robe as the location for Caterpillar Wish?
The film is a location based, character driven piece set in a small town. As a low budget feature, we also felt that it was very important to utilise locations rather than interior shots to get a sense of space. We also wanted somewhere which was unique to look at. The film is set in a fishing village so we needed oceans, fishing boats and a safe inlet haven. It was very specific brief. We traveled extensively around South Australia and Robe fitted the bill perfectly. We just fell in love with Robe.
Did Robe embrace the production?
Yes, it was remarkable. We spoke to the local community as we felt it was important to make personal contact and ensure they felt included in the production. I also wanted people to understand we wanted to feature the town and show it in a positive light.
Was working in a small town easy?
It was a breath of fresh air. There's not so much red tape. You went to a person, asked them, signed a piece of paper and it was done. I went directly to the places we wanted. I said this is our budget, what can we do? I couldn't possibly have made this film look as good if we'd shot in a big city.
Was shooting in winter a problem?
Winter is Robe's off-season. We were shooting when there were only 1,000 people in town instead of the 15,000 people in their peak season. We wouldn't have got the deals we did if we'd tried to shoot in the tourist season. Luckily for us shooting in winter suited our film. We wanted the film to look cold and moody and we certainly got that. It was very cold. It's made me come back to Melbourne and think it's summer here.
Did you use local extras?
We used quite a few locals and some people who were doing their actual jobs. People just wanted to help. The generosity was unbelievable. We were very careful not to exploit the town. We tried to include them where possible - either watching the shoot or being part of it. We tried to give back and make everybody feel welcome. We didn't' want to be this big, arrogant film crew.
Were there negatives of working in a small town location?
You do need a lot of pre-production. Robe is very small and over three hours from Adelaide. If you run out of something, you run out. You need a team that can think laterally in case things change.
What are your plans for post production and release?
We're in Melbourne doing the picture edit and then we come back to SA for the sound edit. We are looking to release the film at the beginning of next year. I'm also trying to organise a special screening in Robe.
Is the film looking as you had hoped?
Yes it's just beautiful. I still have so much passion for this film which is lucky because it's a very a long ride. I still adore it. It's a story that is interesting and should be told.
