Our starring role in screen industry

From producing wide-ranging talent behind the scenes and in front of the cameras, to landmarks adding character to TV series and the big screen, the Sunshine Coast is seeing plenty of action and getting its name in lights.

By Caitlin Zerafa - Published on February 13, 2025

The Sunshine Coast is bursting into the spotlight, with its recent starring role in an Australian crime drama cementing its place in the booming local film scene.

The Australian screen industry contributes billions of dollars to the economy each year and is the largest creative contributor to the country.

In 2021-22, the screen industry employed around 55,000 people and contributed more than $6 billion into the Australian economy.

The Gold Coast is often referred to as the ‘Hollywood of the south’ with movies such as Thor: Ragnarok, Elvis, Aquaman, Sanctum, Unbroken, San Andreas and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales filmed on location there.

Other parts of Queensland such as the Great Barrier Reef have also become a filmmaker’s playground, showcased in the 2022 movie Ticket to Paradise, starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

Brisbane last year set the scene for the award-winning Boy Swallows Universe television series, based on Trent Dalton’s book of the same name.

Now, the Glass House Mountains have taken centre stage, captivating audiences around the globe as the dramatic backdrop for a thrilling murder mystery.

Acclaimed detective drama Black Snow – in the second season of the smash-hit Stan original series – delivers a gripping tale and visual feast that highlights the region’s hinterland.

More than 90 cast and crew members were involved in Black Snow 2 across 11 properties in the Glass House Mountains, Maleny and Caloundra.

Key scenes were shot at various locations including a private property on Mt Beerwah Road, Johnston Road, Roys Road, Marshs Road, Coonowrin Road, Wild Horse Mountain Scenic Lookout and Glass House Mountains Cultural Heritage Centre.

The first season, set in North Queensland, received a Logie nomination for most outstanding drama series and earned Fimmel two AACTA Award nominations.

Travis Fimmel, known for his roles in Boy Swallows Universe and Vikings, stars as Detective James Cormack in this new six-part series, which delves into the mysterious disappearance of a young woman from her 21st birthday party in 2003.

As Detective Cormack investigates, he also searches for his younger brother, who vanished when they were children.

Fimmel stars alongside cast members Kat Stewart (Offspring), Jana McKinnon (Bad Behaviour), Megan Smart (Class of ’07), Alana Mansour (Erotic Stories), Dan Spielman (Bad Behaviour, The Newsreader) and Victoria Haralabidou (The Tourist).

Producer Rosemary Blight says filming at the Glass House Mountains was an incredible experience.

“Once we discovered the Glass House Mountains, we knew we had discovered the heart of the story of Black Snow 2,” Blight says.

“The mountains’ commanding presence provided a powerful and cinematic backdrop for Season 2’s compelling story and it was an incredible experience to film there.”

Somewhat of a pioneer in the local film industry, Jane Larkin is emerging as a talented actor, writer, director and producer.

Growing up on the Coast and still calling the region home, she has landed roles in Boy Swallows Universe and Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives and worked as a grip (crew member) on the 2024 film Eden, starring Jude Law, and on Black Snow 2.

She is also preparing to release her own film, The Edge, this year after signing with a streaming service.

She says she was on location for every Sunshine Coast day of filming for Black Snow 2, working behind the scenes as a crew member.

“I worked in the grips department for the Sunshine Coast shooting days and got to work in the Glass House Mountains hinterland.

Set among the Sunshine Coast's Glasshouse Mountain, the second Black Snow series sees Travis Fimmel return as Detective Cormack to solve to new missing persons cases - one professional and one personal.

“Black Snow has terrific representation and it was a pleasure to be a part of a series like it.

“The local Aussie film industry is still booming and with both Hollywood/international films and amazing domestic content, it’s no wonder.

“I have always said I wanted to learn the film industry holistically, in order to be proficient both in front and behind the camera.”

Larkin says to be able to work in the film industry in her own backyard is a proud moment.

“You’re driving up (to the Glass House Mountains) and you are there before the sunrise,” she says.

“Everyone’s busy and everyone’s tired and you’re sipping your coffee, and slowly as you’re setting equipment up and looking out, it makes you stop because you forget how beautiful it is where you live. Everyone was absolutely floored by the scenery – even people who have been there before – and I had to keep reminding myself that it was my backyard, and I was really proud of that.”

Larkin says the region has so much to offer the screen industry, but funding is crucial to allow the momentum to continue to grow.

“We have all the infrastructure. We have talent here,” she says.

“Something that I think we are still lacking, unfortunately, and something we have lacked in the past, is financial backing. There is a lot of incentives for the Gold Coast to shoot there.

“We are moving in the right direction.

“Obviously, these changes don’t happen overnight.

“Showcasing the landscape and showcasing what the Sunshine Coast has to offer in some of these big series, and with The Edge coming out, shows that we have everything here.

“We just also need to make sure that we get the finances to continue to build upon those blocks.”

Speaking on the upcoming release of The Edge, Larkin, who is also an elite Australian sprinter and Youth Olympic silver medallist, is likening her journey to “a marathon” but is excited to show it to the world.

“I feel like a sprinter who has had to turn into a marathon runner,” she says.

“It’s been a journey and an endurance test. There is a lot of relief, a lot of excitement, and I can’t wait for everyone else to see what I’m hoping will be a very inspiring story.”

The fictional film is based on three female athletes pushing the boundaries of social norms and will place importance on Indigenous and para athletes.

It was filmed on location at the Glass House Mountains, as well as sports facilities at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Larkin is holding an ‘Edge’ launch and deadlift party at Fitness Cartel, Maroochydore, on March 8 at 10am to announce the release date for the film.

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