A new film studio is helping the Sunshine Coast to establish itself in Queensland’s fast-growing entertainment industry.
Eight years in the making, a local film company recently opened the only acoustically treated studio of its size on the Sunshine Coast.
Based at Warana, Pluggas Studio is a video production and storytelling company that has produced several productions and commercials, including the award-winning documentary A Woman’s Calling.
It has also been instrumental in the post-production phase of the upcoming local film The Edge, which is slated for release this year.
Pluggas filmmaker Joshua Gannon said the new space was inspired by Pluggas director Fisch Rasy’s desire to fill the need for a local production facility.
“It was simply as an answer to the lack of a large rentable space available to any individual, group or business on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Gannon said.
“We saw a need for a studio that could have a range of different shooting environments all in the one flexible space, one that could service workshops, acting classes as well as a shooting space for TV commercials and independent film productions.”
Mr Gannon said the studio offered a 250sqm floor space with acoustic treatment, a greenroom, production office, editing suites and a hair and makeup area.
“The space has been designed as a multi-purpose studio and can be utilised for not only film and video production but audio recording, podcasting and photography.
“It offers post-production services for anyone needing professional facilities to complete their projects.
“Ideally we would love to host any small- to medium-size production, especially television commercials, short film and music videos.”
The new studio has already gained the interest of one of Australia’s most experienced film and television producers and directors, Bill Hughes, who has been taking advantage of the space for his master classes.
Known for working on Home and Away, All Saints, A Country Practice and Cop Shop, Mr Hughes said he was excited to see this “inspiring” addition to the Sunshine Coast.
“We have held actors’ masterclasses here at Pluggas and had a ball while using the facilities for pre-production, complex shoots and post-production,” he said.
Mr Gannon said the Sunshine Coast was in its “infancy” stages of film production, compared to the rest of the Australian industry, based largely in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
“With support of Screen Queensland, both Brisbane and Cairns now have world-class facilities and we believe that the Sunshine Coast is on the verge of also being able to support this growing sector,” he said.
“In collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, Pluggas Studio aims to be at the forefront of helping the industry become better established and thrive like our larger cousins.
“We will also be focusing on doing a range of different industry workshops designed to provide training and capacity building.
“(This will) help the Sunshine Coast establish its own community of professional crew so that we are able to encourage film and television jobs to be sourced locally rather than having to outsource these positions to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.”
Visit pluggasstudio.com.au for information on upcoming workshops, inducing with Bill Hughes.
Like stories that inform, connect and celebrate the Sunshine Coast? So do we. Join an independent local news revolution by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed at the bottom of this article.
