Albany icon caught on camera

A 90-minute feature film to be shot in Albany is about to become a reality after Mel Gibson’s Icon Entertainment signed on as co-producer.

The proposed film adaptation of Tim Winton’s Miles Franklin Award-winning 1984 novel Shallows is gaining momentum, with anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, Icon Entertainment and Mr Winton all expressing support for the project.

The book is based on the history of Albany and its whaling activities over 150 years.

But producer Stephen Van Mil, who runs Perth-based film production company Impian Films, said he wanted to introduce a Sea Shepherd-style character into the story to bring it into the modern era.

Mr. Van Mil said Icon’s involvement would bring a piece of Hollywood to Albany.

He said the film was still in its early stages, although some important aspects were gradually being finalized.

“This is very important because Icon is a major film production and distribution company,” he said.

“The deal we have with them is that they produce it with us and they will also get the distribution and sales rights worldwide.

“Icon’s production expertise and experience gives us direct access to Hollywood, the studios and everything in between.”

Impian Films is the company behind the adaptation of Robert Drewe’s The Drowner, which is set to shoot in Kalgoorlie in the next two years.

Mr Van Mil said The Drowner and Shallows were the only two projects to attract Icon’s involvement in Australia.

The film, also titled Shallows, is expected to have a budget of around $50 million and attract international attention.

Filming would take place on location and bring together hundreds of people in Albany, including big-name actors.

No director or stars have been announced yet.

But Mr Van Mil said he had arranged a meeting with a leading Australian director next month to gauge his interest in the project.

He said Mr Winton supported his ideas about adapting Shallows for the big screen.

He was not sure, however, to what extent Mr Winton would be involved in the making of the film.

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