Theatre director Gale Edwards commenced production on her feature debut, a new musical comedy, today (Feb 15th) in Brisbane.

The shoot for the film – financed by Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Cutting Edge and UK’s Quickfire Films – is expected to run until March 25, for a 2011 release via Hoyts Distribution. Chris Fitchett produces, alongside executive producers Chris Brown (Pictures in Paradise), John Lee (Cutting Edge), Gary Hamilton and James Atherton (Arclight Films).

The story is about an aspiring rock guitarist who is forced to take over the musical direction of his father’s marching band just weeks before a major competition. The cast includes Isabel Lucas, Sebastian Gregory, Williams Zappa, Tammy Macintosh and Colin Friels.

Edwards has directed musicals such as The Boy from Oz and Jesus Christ Superstar, and A Heartbeat Away is her first film.

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MAJOR QUEENSLAND PRODUCTION BEGINS FILMING

A feel-good musical comedy is the next major Queensland film production to showcase the state as a creative hub for the movie industry, Premier and Minister for the Arts Anna Bligh said today.

“A Heartbeat Away, featuring Isabel Lucas and Colin Friels, has been supported by our government through Screen Queensland with over $3 million in funding,” Ms Bligh said.

“To be shot solely in Queensland with filming beginning this week, this production will help generate over $10.4 million in economic activity for the state and create 215 jobs.”

“This production is yet another example of the success of Queensland’s screen industry, with several Queensland projects either filming or recently completed.

“After the international success of Queensland film Daybreakers, which opened in Australia in early February, we are all looking forward to many more significant projects coming from Queensland.”

A Heartbeat Away is being produced by Queenslander Chris Fitchett, of Pictures in Paradise, and directed by international Emmy Award-winner and multi-award winning theatre director Gale Edwards.

“This film not only showcases the creativity of Queenslanders, but also the fantastic locations our state has on offer,” the Premier said. “Shooting will take place at a number of South East Queensland locations including Shorncliffe, local Brisbane sporting fields and a local school.”

The film is about an aspiring rock guitarist who is forced to take over the musical direction of his father’s marching band just four weeks before a major competition. In addition to Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Daybreakers, The Pacific) and Colin Friels (Malcolm, The Book of Revelation), boasts a cast including Sebastian Gregory (Acolytes, Accidents Happen, Beautiful), William Zappa (Bootmen, The Rage in Lake Placid Lake) and Tammy Macintosh (Better Than Sex).

Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron said A Heartbeat Away was further evidence of the strength of Queensland’s screen industry.

“More and more Queensland is being seen as a creative hub for quality productions such as this, as well as a location of choice for interstate and international productions,” Ms Barron said.

Filming in Brisbane until the end of March, A Heartbeat Away will be released in cinemas in Australia in 2011.

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“It’s a charming, funny and moving human story with some interesting deeper layers,” Gale Edwards claims about her new project.