Dressed to make the film

Now that 'The Dressmaker' film has hit the theatres and the DVD has been released, people are looking to see who and what they recognise (refer to earlier post 'Done and dusted' of filming scenes in the Wimmera). Here is a location guide to film settings, with screen shots from the DVD matched to actual places.

Dungatar looking up the hill to Molly's

Dungatar town exteriors - Mt Rothwell near Little River (room interiors - Docklands Studio)

The approach to Jung

Silo - distant views - Jung, except for the CGI superimposed on Mt Rothwell landscape (close-ups - Docklands Studio) 

 << The real Jung silos beside the Melbourne-Adelaide rail-line.

Below - the silos as in the film with Gyton Grantley (playing Barney McSwiney) sitting on the lid of the steel bin.

Jung silos looking west

 Dance exterior - Sailors Home Hall (interior - Williamstown)

Sailors Home Hall with the Blue Ribbon Rd in front

The Sailors Home Hall & toilet block

Molly's burial - Jerro Cemetery

Mourners at the Jerro Cemetery

The Jerro Cemetery, north of Jung on the Greenhills Road

Wedding church - unknown

Longerenong Homestead

Wedding breakfast - Longerenong Homestead

The marquee on the front lawn at the homestead

Side view of the Longerenong Homestead

Winyerp Theatre exterior - Murtoa (interior - Yarraville)

Murtoa's Mechanics Institute Hall

Football match - Jung Recreation Reserve

The massive gums surrounding Jung Rec Reserve

The pavilions at the Jung Rec Reserve

Train - Victorian Goldfields Railway (Muckleford Station and steam locomotive D3 639)

Leaving Muckleford for Maldon

Only in the Wimmera

“The Dressmaker” film, based on Rosalie Ham’s novel, is scheduled for general theatre release on the 29th October. But prior to the general release there will be a special sneak peek screening of “The Dressmaker” film on Thursday 22nd October 2015 as a fund raiser for the Wimmera Health Care Group Friends of the Foundation. 
 The evening begins with a complimentary drink, finger food and entry to the event at 6.30 pm in the Masonic Hall, Urquhart Street, Horsham then, at 7.30 pm, it will be Question and Answer time with the film’s producer Sue Maslin and the author Rosalie Ham, followed by the movie screening at Horsham Centre Cinema in Pynsent Street.

Limited allocated seating tickets for the event at $45 per person, go on sale first thing on Wednesday 30th September at the Wimmera Mail Times Office in Wilson Street.  

the film trailer

Horsham is fortunate to secure the advance screening, as the film’s producer Sue Maslin was committed to screening the movie in Horsham, as the region supported the film-making process - it was partially shot in the Wimmera, and several Wimmera residents scored roles as extras in the film. 
So get set to journey back to the 50s.

Done and dusted

Now that location filming has finished for 'The dressmaker' and all the movie stars have left, we can reflect on some of the scenery which will may appear in the finished product.

Dawn in the Wimmera

Here are some of the pics from the film's Facebook page, including this quote - 
"We're bowled over by the warm welcome we've had in the Wimmera! 
Thank you so much to all of the locals out there."
While in the area the crew filmed at Jung - the Rec Reserve - for the story's football match.
Here are  two different moods on the approach to town.

Then of course there was the wedding scene, shot at Longerenong homestead, what a backdrop!

And after the wedding of course the wedding breakfast. Apparently their inspiration for the wedding dessert table came from Mrs Beeton's famous English cookbook (believe some of the old school fundraiser books would have been great sources, or the Green & Gold and PWMU Cookery Book), and their grandmother's secret recipes.They sent reference photos to the Oven Door Bakery in Horsham and  got this in reply.

As well as the Wimmera, other filming was undertaken at the studios in Docklands in Melbourne, and at Mt Rothwell near Little River.

Visitors to Mt Rothwell

It looks authentic - Molly's house from the Dungatar main street.

That is till you add in the film-crew

Now it is a wait for the editing/production process and release of the film in the middle of 2015.

Dressing the set

Work is progressing on filming for 'The Dressmaker' movie.
Here are a few snaps from the film's Pinterest account - glimpses of on-set life during the creation of the Dressmaker film.

The new & the old - Director Jocelyn Moorhouse and Director of Photography Don McAlpine prepare for the very first shot of the film

Molly's house - erected inside the filming studio

 Capturing the shot - Production Designer, Roger Ford, & director, Jocelyn Moorhouse, in the interior of the Pettyman's house

Looking authentic - the Pettyman's kitchen

Grand opulence - the front room of the Pettyman's house

Author of the book - Rosalie Ham will be at the Horsham Library at 7:30pm on Monday 8th December.

Bookings are essential for this chance to hear from the creator of the story herself - Phone the library on 5382 5707 or drop in to the library before the 5th December.

The Wimmera in the frame

A team has been scouting the Wimmera for locations to film the movie version of 'The dressmaker' by Rosalie Ham.

The novel's story is set in the 1950s in the town of Dungatar in the wheat fields of the Wimmera-Mallee. So now movie scouts are checking out towns in the district to feature.

Rosalie's plot follows the bittersweet story of a femme fatale who returns to her small hometown to right some wrongs from her past.

Oscar winner Kate Winslet will play the lead as exotic and glamorous Tilly Dunnage, a talented and beautiful misfit, who as a child accused of murder, fled the the small Victorian town of Dungatar. Now she returns from Europe to nurse and reconcile with her mad but ailing old mother. Her reappearance after 20 years is met with suspicion and malice from the eccentric locals until they discover her startling dressmaking skills. Among the most appreciative is the policeman, an enthusiastic seamstress himself. Gradually, she wins over the town with her fabulous creations. Then she falls in love and things start to go terribly wrong. It's a stylish drama with comic undertones about love, revenge and haute couture.

Other stars are Australians Liam Hemsworth (Hunger Games), Judy Davis (heaps of films, including 'My brilliant career') and Isla Fisher (the new "Great Gatsby') will feature in the film.

According to the film's producer Sue Maslin (who should recognise the Wimmera as she was also the producer for 'The road to Nhill'), filming is scheduled to begin in October this year, she and Rosalie have been looking at small towns around the region, specifically places which have grain silos and a railway..well there's an abundance of Wimmera sites with railway lines (operational and not), and even more silos (operational and not).

After finding the correct location the producers will be looking to cast extras, an opportunity for local budding film stars, around August.

More information at the film's website.