L-R: Paul Papalia, Maziar Lahooti, Ryan Corr, Phoenix Raei and Lee Jankowski on the Lake Walyungup set. Photo: Gabrielle Jeffery
Camera IconL-R: Paul Papalia, Maziar Lahooti, Ryan Corr, Phoenix Raei and Lee Jankowski on the Lake Walyungup set. Photo: Gabrielle Jeffery Credit: Supplied/Supplied

New film Below features surreal Rockingham location

Gabrielle JefferyWeekend Kwinana Courier

LAKE Walyungup has become increasingly popular as a film set location, with new movie Below shooting there today.

Directed by Perth resident Maziar Lahooti, the film centres around a futuristic scenario where an underground cage fighting operation sources detainees to fight for profit.

Much of fight scenes are in a rusted cage on the surreal and striking Lake Walyungup, with it’s eye-searingly white magnesium flats around the water body.

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The cast includes Ryan Corr, Anthony LaPaglia, Phoenix Raei, Lee Jankowski, Alison Whyte, Morgana O’Reilly and Zenia Starr..

The main character Dougie (Corr) owes money to some unsavoury types and with his mother having had enough he is recruited by his stepdad Terry (LaPaglia) to work as a guard at a refugee detention centre called Newhaven.

Warnbro MLA Paul Papalia said it is a boost for WA tourism.

“Every little bit of awareness we can raise about WA is a great thing,” he said.

“I think historically people view tourism events as about sport – yet we have the third largest fringe festival in the world and the creative industries present new opportunities for people to visit WA and it creates employment.”

Some of the other scenes from the film were shot at Fremantle prison.

The film is funded by Screen West, MIFF Premiere Fund and Screen Australia.

Below was adapted from a play written by Ian Wilding.