Exclusive on the new James Cameron project: Sanctum

Hollywood heavyweight James Cameron's 3D underwater epic Sanctum starts filming on the Gold Coast this Friday with local and international film crews busy making final preparations.

I had the chance to speak with the director, local Alister Grierson, and location manager Chris Strewe, who shared some juicy, exclusive details.

Work has already begun at Warner Roadshow Studios with sets being built in Sound Stage 2 and 8, and crews preparing to film underwater scenes in the studio's $2.1 million water tank.

Construction is also under way at a private residence on Bonogin Road, Mudgeeraba where some of the opening scenes will be shot in a semi-tropical rainforest.

Cameron, known for his blockbusters Titanic, Aliens, Terminator 2, Judgment Day and the upcoming Avatar, is serving as executive producer alongside Grierson, from Burleigh Heads, as director.

Sanctum will be the first 3D underwater action-adventure-fiction film ever and is being made on a budget of $30 million, relatively small for Cameron spawn.

In between attending the final production meetings and location checks yesterday, Grierson spoke exclusively with Movie Mazzupial and said he was extremely excited about beginning the highly anticipated project.

``It's very exciting, but nerve-racking at the same time because it's a big production,'' he said.

``It's something that has evolved over the past couple of years and it's exciting to be working with 3D, what we're doing with that, and working with James Cameron.

``He's an arms length mentor as he's quite busy with Avatar, which is going to be huge, but I got to spend time with him on set in Los Angeles and New Zealand.

``He's a really fascinating man and an icon of Hollywood.

``I was star-struck when I met him, from a director's point of view he's one of the big ones.''

Grierson directed the critically acclaimed Kokoda in 2006, which was also filmed on the Gold Coast, and said Sanctum will be more technically difficult with the 3D technology and Cameron-Pace Fusion Camera system.

``We're using the same cameras he used on Avatar, literally, with some of the technicians from L.A and New Zealand here to operate them,'' he said.

``He (Cameron) is guiding us through some of the challenges with 3D which build towards the end of the shoot.

``It takes a lot training for everyone involved, the actors too as we're throwing them off cliffs and putting them in an underwater cave.''

Above: Cameron with Aussie lad Worrington on the set of Avatar

Grierson remained tightlipped about which Australian A-list celebrities will feature in the film, and said fans will have to wait for the official casting announcement in a few weeks. Just quietly, my bet is on Sam Worrington as he was around recently for the Inside Film awards and lord knows he's on team Cameron.

Sanctum follows a father and his teenage son as they navigate a treacherous cave-diving exploration gone wrong.

The story is based on the near-death experience of producer Andrew Wight, whom Grierson said has brought a sense of ``realism and authenticity'' to the project.

Above: Gold Coast director Alister Grierson

If things go well, this could be Grierson's cross-over in to the mainstream.
"I hope so," he said.
"As a director you always want to go bigger and better and this is a much bigger film than Kokoda in terms of budget.
"We don't make many films like this, action adventure, in Australia and we haven't made a 3D film here before."


The underwater cave is being constructed in Warner Roadshow Studios outdoor water tank, where majority of the filming will take place.
Cameron will arrive on the Gold Coast to work on the project early next year once he finishes the press tour for Avatar.
The crew behind the film will be taking a break over Christmas then continuing filming until mid-March. Sanctum has a 2012 release date.
FYI I'll be heading on set in the next week or two so stay posted.