Cameras rolling on WA Cloudstreet set

Premier Colin Barnett and Culture and the Arts Minister John Day today went 'behind the scenes' at the filming of the TV adaptation of Tim Winton's best-selling novel Cloudstreet.

The State Government is supporting the production through ScreenWest funding of $500,000, and through the provision of the Sunset Hospital site in Dalkeith.

"Cloudstreet is a classic Australian novel by an award-winning West Australian writer and I am delighted the Government is supporting this much-anticipated project," Mr Day said.

"This project not only allows us to showcase the amazing talent that exists in the film and television industry here in WA, but also provides a significant economic boost to the State."

The Government's funding for the project was through ScreenWest's Production Attraction Fund, which aims to attract high-profile interstate and international screen productions to WA.

"We have seen today that this is a high-quality production with an amazing cast and crew and equally impressive set," the Minister said.

"It is fantastic that 90 out of the 105 crew are West Australians and more than 100 local actors have a role in the production, as well as many extras.

"Local actors Emma Booth and Kelton Pell have significant roles in the series, while the set was designed by West Australian Herbert Pinter, who was nominated for an AFI award for his work on Mao's Last Dancer."

Written by Tim Winton and Ellen Fontana, the six-hour series is being produced by Screentime and will premiere in 2011.