Documentary celebrates Australia's Desert Rats

• Desert Rats explores the significant North African campaign of WWII
• Production received $250,000 in ScreenWest funding
• ScreenWest funding supports WA productions and practitioners

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day got a first-hand look at the production of the highly-anticipated documentary Desert Rats.

Mr Day toured the costume, set and props areas of the working production site at ABC studios in East Perth for the documentary which has been produced especially for the 70th anniversary of the siege of Tobruk and battles of El Alamein.

"The State Government will continue to encourage and fund film and documentary projects that provide opportunities for Western Australian practitioners," he said.

"Desert Rats is an account of one of the most significant campaigns of World War II and received $250,000 ScreenWest funding, together with funding from Screen Australia.

"The pre-production, principal photography and post production have all predominately taken place in WA and employed a strong WA-based crew.  It is good to see first-hand WA filmmakers working on a project that documents such a historically important event."

Centred on the siege of Tobruk and the battles for El Alamein, the two-part documentary  reveals the intricate links between political leaders, senior commanders, the intelligence services and the forces on the front line, and how they played hugely influential roles in shaping the desert campaign.

The Minister said Desert Rats was being produced by WA-based Electric Pictures and renowned UK-based company Nutopia. This would be the first time Electric Pictures had worked with Nutopia. 

"The Australian documentary interviews were filmed in early February, then production moved to the UK and Germany," he said.

"The dramatic reconstructions are currently being shot over two weeks in and around Perth locations."

 
        Fact File

• Desert Rats is supported by ScreenWest and Lotterywest
• The battles of Tobruk and El Alamein were turning points of World War II in which Australian forces played pivotal roles
• The documentary will screen on ABC TV in Australia and the BBC in the UK

Minister's office - 6552 6200