MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 May 2021
Christoph Waltz, Sam Neill, Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Rachel House, Chris Pang, Jessica DeGouw and Damon Herriman will star in a new feature film, The Portable Door, a fantasy adventure comedy to be produced by Brisbane-based Todd Fellman from Story Bridge Films, and Lisa Henson and Blanca Lista from The Jim Henson Company.
Fellow Queenslander Jeffrey Walker (Young Rock, Ali’s Wedding, Modern Family) will direct the blockbuster, which was secured by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy to film at Pinnacle Studios on the Gold Coast and will contribute an estimated $15 million to the state economy and 200 jobs.
Based on the eponymous seven-book series by English author Tom Holt, The Portable Door centres on a university drop-out who discovers his new employer is a front for a sinister organisation.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was fantastic to see two Queensland-based film creatives leading a production with the world-famous The Jim Henson Company.
“This is what it means to have a mature and booming screen industry in this state, with Queensland creatives at the helm, working in partnership with global production companies to make films for an international market,” the Premier said.
“Talented creatives like Todd Fellman and Jeffrey Walker are part of a burgeoning trend for large-scale projects to be made in our state, with the help of incentives provided by my Government via Screen Queensland.
“The Portable Door is another major boost for the Gold Coast, which is a hive of film and TV activity right now with Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives in production, The Wilds Season 2 filming at Village Roadshow Studios and Fremantle’s Taylor’s Island also filming on the Gold Coast in the near future.”
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said it was wonderful to see this project entering into production on the Gold Coast after more than six years in development.
“The Portable Door has been a true labour of love for Brisbane-based producer Todd Fellman, whose production company Story Bridge Films boasts a long line of feature credits, many of which have been supported by Screen Queensland.
“Todd has worked hard over many years as a Queensland-based producer and it’s encouraging to see him team up with The Jim Henson Company to make this epic feature film, set in a timeless world with a dazzling array of fantastical characters including Sam Neill as a shape-shifting goblin,” Ms Munnich said.
Producer Todd Fellman said he was excited to finally be in production on this very special project.
“Leon Ford’s wonderful script has helped us attract an amazing cast and creative team led by our exceptional director, Jeffery Walker.
“Lisa, Blanca and I are all deeply grateful for the support of Screen Queensland, which extends right back to the start of development.
“They have been a critical partner in helping us bring to the screen, what we promise will be a wildly entertaining film that showcases our extraordinary local talent and finds its own unique place within the incredible world of The Jim Henson Company,” Mr Fellman said.
Todd Fellman recently completed production on the SQ-supported feature film Black Site, which also filmed at Pinnacle Studios on the Gold Coast.
Financing and distribution partners include Sky Studios, Stan, Madman Entertainment, MEP Capital, Fulcrum Media Finance and Arclight Films International. With development and production support provided by Screen Queensland, Create NSW, Film Victoria and Screen Australia.
ENDS
Media Contact: media@screenqld.com.au
All other enquiries: screenqld@screenqld.com.au
