Filming has begun in Gosnells for West Australian writer and director David Vincent Smith’s gritty feature film, He Ain’t Heavy. 

In partnership with Perth-based producer Jess Parker, the film tells the true story of a desperate sister who kidnaps her brother to save him from addiction. Smith wrote the film from the proof-of-concept short, I’m Not Hurting You, which premiered at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival. 

Leila George (Animal Kingdom) appears alongside her mother, Greta Scacchi (Looking for Alibrandi), as the sister, while Scacchi plays the family matriarch, Bev. Sam Corlett (Vikings: Valhalla) is Max, the troubled son. 

Support for filming is from major investments from Lotterywest and Screenwest through the West Coast Visions Initiative. 

“The McGowan Government is extremely proud of [WA’s] growing screen industry. We are committed to investing in high calibre, locally made productions that showcase the very best Western Australian talent,” Acting Culture and Arts Minister, Stephen Dawson said. 

WA Film Lot 

Western Australia’s first dedicated screen production facility is a step closer to reality, with feasibility studies to begin on a nearly 40-hectare site in Whiteman Park. The location selection was dependent on its proximity to the Perth CBD and airport, access to future public transport, and available land. 

Currently, the facility is progressing through a proposal process with Home Fire as the preferred backer. The State Government is continuing discussions with Home Fire on the commercial terms of development which is expected to be finalised later this year. 

As part of these negotiations, Home Fire will progress the proposal at the site, including investigations, final design, and planning applications. These negotiations will consider a creative industries hub at Victoria Quay’s E Shed in Fremantle. 

“Backing Western Australia’s film and television industry is a critical part of our plan to diversify WA’s economy and create new local job opportunities,” McGowan said at the time. 

“Western Australia’s natural beauty makes it an ideal location for film and TV production and having a world class screen production facility right here in Perth will make our State an even more attractive proposition for investment in interstate and international productions.”

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