Remake of 1936 film shows Peninsular Paradise
In a remake of a 1936 film about Woy Woy, local film maker Mr Noel Sadler has attempted to show the area's modern-day natural beauty and lifestyle.
The idea for his soon-to-be-released film, Peninsular Paradise, was presented to Mr Sadler by Umina resident Ms Vivien Sale, who is now the project's executive producer.
"When Vivien Sale first approached me about the idea of filming Peninsular Paradise, there was no script, only an idea," Mr Sadler said.
"After our first pre-production meeting, it was decided that Peninsular Paradise was to be a remake of the old 1936 film Woy Woy: The Venice of Australia, with a 21st Century twist," he said.
"Using footage of this old black and white film, the new film is a story of how our lifestyle has changed over 80 years, but also showing how our beautiful environment has not.
"What we have found researching the old film, and what we filmed for the new production, is that the beaches, national parks, waterways and Lion Island are still as they were, to be enjoyed by us all and our future generations.
"A lot has changed over 80 years and then there are things that have not and may never change such as the lifestyle here on the Peninsula, the fishing, boating and a great sense of belonging," he said.
The 1936 film, Woy Woy: the Venice of Australia, told of the Peninsula being the jewel of Australia's tourist industry, a mecca to all motorists.
There was no end to the delights of a holiday on the Peninsula, the trains from Sydney were always packed.
It was standing room only to travel to Woy Woy, described as an unpretentious fishing settlement, on a glorious natural harbour called Brisbane Water.
"Nowadays you often read comments such as, 'the Peninsula is now part of the faceless urban sprawl that blights Australia's east coast', or 'one only sees grim-faced commuters and geriatric lawn bowlers'.
"Not so," Mr Sadler said.
"The Peninsula has even more to offer nowadays than in the 1930s.
"There is the fishing and boating we have always had, but there are the Ettalong Markets, a large selection of restaurants along with entertainment venues, lots of options for travel on the water to enjoy with the Palm Beach ferries and the Central Coast Ferry that now conducts history tours a from Gosford to the Hawksbury River.
"No, we don't have the big theme parks but we do have a relaxed lifestyle.
"I once read in a local tourist document for the Peninsula that no matter where you go on the Peninsula, you usually find the sun shining down on sparkling water, your personal invitation from Mother Nature.
"How true is that statement?
"Not only is it a great place to visit but a fantastic place to live and bring up your kids as we did.
The weather was true to form during the eight months of filming for the new Peninsular Paradise.
"As with all film projects that have a lot of outside on location filming, the biggest issues is the weather.
"With Peninsular Paradise, the whole story is about a one day visit to the Peninsula looking at the attractions and how the Peninsula has changed over the past 80 years.
"Peninsular Paradise required almost 20 days of filming, some being only part days, but each day of filming had to be a bright sunny day so that the finished project looks like it was all filmed in just one day just like the old 1936 film.
"I ended up with the name weather man from the crew as each day booked for on location filming always turned out to be a clear sunny day even throughout the winter months," he said.
Mr Sadler's obsession with filmmaking began when he was about 15 when he bought his first camera, a Super Eight.
"It wasn't long before I started working as a camera assistant for a regional TV network.
"In those days, the cameras used 16mm film, not video or media files.
"It was very expensive shooting on film and you could not waste the film by recording more than you needed for the story.
"Today media files can be reused over and over making the cost of recording a fraction of what it used to cost and you can play back what you just recorded instantly."
Mr Sadler has produced television commercials and a large number of business and corporate video projects and documentaries.
He has won a number of national video awards for music video projects.
Cinema Paradiso has agreed to host the premiere of the new film and the black tie, red carpet affair has already been booked out for the evening of Wednesday, October 26.
Cinema Paradiso has also agreed to put the film on its cinema program for the two weeks following the premiere.
DVD copies of the documentary will be available through local retail outlets and at the Oyster Festival in Ettalong in November.
Media statement, 28 Sep 2016
Noel Sadler, Skip Film Productions
Reporter: Jackie Pearson