The creation of a miniature village is one of the final stages in putting together the much-anticipated Ben Hall film before it is released later this year.
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The Legend of Ben Hall is currently in post-production and while it won’t be ready to be released in February/March as previously anticipated, director Matthew Holmes said it’s not too far away.
“At the moment we are in post-production, doing visual effects, sound and music,” he said.
“We’re only about a month and a half away from the film being completed and then it’ll be released around mid-year.
“I can’t give a date at this stage but it’s getting very close.”
Over the past few weeks the production team have been busy building a miniature village for the special effects in the film.
The village is a miniature version of the town of Binda, NSW where Ben Hall burnt a store down on Boxing Day in 1864, so Holmes said it’s a big scene.
“Because we didn’t have the finances to build a whole town, we built sections in miniature to a one eighth scale,” he said.
“Things don’t exist like that anymore so we have to recreate them somehow.”
While filming with actors is well and truly wrapped up, the crew have been filming “all the extra bits and pieces for visual effects” such as the miniature village.
“You wouldn’t think a bushranger film would have too many special effects but it does,” Holmes said.
“We had to make [the film] on such a low budget that we’re really pushing our boundaries of our budget; our job is that much tougher.
“But hopefully when people see the film they won’t realise.”
As the release of the film gets closer, anticipation continues to grow.
“There’s been a lot of interest in the movie,” Holmes said.
“People have been waiting in anticipation in the film market all over the world.
“The hype is really starting to build now.
“A lot of people are getting excited about it.”
Holmes has high hopes The Legend of Ben Hall will be a big film for Australia this year and based on the attention it’s been receiving in the film industry, that is very likely.
“There’s nothing in this genre,” Holmes said. “There’s a number of Australian films coming out this year like Red Dog the sequel but it’s the only historical piece that I’m aware of.”
Holmes said the film’s premiere is still set to be in Forbes.
“I want to thank everyone in Forbes for their patience, we know it’s been a long time coming,” he said.
“When we finally get to release it I’m sure everyone’s going to be swept up in the story.
“We hope it lives up to everyone’s expectations but we’re quietly confident it will.”