Australian comedy film, The BBQ, was filming in Hobsons Bay last week with locals starring as extras at locations including Seaworks in Williamstown.
As Star Weekly approached one house in Seaholme where a scene was being shot with Shane Jacobson and Julia Zemiro, a member of the crew motioned for us to be silent.
The plot centres around Jacobson’s character, Darren ‘Dazza’ Cook, a barbecue enthusiast who accidentally gives his neighours food poisoning. Zemiro plays his wife.
“Part of his penance, or remorse, is that he’s encouraged to learn some new skills, refine his skills,” says producer Deb Fryers.
Enter Magda Szubanski, playing a Scottish butcher who encourages Dazza to enter a barbecue competition. In comes Manu Feildel, playing a contestant who’s an arrogant French chef and evil nemesis of the butcher from times gone past.
Jacobson, best known as the ‘Dunny Man’ for his role in Kenny, told Star Weekly it was fantastic to be back in his old ’hood.
“Altona beach was where I used to come as a kid and I lived in Newport for a long while, so it’s just kinda good to be back in the hood as they say,” he said.
Fryers said the Seaholme family whose home was used as a set had been politely moved out, and a flagpole was erected on the front lawn as filming took place.
She praised locals who ‘starred’ as family guests in a backyard barbecue scene.
“We had the most amazing bunch of extras,” Fryers said. “They were on for almost 10 hours and they were having an absolute ball. They were there chatting, eating, being part of the background; it was a big scene across two days.”
Filming is set to continue in Hobsons Bay this week at locations including Altona pier.
The movie is scheduled to be released later this year.
