Altona got a taste of Hollywood on Tuesday, as Liam Neeson’s new action-thriller, The Mongoose, was filmed on the streets of the bayside suburb.
Altona beach, pier and surrounding streets were closed from 6am to 9pm on March 11 as the shoot took place, with hundreds of locals taking the chance to see movie making up close.
The highlight of the shoot came in mid-afternoon when 72 year old Neeson hopped inside a black Ford Mustang and speed out into Port Philip Bay on Altona’s iconic pier.
“Seeing a car going down Queen Street, up Pier Street and onto the pier doesn’t happen every day in Altona,” said Altona Village Traders Association president Ilch Mickovski who was among the many locals who came out see Neeson and the rest of The Mongoose cast, in action.
“It was exciting to see Hollywood come to Altona and having a A-grade celebrity like Liam Neeson in Altona was fantastic for the community,” said Mr Mickovski who believes the suburb could join neighbouring Williamstown in regularly hosting film and TV productions.
“It’s a sleeping quiet little gem that’s really being noticed at the moment,” he said.
“I think there’s scope for more filming in Altona.”
Most of Tuesday’s shoot was centred around Queen Street and the Esplanade, with businesses situated on those streets having to close for the day.
Mr Mickovski said The Mongoose production team made sure that those businesses were looked after.
“Traders who were directly impacted by the filming were compensated for their losses on the day,” he said.
The Altona Pier scene is believed to be the final moment in Mongoose, which has also been shot at locations such as Bacchus Marsh, Kensington and the Melbourne CBD.
Cade Lucas.
