New feature film Whale Shark Jack, to be filmed in Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef, green-lit for production

The breathtaking paradise of Ningaloo and Exmouth will be the backdrop for a new feature film about a young girl who befriends a whale shark. Screenwest this week announced the green light for two family features, Whale Shark Jack and Drone Racers, which will begin filming later this year in the Gascoyne and Pilbara respectively. Whale Shark Jack is set to be the first scripted production to be filmed entirely in the Gascoyne, and will be the debut of co-directors and siblings Miranda and Khrob Edmonds. Set against the Ningaloo Reef, the script has been written by Kathryn Lefroy and the story follows 11-year-old Sarah, whose best friend is a whale shark named Jack. Following a tragic accident, Sarah and her father move to Exmouth, but Sarah wants to return to her old life at sea and pins all her hopes on Jack’s anticipated annual migration. But when Jack fails to return, Sarah embarks on a risky mission to find him. “The whole Whale Shark Jack team is thrilled to be filming this exciting adventure story at the magnificent Ningaloo Reef. We can’t wait for audiences to dive into the breathtaking world of whale sharks with our young heroine, Sarah,” the directors said. Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman said: “The creative teams behind these wonderful stories have chosen to film in WA’s stunning regions, creating magnificent backdrops for these family feature films; the production also provides great employment opportunities for WA cast and crew.” Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said they were pleased to support these directors in their first features. “We can’t wait to see Whale Shark Jack and Drone Racers promote local talent and WA’s film-friendly communities, while showcasing their beautiful locations to national and international audiences,” she said. The movie Blueback, based on a Tim Winton novel and released late last year, was filmed primarily in Bremer Bay in the Great Southern, but the underwater cinematography was captured on the Ningaloo Reef.