The creator of a major political drama now being shot in Canberra says the city's potential as a film location is huge and the show will inevitably spark more industry interest in the national capital.
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''I think as soon as it goes to air, there will be location managers driving down the highway,'' Shelley Birse said, with a laugh.
''Everyone has been surprised and thrilled over and over again by what we are getting here in Canberra.''
Red Hill became a mini film set on Friday as some of the 110 cast and crew attached to the Code political thriller starting shooting on its leafy streets.
The six-hour series, being filmed for ABC TV, is based in Canberra and Broken Hill, telling the story of two brothers who stumble across information that ''people in the highest political echelons will kill to keep secret''.
Ashley Zukerman and Dan Spielman, who play the brothers, said filming in Canberra had so far been amazing.
''And we need to film here more,'' Zukerman said. ''This is a look, a part of Australia we don't see. The wide streets, the architecture, the embassies, the space. It's really beautiful and there's a feel to Canberra that is different to any other city. It's small but it has such a huge art and intellectual class. It's got this feel that's focused.''
Scenes were also shot this week at Parliament House, including inside and on the roof, featuring actor David Wenham. It is believed to be the biggest drama series afforded such access.
Birse said there had already been talk among the cast and crew about why Canberra was not used more often as a location for a film or TV series. The light, the architecture, the usually unseen areas such as New Acton were huge attractions, as was the support of ScreenACT.
''And on a sheer practical level, the ease of movement and the friendliness of the people - it just feels like there's a whole, different energy. It's been incredibly welcoming,'' she said.
Work on Friday was focused on filming in La Perouse Street at one house doubling as an embassy and a nursing home.
Catering and production trucks lined Mugga Way, as the production set up on the open space near the entrance to the Canberra Nature Park. Cast and crew had lunch on tables under the gum trees.
The Shine Dome, Lake Burley Griffin, a super-computer room at the ANU and New Acton will also be used as shooting continues for another week.
The fact the series is filming in Canberra on federal election day is just a coincidence and the crew will be working to avoid any visual references in order not to date the program, which is due to go to air next April or May.