A WEEKEND’S shooting on the Geelong waterfront has producer/actor Rob Baard buzzing about his latest Ninja franchise offering and prospects for the region’s burgeoning film industry.
Speedboats, stunts, villains, a batpod, femme fatales, martial arts and a time-travelling, familiar mohawked spiritual leader in mayor Darryn Lyons made for an unusual outing on the bayfront.
But the Interlude to the Ninja series shoot, which features Lethal Weapon actor Danny Glover, is spearheading not just Baard’s industry efforts but also those of Geelong.
Even now, Baard’s well advanced on plans for his next feature film and the Geelong-based productions has drawn pre-sale offers from the US and other countries already.
“We’re doing some serious international stuff,” Baard told the Independent.
“I’m so proud of everyone involved and the support we had from locals … it’s this type of support that helps us put up a decent argument to keep shooting here.
“There’s been several offers and incentives overseas to shoot in the USA, including South Carolina, I really want to keep it local and bring the stars here.
“Darryn Lyons has been a huge supporter from day one for us. What we need to convince distributors and financiers of is financial support from our local government or at the end of the day we’ll need to go where the support is.
“The next feature film already has pre-sale offers in the USA and other countries, after the Interlude we’re moving full speed at the next feature film.”
Baard is producer, director and lead actor in The Ninja: Immovable Heart, which is due for release next month.
The Ninja Universe franchise of movies, short films and related graphic novels and more is the work of years and years coming to fruition in a Marvel Avengers type franchise.
“The cast and crew endured heat, rain, lightning, a tight schedule filled with fights, car chases and bat pod action, they all pulled together and the results show,” Baard told the Independent.
So what sort of actor does Geelong’s mayor shape up as?
“Darryn was great to work with, he really went for it,” Baard said.
“People are going to be amazed by his powerful performance, we were.”
