Australia, The 'Escape' Country For Hollywood Artists In The Middle Of A Pandemic Siege

JAKARTA - In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is one country that is increasingly being visited, namely Australia.

Various serial and film productions have been carried out for a long time in the Land of Kangaroo. However, since the pandemic, this production has actually increased.

Tom Hanks, for example, is a seasoned actor in Australia in March 2020 to shoot the biopic Elvis. It is known that he played the role of Elvis Presley's manager named Colonel Tom Parker.

Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, became one of the first public figures to contract the corona virus. As a result they had to return to the United States and production of the Elvis film was temporarily suspended.

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- Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 13, 2020

That is just a preliminary case, if you look at it now, there are countless film productions that have continued in Australia. The Marvel Studio production house is working on a new Thor film. Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Tessa Thompson, Chris Pratt, Christian Bale, Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth were confirmed to be there.

Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton are also filming Three Thousand Years of Longing. Dwayne Johnson also completed the sitcom Young Rock. Ron Howard's film about the rescue of Thai children, Thirteen Lives was also shot in Queensland, Australia.

Launching the Screen Australia page, the government has released a list of ongoing productions in Australia and their locations. More than 20 productions are taking place in various regions there.

Even though it is not completely free from the pandemic, there are several regions that have declared COVID-Free. New South Wales, one of the densely populated areas has passed 54 days without new cases as well as Queensland which has passed 64 days.

Therefore, it is not uncommon for people to not be obliged to wear masks. There are also many public figures who have temporarily resided in Australia.

Actor Zac Efron has spent time since 2020 living in Byron Bay. Even though it was accompanied by filming activities, Efron seemed to spend a lot of time relaxing.

Actress Nicole Kidman did the same. Accompanied by her husband, Keith Urban, they returned to Kidman's hometown as well as shooting for the latest series. The couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen returned to Sydney to stay temporarily during the pandemic.

The presence of these public figures sparked criticism. This is because people have complained about the special treatment the government has given them.

Many public figures choose to quarantine at a house or inn by skipping the rules for quarantine at hotels as recommended by the government.

Matt Damon, who arrived in Australia in January this year, reportedly paid a private doctor, a cleaning service equivalent to a hotel for his residence in Byron Bay. Even though it is called a vacation, Damon is currently shooting Thor's latest movie with his family bringing him along.

Tom Hanks has also been criticized because when he arrived in Australia, he was allowed to pass quarantine obligations at hotels.

Criticism directed at the Australian government was denied. Quoting ABC, Jeannette Young as the Chief Health Officer said that the film industry is making a lot of money at this time.

Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk also defended Hanks while undergoing quarantine in a private residence, saying this was part of the film industry's plans amid COVID.

Head of Screen Australia, Graeme Mason explained that production in Australia will bring benefits to local workers. "Whether they organize clothes, or whatever, they are Australian and this gives people jobs and abilities," Mason said.

It seems that the production will not stop. Ausfilm, the government partnership agency for the entertainment industry, recorded a production increase of 300 percent as in 2019.