'red Dog' To Be Made Into A Movie

[Ravyk]

SOUTH Australia has stood in for many movie locations before, from Gallipoli to Mars, but in Red Dog the state doubles for somewhere a little closer - Western Australia.

The $8.5 million movie, starring Noah Taylor and Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes, starts a five-week shoot around Adelaide today.

It's the true story about the "red dog" of the Pilbara that roamed for thousands of kilometres during the 1970s, hitching rides in cars and on planes, and how it helped unite the industrial port town of Dampier.

"This dog was no one's dog, but everyone's dog," said director Kriv Stenders. "He essentially united the town and became the town's mascot."

Some big names, yet to be announced, will join the cast, but even the most famous will be upstaged by the real star, red kelpie Koko.

"He's a remarkably intelligent dog," Stenders said. "He's ferociously focused."

Stenders also made Lucky Country and Boxing Day in Adelaide.

"The SA Film Corporation here has been fantastic and very supportive on my other films," he said.

"We knew it was going to be too expensive to shoot the entire film in WA, especially up there because it's too remote."

Next month the production moves to WA for three weeks.

[Christina]

They are shooting part of this near me, middle of nowhere really. At a tiny crabbing beach 15 mins away. My neighbour & parents are extras in it. She is so excited.

[mita]

An actor I know of, also has a part in 'Red Dog'. By coincidence, she & her family own a little red Tibetan Spaniel.

Many of you would have seen her (the actor, not the tibbie) in the Whiskers TV ads. The ones with a the pink cartoon cat whose owner is sitting at a computer.

[Loving my Oldies]

Red Kelpie Rescue get ready for the influx to start about 8-12 months after the movie comes out!!

[Guest choice_brandy]

Here is Koko's screen test

[Sheilaheel02]

I was given this book as a gift and loved the story.

S

[Loving my Oldies]

When the fellow said he had to dye his hair - the look ;)

Definitely a star already.

[PRADA68]

Hoping the movie does justice to the book my mum bought it for me a couple of years ago and I have read it several times and just love it.

[mantis]

Sounds like a direct rip-off, of the TV series "The Littlest Hobo", I loved that show, London was such a beautiful dog or three. ;)