The Gold Coast has secured a high-profile spy thriller, The Mark, with Jessica Alba and Tom Hopper now filming on location. The production is set on the Gold Coast as well as filmed there, putting the region’s streets, beaches and skyline on screen for a global audience. Officials say the shoot is expected to inject about 11.7 million dollars into the local economy and support roughly 140 cast and crew jobs. That direct spending, plus flow-on effects for accommodation, transport and hospitality, gives the city a sharp boost during a busy production year. (Courier Mail)
Behind the cameras, the project brings together Highland Film Group, Brisbane’s Hoodlum, K.Jam Media and Westbrook Studios. The film is directed by Justin Chadwick and written by Ronnie Christensen. Alba also produces through Lady Metalmark Entertainment. Screen Queensland confirmed the production is underway and highlighted how it leverages the state’s Production Attraction Strategy to win competitive, footloose projects that could film anywhere. That incentive targets fully financed productions and aims to build the local skills base while keeping high-value work in Queensland. (Mirage News)
What The Mark Means For The Gold Coast
The Mark is a vote of confidence in the region’s studios, crews and locations. It also continues a run of large-scale projects that have set up in South East Queensland this year. Recent titles include Monsterverse’s next chapter at Village Roadshow Studios and several international features secured with Screen Queensland’s support. Each production is a new classroom for early-career Queenslanders and a new contract for small suppliers from lighting to logistics. That compound effect raises capability and keeps the pipeline moving. (Courier Mail)
In the film, Alba plays Eden, an operative who drags an unsuspecting single father, played by Tom Hopper, into a web of mistaken identity and espionage. The story places the Gold Coast on screen as itself rather than a stand-in, which helps tourism marketing long after the shoot wraps. Early location reports point to Currumbin, bridges and coastal corridors that read well on camera and are close to crew bases. Local SMEs can plan for short bursts of demand, from unit moves to catering at beachside cafes. (IF.com.au)
How Producers Can Plug Into Queensland’s Support System
- Check eligibility for Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy. Projects must be fully financed and genuinely footloose with alternative destinations on the table. Align your budget, schedule and Queensland spend to the incentive guidelines and keep clear evidence of interstate or international options. (Screen Queensland)
- Build a local hiring plan. Map which heads of department you are importing and which crew tiers you will source locally. Factor in Screen Queensland’s Attachment program for paid placements to grow the next wave of talent and meet skills development aims. (Mirage News)
- Lock locations with logistics in mind. The Gold Coast offers water access, highways, hinterland and beaches within short travel windows. Scout with transport and unit base constraints front of mind to reduce overtime and fatigue risks while improving schedule certainty. (tiq.qld.gov.au)
- Communicate early with councils and residents. Productions that film in busy corridors like Currumbin rely on clear traffic management and local business outreach. Share filming windows, alternate parking plans and noise notices at least two weeks ahead. Recent on-the-ground reporting shows how visible big shoots are on popular beachfronts. (Courier Mail)
Measuring The Economic Upside
For policymakers and industry groups, the headline is spend and jobs. The Mark’s local spend estimate sits at about 11.7 million dollars with around 140 jobs, according to state and media statements. When benchmarked against other recent productions, the figure is consistent with Queensland’s ability to host multiple international shows at once. That diversified slate reduces downtime and supports specialist vendors. It also markets the region as a dependable destination for repeat franchise work, as seen with ongoing Monsterverse activity. (Courier Mail)
Key Production Facts And Contacts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | The Mark |
| Genre | Spy thriller |
| Director | Justin Chadwick |
| Writer | Ronnie Christensen |
| Lead cast | Jessica Alba, Tom Hopper |
| Setting and location | Gold Coast, Queensland |
| Producers | Jessica Alba for Lady Metalmark, Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier for Highland Film Group, Kia Jam for K.Jam Media, Kosaku Yada for Westbrook Studios, Tracey Vieira for Hoodlum, Peter Jákl |
| International rights | Highland Film Group |
| Government support | Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy |
| Indicative local impact | About 11.7 million dollars spend and roughly 140 jobs |
| Useful links | Screen Queensland Production Attraction Strategy, Trade and Investment Queensland film and screen overview |
| Notes | Production reported underway with on-location sightings in Currumbin and nearby corridors |
Sources: Screen Queensland announcements, Highland Film Group, industry press and local reporting. (Mirage News)
How Local Businesses Can Win Work From This And Future Shoots
First, get visible to production managers. Ensure your business is listed with the Gold Coast and Screen Queensland supplier directories and specify your rapid response capacity for short-notice days. Second, package services. Bundles like catering plus coffee carts, or unit vehicles with drivers, reduce vendor count and win bids. Third, prove set etiquette. Productions value reliability, discretion and safety culture. Provide references from prior shoots and include your incident reporting process in your pitch. Finally, monitor filming notices. Local media and council advisories will flag road holds in places like Currumbin. If you are a cafe, gym or hire company nearby, plan extended hours and a rapid pre-order process for crew breaks. (Mirage News)
Producers should think beyond principal photography. Consider post production and VFX partners within Queensland, where facilities and talent pools have expanded alongside the production slate. Trade and Investment Queensland maintains a sector overview and contacts that can open doors for finance, export advice and co-production outreach. That linkage helps de-risk schedule gaps and keeps spend in-state through delivery. (tiq.qld.gov.au)
Why The Gold Coast Keeps Winning International Shoots
The region’s draw is not a single factor. It is the combination of sound stages, experienced crews, varied locations and a predictable approvals pathway. Add the Production Attraction Strategy, which gives competitive leverage to bring fully financed projects across the line. Then layer in the brand effect of marquee franchises returning for multiple cycles. This is how a destination moves from one-off host to a dependable global hub. (Screen Queensland)
Pipeline matters as much as price. Ausfilm notes that Queensland entered 2025 with a strong run of series and features, a shortlisting in global awards for cities of film, and confirmed releases that keep crews active between tentpoles. For financiers and sales agents, that continuity reduces execution risk. For governments, it builds a case to maintain incentives, training and infrastructure. For audiences, it means seeing the real Gold Coast on screen. (Ausfilm)
Trending FAQ
What is The Mark about and who is in it?
The Mark follows Eden, played by Jessica Alba, an operative who uses a case of mistaken identity to infiltrate a criminal network. Tom Hopper plays Ben Dawson, a single father caught in the fallout. The film is written by Ronnie Christensen and directed by Justin Chadwick. (IF.com.au)
How much money and how many jobs will the film bring to the Gold Coast?
Public statements point to an estimated 11.7 million dollars in local spend and about 140 jobs for cast and crew during production. (Courier Mail)
Which companies are producing and selling the project?
Highland Film Group handles international rights and co-financing. Producers include Lady Metalmark Entertainment, Highland Film Group, K.Jam Media, Westbrook Studios and Hoodlum. (highlandfilmgroup.com)
What incentive is the film using and who can apply for it?
Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy targets fully financed, footloose projects that could film in other jurisdictions. Applications require evidence of alternative destinations and a clear Queensland spend. (Screen Queensland)
Where is filming happening on the Gold Coast?
Local reporting points to Currumbin and nearby coastal corridors, including scenes under Currumbin Bridge. These locations are close to crew bases and offer easy logistics. (Courier Mail)
How does this fit into the broader production pipeline in Queensland?
It continues a strong run alongside major features and series based at Village Roadshow Studios and across the state, including the next Monsterverse title. The pipeline supports repeat business and skills growth. (Courier Mail)
What should small businesses near filming zones do to capture demand?
Register on supplier directories, pre-pack services for quick purchase orders, and watch council and media filming advisories to plan extended hours and stock. Film crews prefer vendors who understand set etiquette and fast turnarounds. (Mirage News)
