GOLD Coast filming of Titanic director James Cameron’s new 3D movie Sanctum is under way, but not many realise the feature film was inspired by the real-life terror of its creator when he was trapped deep inside a flooded cave.

Sanctum producer and cave diver Andrew Wight was yesterday on location at Jacobs Well filming the story that came to him after he escaped a terrifying cave diving expedition in the Nullarbor’s Pannikin Plains.

The cave entrance collapsed during a freak storm, trapping him and 14 other Australians — some for up to 30 hours.

Yesterday, sitting in the searing heat at Jacobs Well, Mr Wight told of how the 1988 ordeal inspired Sanctum and how he got his long-time mate ‘Jim’ — one of the world’s most famous directors James Cameron — on board to film the feature.

“December 4, 4pm, 1988 … the day when everything changed,” Mr Wight told The Bulletin.

“A freak cyclonic storm dropped about a year’s worth of rainfall in a very short time and flooded the area causing the cave entrance to collapse.

“I managed to escape after about four or five hours but 13 of our expedition team were trapped for two days.

“It got me thinking about how do people respond in circumstances in which they could live or die depending on what they do next … put people in adverse situations where they could live based on their wits or die as a consequence.”

The cast and crew descended on Maas Marina, yesterday to film scenes two and three where a group of the world’s most daring explorers arrive by sea plane to a Papua New Guinea village ready to head into the Santo cave system — one of the world’s last frontiers.

The marina was transformed into a Papuan seaside market, complete with chickens and piglets, as the actors strode among the natives — some sporting magnificent head-dresses.

Mr Wight said the actors would not be officially announced until next week but all were recognisable Australian stars along with one well-known US actor.

The same 3D cameras used to film Cameron’s latest blockbuster Avatar are being used for Sanctum by the 100-odd crew — most of whom are Gold Coast locals.

Mr Wight said Cameron was tied up with the imminent release of Avatar but he may come to the Gold Coast later into filming.

“He may come out here but when that might be I’m not sure,” he said.

“We speak on a daily basis, the material is sent for him to review.”

Filming will move to Warner Roadshow studios at Oxenford next week where elaborate cave systems have been built and the world-class water tank will be used for underwater scenes.

Mr Wight said filming on the Gold Coast was an ‘easy choice’ because of the tropical locations and the underwater tank.

The production will pour $20 million directly into the Gold Coast economy.

Check out their exlusive pictures from the set

A boy enters an apartment in Oslo. He’s here to see his mother. They haven’t seen each other for some time. The question for both of them is — why?

Jon Fosse is one of Norway’s leading playwrights. He’s written more than 20 stage plays. He’s also written novels, short stories, poetry, children’s books and essays. He’s widely considered one of the world’s greatest contemporary playwrights.

Featuring Heather Mitchell and Rhys Wakefield

Producer Catherine Warczak
Written by Jon Foss
Translated by May-Britt Akerholt

LISTEN to the play here!