Pirates of the Caribbean filmed in Australian studio

Thirteen separate ship sets were built on sophisticated gimbals at Village Roadshow Studios in Queensland, Australia, to film Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge. 

By Nick Goundry 25 May 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean filmed in Australian studio
Pirates of the Caribbean 5

Thirteenship sets were built on sophisticated gimbals at Village Roadshow Studios in Queensland, Australia, to film Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge.

Also known internationally as Dead Men Tell No Tales, the movie is the fifth in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise that was first launched in 2003, and sees the return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Ship sets were largely mounted on gimbals and turntables that were controlled by computers for the shoot, while actual ocean filming was minimised.

Filming at sea is notoriously difficult, leaving crews exposed to sudden changes in weather, rough conditions and seasickness. Water tank facilities offer a completely controlled studio environment and are often wrapped in green screens to help create digital backgrounds.

Scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean were also shot on location at Southport Spit and Mount Tamborine near Gold Coast, Cleveland Point further north in Brisbane, and the idyllic Whitsunday Islands.

Queensland’s studio facilities have helped turn it into a major filming location for big-budget Hollywood movies. Disney returned with Marvel for Thor: Ragnarok to shoot at Village Roadshow after Pirates of the Caribbean, and Aquaman is currently filming at the facility.

For more on filming in Australia see our production guide.

Image: Film Frame/Disney Enterprises

Ship sets were largely mounted on gimbals and turntables that were controlled by computers for the shoot, while actual ocean filming was minimised.

Filming at sea is notoriously difficult, leaving crews exposed to sudden changes in weather, rough conditions and seasickness. Water tank facilities offer a completely controlled studio environment and are often wrapped in green screens to help create digital backgrounds.

Scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean were also shot on location at Southport Spit and Mount Tamborine near Gold Coast, Cleveland Point further north in Brisbane, and the idyllic Whitsunday Islands.

Queensland’s studio facilities have helped turn it into a major filming location for big-budget Hollywood movies. Disney returned with Marvel for Thor: Ragnarok to shoot at Village Roadshow after Pirates of the Caribbean, and Aquaman is currently filming at the facility.

For more on filming in Australia see our production guide.

Image: Film Frame/Disney Enterprises

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