Rendall to direct Bait 3D as principal photography starts

Kimble Rendall will take up directing duties on 3D shark action movie Bait 3D, it has been announced.

Rendall, who was second unit director on Matrix Reloaded and I, Robot among others, has landed the gig while Russell Mulcahy, who wrote and developed the script, will continue as EP.

Principal photography for the Australian/Singapore co-production started this week at the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios.

Panavision's new high resolution Red Cameras with the Element Technica Quazar rig will be used.

3D post production and visual effects will be handled by Blackmagic Design in Singapore working with VFX supremo Marc Varisco (Master & Commander, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, National Treasure and My Bloody Valentine 3D).

The film will be produced by Gary Hamilton, Todd Fellman and Peter Barber, while the executive producers are Chris Brown, Mike Gabrawy and Ian Maycock.

Starring Xavier Samuel and Julian McMahon, the film is a co-production with Arclight Films, Pictures in Paradise and Story Bridge Films with Blackmagic Design Films Ltd and The Media Development Authority, in association with Screen Australia and Film Queensland.

“The Bait team is going to deliver an amazing film that will be technically and dramatically unlike anything you have ever seen come out of Australia,” Hamilton said in a statement.

Paramount Pictures will release the shark attack flick in Australasia.

"We are delighted to be working with Arclight and such an exciting team on Bait 3D. It is particularly pleasing to see a high profile young Australian cast who have all had great success recently in a range of commercially successful releases," Paramount Pictures CEO Mike Selwyn said in a statement.