Jacob Livermore | Architecture meets cinematic artistry

Alumnus, Jacob Livermore, shares his unique journey from architectural graduate to accomplished location scout for television productions including 'Boy Swallows Universe' and 'The Family Law'. As a producer and location scout, Jacob sheds light on the intersection of architecture and film, and offers a glimpse into the future of the film industry in Queensland.

You started your professional journey as an architectural graduate. What inspired or motivated you to make the pivot into the film industry?

I always had an interest in film and television but it wasn’t until I magically (movie magic or not) got a foot in the door as a dancer.

Being a performer in front of the camera really sparked my interest in the controlled chaos behind the camera. I managed to navigate a Bachelor of Built Environment and Masters in Architecture while working in film and TV. I even video called in while on set for my graduating thesis presentation!

Now as a location scout, are there aspects of your architectural background that you find beneficial?

Absolutely. The deep knowledge and love I have for architecture is a springboard for finding the right locations for a brief/vision. I can discuss in detail with a production designer and director specifics on architectural styles and periods to ensure we genuinely deliver movie magic.

For Jacob, location scouting includes the occasional ride in a V8 supercar!

You recently worked on 'Boy Swallows Universe' which was filmed in South East Queensland. Can you tell us more about that experience?

I was brought onto the project very early to assist the locations team with finding very specific period locations for the show. Brisbane no longer looks like it did in the 80’s with the incredible growth our city has experienced over the past 10 years. It was my job to find key locations that provided the canvas for realistic 80’s locations. One example is the “Courier Mail” building which used to be a Freemasons Lodge in Greenslopes (Stones Corner).

How do you approach location scouting, and what do you believe makes a location perfect for a particular scene in a film?

An incredibly complicated question with many facets. The “perfect location” in most cases doesn’t exist so you have to balance creativity, logistics, budget, disruption and availability of both location and the cast! Which on series television is a never ending puzzle…until the wrap party!

For aspiring filmmakers looking to enter the industry, what advice do you have? Are there any skills or qualities that you believe are essential for success in the film production field?

It’s all about exposure. Don’t go into it thinking you’re at the top - you have to earn your place (that applies for every role). Technically, professionally and very importantly (in Queensland) socially.

Among the projects you've worked on, are there any that hold a special place in your heart?

'The Family Law' written by Benjamin Law. I was lucky to work on all 3 seasons which aired on SBS. When a based-on-a true story comes along that has heart, warmth and creatives that value human wellbeing before the production process, that’s a winner! The entire cast and crew crying during the last shot of the last season also says something!

Where do you see the future of the film industry in Queensland heading, and what potential developments or trends are you excited about?

I frequently work with Screen Queensland in a scouting and advisory capacity as an active industry location manager to attract productions to the state. It’s an integral strategy for bringing massive investment to the screen industry in Queensland and as a result keeps hundreds, if not thousands, of us in jobs.

The Gold Coast and Village Roadshow Studios are always going to attract large scale international productions. That’s great because it employs many of my colleagues. Locally, I hope we start seeing more support for stories that are set in Brisbane, like 'Boy Swallows Universe'. And I also hope we get the chance to produce other important Australian stories like 'In Our Blood', which I was the location manager on the same time Boy Swallows was in production.

Jacob testing out the set of a 1934 American farm house at Village Roadshow Studios

In what ways can the local film community continue to thrive and contribute to the broader landscape of Australian and international cinema?

One of the best ways to thrive is to support the community, property owners and government stakeholders. What you see on your screen is filmed on location in a real place, especially local stories that don’t have Hollywood budgets. We need and rely on the generosity of communities, businesses and viewers to keep us in jobs!

Lastly - for anyone contemplating a similar career, what advice do you have on leveraging existing skills from a different field in the realm of film production?

If you’re creative and good at problem solving in high intensity, stressful and fast moving environments (seriously faster than you’ve ever experienced) you might have the entry level skills. If you’re singularly dedicated and hold interest in a specific area of film, lighting, camera, props, art department or locations, you need to bring everything you have to the discipline.

Jacob Livermore

QUT degrees - Bachelor of Built Environment (Architectural Studies) (2008) and Master of Architecture (2010)

Do you have a question for Jacob?  You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

*QUT campuses are occasionally used as filming locations. To learn more about filming on campus, contact events@qut.edu.au.