Sandgate seamstress Jade Ashton has seen her work on the theatre stage and now on the small screen.
The local mum and costumier is part of the behind-the-scenes crew for Nautilus, a 10-part series now streaming on Stan.
Jade said working on a production of that scale was amazing.
“I have a pattern maker who I’ve worked with before at the Conservatorium and she asked if I’d like to work on this show being filmed on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“It was in my field, women’s wear, and I just jumped at it.”
Nautilus is a prequel to Jules Verne’s 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and is an origin story for Captain Nemo. It stars British actor Shazad Latif as Captain Nemo, with Australian actors including Luke Arnold, Anna Torv and Noah Taylor also part of the cast.
Jade said she worked on the show for close to a year.
“It was a TV series with a film budget,” she said. “The fabric was amazing – silk flown in from the United States just for the lining of a vest; 3D buttons printed with a special ‘N’ symbol and hand-painted. Just amazing.”
Jade added seeing the show on her TV screen home was a huge moment.
“I was very loud,” she said, laughing. “We – the sewers and machinists – played such a small part in it, but to be part of that story and see it on screen was incredible.
“It really takes hundreds of people to make a show like this. One scene filmed on the beach at Coolangatta had 300 extras.
“It’s amazing how much talent we have in Queensland, it’s like having Hollywood right here.”
Jade’s Passion for Period Costumes and Upcoming Projects
Jade said she loved working with period costumes.
“I just love to play in that world,” she said. “My favourite era is around the 1910s. It was the beginning of the flapper era, before the First World War.
“Women’s wear was changing because women’s role in society was changing – women were playing sports and advocating for the vote.
“Clothes became lighter and freer, but still so elegant and beautiful. It was called the Belle Epoque and it was only a short time in history, but that’s my favourite.”
Jade’s talents with needle and thread will next be seen in the movie Mortal Kombat 2, which is released in 2025.
Nautilus is currently streaming on Stan.
Read more stories from the Sandgate Guide print magazine here:
- The Adventures of Alex and Joe
- Rent vs Home Ownership
- Organic Gardening in December
- Santa By the Seaside
- New Year, New Home Renovation? The Time To Start Planning Is Now
- Beyond Orientation – Tips For Starting High School
- The Story Of Bruce – Sandgate’s Beloved Christmas Icon
- Photographer Hangs Up His Hat
- Yuletide on the Bayside
- Jason’s Quality Meats Triumphs at QLD Sausage King Awards
- Raise a Glass to Christmas Tunes
- Bramble Buzz: Updates from the Community
