The $20million adaptation of the first of John Marsden’s seven teen adventure novels was shot late last year in Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Dungog.

Six all-night shoots were held around the Luskintyre Bridge on the Hunter River, 20 minutes from Maitland.

Beattie was determined to use the location for the film and it would later feature on the movie’s poster.

‘‘We couldn’t have made the film without that bridge,’’ he said yesterday in Newcastle. ‘‘I had to fight for it. It was a well travelled bridge [for cars] and logistics-wise it was difficult.’’

Besides sectioning off the bridge, illuminating it and bringing in pyrotechnics for explosions, film crews also had to build a road, toilet block and playground next to the Hunter River below. These were also used in a touch football scene in the film.

‘‘We were kind of nocturnal, during the shooting of this film,’’ Tonkin said.

‘‘That was the biggest challenge for me, the lack of sleep. But everyone pushed through. I actually used it to build my on character because I needed to look physically exhausted on screen.’’

No stranger to the Hunter Region, Beattie was not only delighted with the dedication of his cast but also the support from residents.

He said more than 200 locals turned up at the showground during a shoot in Dungog.

‘‘There was a lot of excitement for the film and people were really supportive,’’ Beattie said.

His Sydney-based family had a holiday house near Morpeth and he visited the region many times growing up.

‘‘As a kid we would stay in a log cabin with no electricity. That was up until about the age of 14 when I wanted television,’’ he joked.

Beattie, Tonkin and producer Andrew Mason attended the film’s Newcastle premiere at Greater Union Newcastle last night.

The trio walked the red carpet, greeting fans, posing for photographs and signing autographs, before introducing the screening for 700 invited guests and competition winners.