This year has been a great one for filming in Melbourne and Victoria. Earlier this year, the town of Walhalla was transformed into a set for a new Liam Neeson film. Just last month, it was announced that a new Sony Pictures thriller will be filmed at Docklands Studios Melbourne and around Victoria. And now, after playing host to Hollywood, Melbourne is the star in a brand new K-pop music video. Chuu, a singer and former member of LOONA, was spotted just last month, filming her new music video in Melbourne.
And now, that music video has finally come out, and it is absolutely filled with recognisable locations from around Melbourne.
In case you wanted to channel your inner idol, here are some Melbourne filming locations that we recognised from ‘Strawberry Rush’ by Chuu:
1. Croft Alley
It’s as Melbourne as a cup of coffee. A massive part of Chuu’s music video was sent in a quintessential Melbourne laneway, covered in street art. And if you look at the top of the laneway, you’ll notice the biggest giveaway, the word ‘Croft’ written in black. Croft Alley is located just off of Chinatown on Little Bourke Street. You can see more pictures of this winding laneway on VicScreen’s website.
đź“ŤCroft Alley, Melbourne VIC 3000
2. Hotel Jesus
This Mexican diner and bar also featured prominently in the video. If you’ve been to Hotel Jesus, you might recognise the dĂ©cor and the writings on the wall. In the opening scene, you can also just barely make out the words, ‘Hotel Jesus’ in the background. This was also where Chuu was spotted on social media last month. Check out their website here.
đź“Ť174 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
3. Kia Arena
Chuu is seeing playing a game of tennis with herself, and dancing in the seats, at Kia Arena. This 5,000 seat, open-air tennis court is located opposite Rod Laver Arena, and the venue is listed in the credits under the special thanks section. Find out more about the space here.
đź“Ť200 Batman Ave, Melbourne VIC 3004
4. URBNSURF
It’s a pretty quick moment in the video, but there is a scene where Chuu is standing in front of some gentle waves. But, she’s not at the beach, she’s at Melbourne’s only surf park, URBNSURF. Located near Melbourne Airport, this swell spot has a lagoon that comes with rolling waves, so that you can learn how to surf without worrying about the unpredictability of the ocean.
đź“Ť 309 Melrose Dr, Tullamarine VIC 3045
5. Chapel Street, Fitzroy
A large part of the music video is set on the streets of the inner suburbs of Melbourne. And if you poke around on Google Street View, you might notice that the outside of Faraday’s Cage looks pretty familiar. Not the front part of the cafe, but the back part on Chapel Street. It’s a bit tricky to make out in the video, because of the quick camera movements and cool video effects, but there are parts that are recognisable, like the graffiti on the sides of the road, or the yellow sign of the pet store in the distance.
đź“ŤChapel Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
That’s all of the filming locations we would work out so far! We couldn’t get everything (like the scene in the sand), but it’s a good start if you wanted to go out and recreate some of the scenes for fun. If there was somewhere that you recognised that we haven’t mentioned, do reach out and let us know!