When the filmmakers began considering locations for "The Matrix," Australia immediately offered certain advantages. Says executive producer and native Australian Andrew Mason, "Australia has a vital film industry and a terrific talent pool." Mason, who had recently produced Alex Proyas' "Dark City," also filmed in Australia, provided information and assistance in assembling a top-notch technical crew and securing several visually interesting shooting sites for "The Matrix." "TheMatrix" was filmed on location in Sydney ­p; on soundstages and, for two months, on Sydney's streets and rooftops and in warehouses. Joel Silver enthused about using Sydney as a location for the production: "Filmmaking expertise, competitive costs and a great spirit of cooperation all enhanced Sydney's appeal. We also liked the diversity of the city's architecture and its general geography; it was an ideal city for our purposes."