• Screen Australia announces latest production funding round
Screen Australia will invest $13.4 million in 12 new feature film and television projects which will instigate production to the value of $64.3 million. This round will see The Mentalist star Simon Baker (above) return to Australia to make his directorial feature film debut. Baker will reimagine and star in the screen adaptation of Tim Winton’s bestselling novel, Breath.
See Pictures and Gran Via Productions will team up with Baker, who will also produce the film. Oscar and Emmy Award–winning producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, The Notebook, Rain Man) and Jamie Hilton (Backtrack, The Little Death, The Waiting City) will also produce. Top of the Lake writer Gerard Lee will adapt the script for screen.
The new funding will support seven television projects – five adult and two children’s.
From the makers of The Slap TV series comes the screen adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas’ novel, Barracuda. The four-part series follows young Olympic hopeful Danny Kelly as he deals with the pressure of obsession.
Crime drama Deep Water is a gripping story that explores a world in which the threat of violence or death is only one encounter away.
Two biopics will receive support – nourishing Australian audiences’ healthy appetite and interest in real-life stories. Peter Brock is a two-part series about the loved and admired racing identity, who was a hero to a generation of Australians.
From the makers of Better Man, telemovie Mary: Making of a Princess will tell the celebrated love story of Mary Donaldson’s transformation from ordinary Australian working woman into the Crown Princess of Denmark.
John Edwards’ latest drama, Tips for Married Life, is a six-part series about a woman’s journey of survival from housewife to taking over her husband’s criminal empire.
Two popular live-action children’s drama series will receive support. Top-rating television series Nowhere Boys: The Rise of Bear will be made into a telemovie that sees the boys drawn together for one last spell. And Tomorrow, When the War Began, based on the extremely popular book series, will be made into a six-part TV series. The story will see a group of teenagers fight for their family and homeland, when a large hostile force invades their country. In 2010, the film version of the same name was the number one Australian film at the local box office.
• TELEVISION: ADULT DRAMA
BARRACUDA
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Amanda Higgs, Tony Ayres
Writers Belinda Chayko, Blake Ayshford
Broadcaster ABC
Domestic/International Sales Universal Media Studios International Limited
Synopsis Based on the book of the same name by Christos Tsiolkas, Barracuda follows young Olympic hopeful, Danny Kelly, as he deals with the pressure of obsession.
DEEP WATER
Blackfella Films
Producers Miranda Dear, Darren Dale
Writers Kris Wyld, Kym Goldsworthy
Broadcaster SBS
International Sales DCD Rights
Synopsis A gripping crime drama that explores a world in which the threat of violence or death is only one encounter away.
MARY: MAKING OF A PRINCESS
FremantleMedia Australia Pty Ltd
Producer Antonia Barnard
Executive Producers Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis
Director Jennifer Leacey
Writer Samantha Strauss
Broadcaster Network Ten
Domestic/International Sales FremantleMedia International Ltd
Synopsis Twenty-eight-year-old Mary Donaldson has all but given up on love when one night she goes to the pub and meets a prince. But falling in love is the easy part, compared to what it takes for an Australian girl to become the future Crown Princess of Denmark.
PETER BROCK (working title)
Shine (Aust) Pty Ltd
Producer Kerrie Mainwaring
Executive Producer Rory Callaghan
Director Geoff Bennett
Writers Justin Monjo, Adam Todd
Broadcaster Network Ten
Domestic/International Sales Endemol Shine International
Synopsis This is the true story of a man who was a hero to a generation of Australians. Loved and admired by many, but few knew the real Peter Brock – what made him tick?
TIPS FOR MARRIED LIFE
Endemol Australia Pty Ltd
Producer Mimi Butler
Executive Producers Janeen Faithfull, John Edwards
Writer Justin Monjo
Broadcaster Nine Network
Domestic/International Sales Endemol Shine International
Synopsis A grieving career wife has to wise up and fight for survival when she finds herself responsible for her dead husband’s criminal debts and wrongdoings.
• TELEVISION: CHILDREN’S DRAMA
NOWHERE BOYS: THE RISE OF BEAR
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Beth Frey
Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Michael McMahon
Writers Tony Ayres, Rhys Graham, Craig Irvin
Broadcaster ABC TV
Domestic Sales Australian Children’s Television Foundation
International Sales Universal Pictures (Australasia), NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Cast Dougie Baldwin, Joel Lok, Rahart Adams, Matt Testro
Synopsis As a devastating magical being threatens to destroy the multiverse, the Nowhere Boys discover that to save everything and everyone that they love, they must make the ultimate sacrifice… themselves.
TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN
Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Michael Boughen, Tony Winley
Executive Producers Matthew Street, Kim Vecera, Christopher Mapp
Director Brendan Maher
Writers Blake Ayshford, Alice Addison, Justin Monjo, Josh Mapleston
Broadcaster ABC3
Australian Distributor ABC Commercial
International Sales Annapurna Pictures
Synopsis When their country is invaded by a large hostile force, a group of teenagers fight for their family and homeland. Based on the era-defining novels by John Marsden.
Source: Screen Australia