
(From a press release)
A new television series from the highly successful producers of Underbelly and Crownies will be made in NSW, Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality, Racing and the Arts, George Souris, announced.
Mr Souris made the announcement last night at the annual Screen Producers Association of Australia Conference (SPAA) in Sydney – the largest screen industry event in the country attracting more than 600 professionals.
Mr Souris said Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms – which will tell the story behind the 1984 Milperra bikie massacre – will film in Sydney later this year.
“This Government is serious about its commitment to the screen industry,” he said.
“This series will be made in NSW as a result of funding through the Screen NSW Production Fund.
“The latest investments by the Fund will also see four factual series and a highly original feature film being made in NSW.
“A total of $585,000 is being invested in these six productions, which are expected to contribute $10.7 million to the NSW economy in direct production expenditure.
“In addition to the Production Investment Fund, Screen NSW has also granted $180,000 across six projects to the latest recipients of its Emerging Filmmakers Fund (EFF). This highly successful program funds the production of short films, often a critical step in the career development of our State’s filmmakers.
“Since 1996 more than $3 million in support has been granted to 136 NSW film crews and their projects. Their films have been viewed in more than 1000 local and international festival screenings, including Cannes, Los Angeles, Berlin, London, Tokyo, New York, and Barcelona, and have received over 200 awards and nominations.
“This year alone, EFF films have screened in almost 60 festivals worldwide. I’m sure the six new short films that have been funded will be equally successful when they are screened publicly in 2012 and will herald bright future careers for the filmmakers.”
In more good news for the local screen industry, Mr Souris also announced that Screen NSW has appointed a panel of service providers to deliver a screen production attraction, facilitation and local industry development service across regional NSW.
The five Regional Screen Offices are Screen Illawarra South East, Screen Hunter Central Coast, Screen Central NSW & Western Sydney, Northern Rivers Screenworks and Film Broken Hill.
“Regional Screen Offices (RSOs) play a critical role in ensuring regional NSW enjoys the cultural and economic benefits of screen production in our State,” Mr Souris said.
“They also work with local, state and federal agencies to provide an invaluable one-stop-shop for filmmakers looking to shoot in regional locations.”
Mr Souris also highlighted the NSW Government’s support of film industry relatedevents including the SPAA Conference.
“Listed alongside the SPAA Conference on the NSW Events Calendar, developed by Destination NSW, are the ACCTA Awards, Sydney Film Festival, Movie Extra Tropfest, Dungog Film Festival and the IF Awards,” Mr Souris said.
“The NSW Government through Destination NSW is committed to a creative industries strategy that ensures we are recognised globally as world leaders of creativity and innovation.
“Through our State screen agency, Screen NSW, we continue to invest in the development and production of local projects.
“This financial year to date, $2.25 million has been invested in 14 screen projects, which will generate $33.94 million expenditure in NSW over the coming months.”
Projects to receive Screen NSW Production Fund investment are:
Project: Family Confidential – Series 2
Factual – Series
Company: KalMedia Pty Ltd
Director: Aviva Ziegler
Writer/Producer: Laurie Critchley
Synopsis: Family Confidential takes us inside the homes and lives of some of
Australia’s most significant and influential families, revealing the private truths behind
their famous public facades.
Project name: Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms
TV Drama – Series
Company: Screentime Pty Ltd
Writers: Greg Haddrick, Jo Martino, Roger Simpson
Director: Aviva Ziegler
Producers: Roger Simpson, Peter Andrikidis
Synopsis: “Brothers in Arms” tells the story behind the fatal feud between two outlaw
motorcycle clubs that resulted in the Milperra Bikie Massacre in south-western Sydney
on Fathers Day, 1984. Based on the book by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey.
Project: ReKindling Venus
Feature
Company: Felix Media Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Lynette Wallworth
Producer: John Maynard, David Metcalfe
Synopsis: ReKindling Venus is a new project by artist Lynette Wallworth. An
immersive 26-minute work for fulldome theatres, it aims to connect people around the
globe to the complex beauty of coral reefs and the potential for us to lose them in this
lifetime.
Project: Go Back to Where You Came From – Series 2
Factual – Series
Company: Cordell Jigsaw Productions Pty Ltd
Writer: Michael Cordell
Director: Ivan O’Mahoney
Producer: Rick McPhee, Toni Malone
Synopsis: Six Australians agree to challenge their preconceived notions about
refugees and asylum seekers by taking a confronting refugee journey themselves for
25 days.
Project: Making Couples Happy
Factual – Series
Company: Heiress Films Pty Ltd
Writer: Will Parry
Director: Kalita Corrigan
Producer: Jennifer Cummins
Synopsis: Science can make individuals happy in only eight weeks. Can it save
relationships too?
Project: Life At 7
Factual – Series
Company: Heiress Films Pty Ltd
Writer/Director: Jennifer Peedom
Producer: Jennifer Cummins
Synopsis: Life at 7 continues the stories of 11 Australian children against the
backdrop of the largest-ever longitudinal study on child development in this country,
looking this time at temperament and peers. The series examines what it takes to give
a child the best chance in life.
Projects to receive Screen NSW Emerging Filmmaker Fund grants are:
Project: Sam’s Story
11 minutes – Drama
Writer: Rebecca Clarke
Director: Julietta Boscolo,
Producer: Matt Reeder
Synopsis: Sometimes stories are all we have.
Project: The Gift
10 minutes – Thriller
Writer/Director: Lucy Gaffy
Producer: Lyn Norfor
Synopsis: Haunting and mystical, The Gift is a gothic tale about the transformative power of familial love.
Project: Woody
9 minutes – Animation
Writer/Director: Stuart Bowen
Producer: Jodi Matterson
Synopsis: The story of a wooden doll who wants to play piano but doesn’t have fingers.
Project: Convenience
12 minutes – Drama
Writer: Sam McKeith
Director: Tom McKeith
Producer: Nel Minchin
Synopsis: When the body of an illegal immigrant falls from the sky, a convenience store assistant is forced to confront his apathy and prepare the body for burial.
Project: Awake
13 minutes – Drama
Writer/Director: Denie Pentecost
Producer: Paul Sullivan
Synopsis: Christmas Eve, three estranged sisters, two different destinations, and one telephone call that reunites them.
Project: Reason to Smile
12 minutes – Drama
Writer/Director: Rene Hernandez
Producer: Christine Tan
Synopsis: A promise Elijah makes to his mother and hides from his brother Jake brings life changing consequences.