Redfern Now

STELLAR CAST FOR SECOND SEASON OF MULTI-AWARD-WINNING REDFERN NOW

Recipient of Most Outstanding Drama at this year’s Logie Awards, the critically acclaimed REDFERN NOW, starts filming its second season in and around Redfern on May 1.

Celebrated by audiences and critics alike, REDFERN NOW is produced by Blackfella Films’ Miranda Dear and Darren Dale, in collaboration with internationally acclaimed writer Jimmy McGovern as story producer. Continue reading »

Puberty Blues and Redfern Now lead the way in the 2nd annual AACTA Awards with the ABC landing the most nominations. The 2nd AACTA Awards will be held on Wednesday 30 January 2013 at The Star in Sydney.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
• Brenna Harding. Puberty Blues. Network Ten
• Ed Oxenbould. Julian.
• Saskia Rosendahl. Lore.
• Lily Sullivan. Mental. Continue reading »

8:30pm – Thursday, December 6 on ABC1

Aaron Davis (Wayne Blair) is a proud Indigenous policeman: proud of the community in which he works, and very proud of his daughter Robyn (Rarriwuy Hick) and his three-year-old granddaughter Donna.

It’s early morning, and Aaron does his usual boxing training with local kids, and the only thing to mar the day is that he is being taunted by young troublemaker Lenny (Luke Carroll).

Late that day as Aaron is finishing up at the station Lenny is brought in yelling abuse. Lenny’s been in a bad fight and Aaron is about to call for a doctor. But he stops when Lenny’s taunting pushes him too far, and so when Lenny calls out from the cell in pain, Aaron ignores him.

But Lenny’s cries suddenly stop and Aaron realises that something is terribly wrong. He rushes to help, but it’s too late – Lenny is dead. And so Aaron’s nightmare begins.

As word of the death spreads, Lenny’s brother tries to cause trouble but he and his young friends are held back, talked around by family and community. Lenny’s mother, Aunty Mona (Trisha Morton Thomas), asks Aaron whether her boy suffered. Aaron lies and tells her no.

But when Lenny’s family is shown the cell surveillance tapes, Aaron has to find the courage to go and tell Aunty Mona the truth.

8:30pm – Thursday, November 29 on ABC1

Indigo (Dean Daley-Jones) is a professional boxer, so he knows how to land the perfect punch; find the sweet spot. It’s why he’s good in the ring, and it’s why he’s just served a six-year sentence for killing a man in a street fight.

Back home now, he’s trying to reconnect with his wife Allie (Lisa Flanagan) and his two kids, and things are looking up as the family adjusts to having him back after so long away.

But a series of small incidents spark a jealous streak in Indigo: why does this guy Jumpy keep coming round to see Allie? Why does she know how many sugars Jumpy takes in his tea.

His cousin Keshen (Damien Hunter) has found him a job on the building site he works on and is trying to control Indigo’s temper about Jumpy being on the scene. But the green-eyed monster has got a hold and things spiral out of control. Allie declares finally that she can’t take any more and throws him out. Wild with rage, Indigo goes after Jumpy (Cramer Cain), and Keshen has to step in to stop the fight. Too late, Indigo realises he’s broken his parole conditions.

Back in gaol Indigo finally realises that he has to take responsibility for his previous misdeeds, as that’s the only way he has a real chance of getting his life back on track. A few months later he walks free – but will Allie and the kids be there to meet him?

8:30pm – Thursday, November 22 on ABC1

Sixteen-year-old Joel Tait (Aaron McGrath) has just won an Indigenous scholarship to Clifton College – one of Sydney’s most elite private schools. It’s his first day, and at assembly Joel’s teacher notices he isn’t singing the national anthem. At home that night Joel is busy learning the words so he can join in, but his father Eddie (Marley Sharp) doesn’t want his son to sing the anthem…. or stand for it.

Joel doesn’t want to let his father down, but is starting to invest in the school, and is torn between the traditions of the school and his father’s principles. Mr Parish (Ewen Leslie), the poetry teacher, has inspired him in a lesson about The Windhover and he’s enjoying the work; and the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen is in his class.

But when Joel decides to follow his father’s wishes, the situation escalates until he’s threatened with expulsion. His mother Nic (Ursula Yovich) is desperate to find a solution and can’t believe her husband is risking their son’s future. But Eddie won’t budge and Joel is starting to believe his father is right.

8:30pm – Thursday, November 15 on ABC1

Raymond (Kelton Pell) and Lorraine (Deborah Mailman) have it pretty sweet: a house, four kids, Raymond has been nominated for an award for his services to the community, and he’s up for a promotion at work.

But then their world collapses when Lorraine is accused of benefit fraud.

For the last six years she has claimed she is not in a full-time relationship, and has been claiming family allowance payments – and a full pension. Centrelink has a written statement from someone who has dobbed them in.

Lorraine faces serious consequences unless she agrees to repay $60,000. She’s devastated and is now desperate to find work.

Raymond, however, consumed by the thought that someone has dobbed them in, starts to suspect everyone around him. His obsessive pursuit of the truth starts to destroy everything he’s built: his friendships, his reputation, his marriage and job all come crashing down. And too late he realises the truth he was searching for is the very last thing he wants.

8:30pm – Thursday, November 8 on ABC1

In her mid fifties, Coral’s (Tessa Rose) work brings her into contact with victims of abuse, which leads her to the mistaken conclusion that her daughter Rosie’s bruised face is the result of domestic violence. So they don’t talk.

On her way home from the local shops, Coral is knocked down by some teenage boys in a stolen car. One of them, Danny (Rhimi Johnson Page), – who hadn’t wanted to joyride anyway, stays to call an ambulance, but leaves before it arrives. The police trace the call back to his mobile, but Danny won’t grass his mates and is sent to juvenile detention.

Released from hospital, Coral begins to have dizzy spells. She reluctantly lets her granddaughter Julie (Shari Sebbens) come to stay, but complains that Rosie – Julie’s mother – didn’t offer to come. All Julie wants is for them to forgive and forget. When the spells get worse, Coral is re-admitted to hospital and Julie agrees to stay on to look after the house.

Newly released from detention, Danny arrives with some stolen birdseed as an apology to Coral, but meets Julie instead. Properly smitten, he pretends he’s from the pet shop. A romance slowly develops until Coral reveals that Danny was one of the kids who hit her. Julie refuses to see Danny, but he’s determined to convince Julie and Coral of his innocence.

8:30pm – Thursday, November 1 on ABC1

REDFERN NOW is a series of powerful, moving, funny, and bittersweet stories that explore contemporary inner city Indigenous life. They centre on a diverse group of individuals – exploring their strengths, flaws and resilience – and tell how their lives are changed by a moment’s decision, an accident or a seemingly insignificant incident.

Grace (Leah Purcell) and Wesley (Alec Doomadgee) haven’t had a decent holiday in years. Now they’re off on the holiday of a lifetime with their two children, and the taxi is waiting.

Just as Grace is about to shut the door, her nephew Tyler calls to say that Grace’s sister Lily (Shareena Clanton), is off her medication and raving, and he and his sister Maddi need help. Grace not only has to have her sister committed, and find a temporary home for the children, but has to get it all done in time for the family to make their flight.

However one relative after another declines to take both children, and Grace arrives home with Tyler to a very icy reception. She will need to consider fostering Tyler and Maddi longer term, which doesn’t go down well with the family.

But then Tyler disappears and seems to have taken Maddi with him. Grace eventually finds them at the hospital – astonished to discover they walked ten kilometres to see their mum – something her own spoilt kids would never do. How will she look after these special kids.

REDFERN NOW is the first drama series written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians.

The groundbreaking television drama series, Redfern Now, went into production in Sydney last week.

Produced by Blackfella Films (Mabo, First Australians) the 6×1 hr series, to screen on ABC1, is a collaboration between some of Australia’s most celebrated creatives.

Directed by Rachel Perkins (Mabo, Bran Nue Dae) and Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy), and Wayne Blair (The Sapphires, Wish You Were Here) and Leah Purcell (Somersault, Jindabyne, Lantana) both starring in and directing one of the stories. Continue reading »

ABC TV and the Indigenous Department of Screen Australia announce the development of a major new series REDFERN NOW, the first contemporary TV drama series written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians.

This series follows on the heels of previous collaboration between ABC TV and Screen Australia who co-funded the highly successful feature films Samson & Delilah and Bran Nue Dae.

Set in inner city Sydney, REDFERN NOW will be developed in collaboration with Jimmy McGovern, the internationally acclaimed creator and writer of The Street, Cracker and The Lakes.

The 6 X 1 hour series will be produced by award-winning Indigenous production company Blackfella Films (First Australians, Lani’s Story,) and will air on ABC1.

REDFERN NOW will centre around and will explore contemporary inner city Indigenous life. The producers are calling for hard-hitting, truthful and emotionally engaging story ideas centring on a diverse group of individuals which explores their strength, flaws and resilience.

Writers will be taken through an intense development process led by McGovern, who will be in Australia in January 2011 for a story workshop. It is envisaged the series will go into production in late 2011.

Sally Riley, Head of ABC TV’s Indigenous Department said, “This is an exciting ground-breaking project for Indigenous filmmakers in this country to expand their skills into TV drama, and is a natural progression for the relationship between Screen Australia and ABC TV’s Indigenous departments.

“We are equally thrilled Jimmy McGovern has agreed to collaborate on REDFERN NOW. He has a long history of mentoring and developing new and emerging writers in the UK and he is one of the world’s most influential TV writers. His stories have a depth rarely seen on television and his experience and generosity of spirit will be an inspiration.”

Erica Glynn, Head of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department said, “Indigenous filmmakers are achieving growing critical and commercial success across feature film, documentary and short film.” 

“REDFERN NOW offers our talented practitioners an opportunity to hone their skills in TV drama and audiences everywhere will intimately identify with the human stories this prime time series will portray.”