The producer of recent Australian hit The Sapphires, Kylie du Fresne, is teaming up with Sue Taylor to tackle World War I dramatic telemovie An Accidental Soldier for ABC TV.
The story follows a baker in the ANZACs and is described as “a moving and ultimately uplifting story of love that crosses language and cultures in a time of catastrophe,” according to ABC TV head of fiction Carole Sklan.
Production begins on September 3 in Perth, with director Rachel Ward and a screenplay adapted by Blake Ayshford (The Straits, Crownies) from the book Silent Parts by John Charalambous. The telemovie was developed and financed under the Primeime Television Production Fund between ScreenWest and ABC Television.
An Accidental Soldier should provide a boost to the Western Australian industry, according to ScreenWest boss Ian Booth.
“It will be filmed entirely in Western Australia providing WA practitioners with an opportunity to work with an outstanding cast and crew on a project that will screen in primetime for the ABC.”
Ward has directed television series including Rake and The Straits. She re-teams with husband Bryan Brown, who worked with her on feature film Beautiful Kate. Ward has gathered strong Australian talent for the production including Dan Spielman and Julia Zemiro. An international addition to the local cast is French actress Marie Bunel, who is best known to Australian viewers for her appearances in The Chorus.
Producer Kylie du Fresne said it's not the first time Goalpost Pictures and Taylor Media have found a French connection, referring to their film The Tree, which featured French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. “So we are delighted to come together again as producers of An Accidental Soldier, a highly original story which we will bring to the screen with some of Australia’s best creative talent.”