Film Victoria Board President, John Howie, has announced an investment of more than $1.2 million in seven new television fiction and documentary productions. Big and Little Films, Gristmill, Harvey Taft Productions, Letterbox Films, Marina Films and Mish Armstrong have all successfully secured financial support at Film Victoria’s final board meeting for 2007.
In confirming the investment, John Howie said, ‘The board was delighted to see such diverse productions seeking support in this final round of investment decisions. They will certainly appeal to a broad range of audiences, which is important if local productions are to continually engage and communicate with viewers.’
Dirt Game is a six-part drama series written by Michael Harvey and to be produced by David Taft of Harvey Taft Productions. It focuses on a UK CEO sent out to Australia by his London Board to head up a debt-ridden mining firm.
Big and Little Films received production support for Saved a two-part series centring on Julia Weston, an advocate for a young Iranian refugee held in detention and her increasing attraction towards him. Belinda Chayko has written the series, which will be directed by Tony Ayres.
Following the success of the Librarians in 2007, Gristmill has secured funding for its new production Small Business in Australia, to be directed by Daina Reid. Produced by Robyn Butler and written by Wayne Hope and Gary McCaffrie, this six-part mini series follows the life of a small businessman facing the liquidation of his one-man publishing empire.
Bogan Pride is a six-part series based on the experiences of the show’s writer, Rebel Wilson. It follows the experiences of Jenny Craig, a smart teenage fugly living in Boonelg with a mother who’s confined to her bedroom. Michael McMahon and Tony Ayres of Big and Little Films will produce the show in conjunction with Rebel Wilson.
Rhian Skirving (producer and director), Lizzette Atkins (executive producer) and the team at Letterbox Films will produce the documentary Rock n’ Roll Nerd which tracks the rise of one of Australia’s most unique young talents, Tim Minchin, from obscurity to celebrity.
Producer Mish Armstrong received funding for her documentary Fitzroy Stars about one of Australia’s first all- indigenous football clubs. Fitzroy Stars was written by John Harding and will be directed by Daniel King.
Paper Dolls is a documentary to be produced by Yvonne Collins of Marina Films, looking at Australian pin-up models from the 1940’s and how they lifted the spirits of a nation during wartime. Angela Buckingham is both writer and director of the project.
‘Significant investment is the way to stimulate TV production in Victoria, enabling our practitioners to bring the best possible productions to our screens. Thanks to the state government’s decision to allocate Film Victoria with an additional $4.5 million in May 2006 to stimulate local television production, Victoria can strengthen production of local television for local audiences,’ said Mr Howie.
[release from Solid Ink Communications]