[Press Release by ScreenWest]
Broome continues to establish itself as a first-rate location in the Australian film industry with two major productions currently under way, one of which will star Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush.
Culture and the Arts Minister John Day visited Broome on Monday to meet with the producers and cast members of Bran Nue Dae and The Circuit – Series Two and attend a joint Welcome to Country ceremony for the productions.
The second series of SBS drama The Circuit is currently being filmed and Bran Nue Dae is in pre-production and will start filming on November 3.
"The Circuit, which stars Aaron Pedersen, Gary Sweet and Western Australia’s Kelton Pell and Tammy Clarkson, centres on the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Kimberley Circuit Court. The complexity of one law for two cultures is at the heart of this compelling drama," Mr Day said.
"The first series of The Circuit was a ratings success and we’re delighted SBS commissioned a second series of this important and very relevant drama.
"Today’s news that Geoffrey Rush is to star in the musical comedy Bran Nue Dae, along with Ernie Dingo, Deborah Mailman, Phillip McKenzie and singers Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan and Jessica Mauboy is thrilling news for the WA film industry.
"The team behind Bran Nue Dae includes producer Robyn Kershaw (Looking for Alibrandi, Kath and Kim and Shark Net) and award winning director Rachel Perkins (Radiance, One Night the Moon and First Australians).
"It’s sure to become an iconic Australian movie.
"It is very fitting that Bran Nue Dae is being filmed in Broome as the original musical was written by Broome living legend Jimmy Chi and his band Kuckles and much of it is set in Broome’s historic Sun Picture Theatre. The stage show premiered at the Festival of Perth in 1990 and was an instant hit."
The Minister said ScreenWest has supported both productions, investing $525,000 in The Circuit – Series Two and $600,000 in Bran Nue Dae.
"These investments are already paying dividends with many of the cast and crew employed coming from the local area," he said.
"ScreenWest also funded ‘attachments’ – developing emerging filmmakers and crew on the productions.
"The experience the attachments and local cast and crew gain from working with people of such a high calibre will strengthen the WA film industry and emphasise that Broome is a great place to film.
"As well as the economic and cultural benefits, the Kimberley will be showcased to national and international audiences."