A new children’s situation comedy series starts filming in Perth, Western Australia, today.
Mal.com, aimed at ages 10-14, was developed and produced through West Coast Kids – a joint initiative between ScreenWest, ABC TV and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF).
The Animazing Productions series, comprising 13×15 minute episodes, will be broadcast nationally on ABC3.
“Mal.com is a Western Australian production, starring four young Perth actors, and all of the crew and some of the key creative people behind the series are from our state,” Arts Minister John Day said in a statement.
“As well as this good use of home-grown talent, a key aim of the initiative was to provide opportunities for emerging West Australian writers.
“This resulted in local writers Dan Osborn and Vincenzo Perrella writing episode two as well as contributing to the other episodes.”
Produced by Susie Campbell, the show follows three kids off the street who stumble upon television’s “biggest secret” – that TV3s most popular celebrity host is a robot. A deal is struck with the kids to keep quiet and as a result, an offbeat family is born.
The cast includes Geoff Paine (Neighbours, Blue Heelers) and Danielle Carter (City Homicide, Underbelly), Ruby Hall (The Sleepover Club 2), Luke Ledger, George Ashford and Gwy McKenna.
The three-week shoot will take place at the ABC’s Perth studios.
The state government, through ScreenWest, has provided $600,000 to support the series.