22 December 2010 VICTORIA TO HELP TELL THE BEACONSFIELD STORY
Announcement posted by Film Victoria 17 Jan 2011
22 December 2010
Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher today announced Production Investment funding to the makers of Beaconsfield, a multi-million dollar television feature based on the story of two miners trapped in the Beaconsfield mine.
“Some of Victoria’s finest screen talent will bring this important Australian story to the screen, delivering jobs to Victoria’s screen sector,” Ms Asher said. “The Baillieu Government will support local production companies fostering talent and ideas and providing employment for local innovators.”
“The Beaconsfield project will be a high profile television feature for Southern Star Entertainment in 2011,” said Ms Asher.
The work of screenwriter Julie McCrossin and renowned producer John Edwards will be integral to telling the story of Todd Russell and Brant Webb, trapped in the collapsed Beaconsfield mine shaft for 15 days and nights. The story follows the women left behind, the fight and dedication of the rescue teams, and two men who had nothing in common trapped together in a dark wet space so small they could neither fully sit up nor fully lie down.
Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig said the projects are all great examples of the strength of the local television industry. “We are delighted to end 2010 with a bumper round of Production Investment funding for such compelling and diverse projects. These stories will continue to build our already vibrant screen industry well into the New Year.
“Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report recently confirmed Victoria as the leading state for drama production activity for the third time in five years. It is incredibly encouraging to see this trend continue into 2011,” Ms Sdraulig said.
Ms Asher announced a total of almost $2.4 million in funding for six new projects to further boost Victoria’s growing television and documentary sector. Projects to be funded are:
• The Tale of Devil Island - wildlife biologist Nick Mooney and his team have hatched an audacious plan to save these devilishly delightful little critters from extinction.
• Offspring Series 2 - continuing the story of obstetrician Nina Proudman, her boisterous family and her chaotic romances. Season 1 brought an estimated $8.4 million to Victoria.
• Sporting Nation - a three-part documentary series celebrating Australia’s obsession with sport, with comedian John Clarke speaking to Australia’s legendary sporting heroes, amateur athletes and loudest fans, past and present.
• Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery - a thirteen episode murder mystery series based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood, set in 1920s Melbourne.
• Australia on Trial - explores the evolution of Australia through three important criminal trials, the Eureka Trail, the Mounts Rennie Rape Trial, and the Myall Creek Massacre Trial.
• Beaconsfield - expected to air on the Nine Network in 2011.
Victoria is home to film and television companies renowned for their creative, high quality screen product and to world class production facilities.
The television sector is the largest contributor to Victorian screen industry, with television production injecting $130 million into Victoria’s economy.
For more information about Film Victoria’s programs and guidelines, visit www.film.vic.gov.au and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/filmvictoria
Project information
DEVIL ISLAND, 360 Degree Films. Sally Ingleton, producer; Andrew Sully, Writer/Director. A documentary series following devil Island wildlife biologist Nick Mooney and his team as they implement an audacious plan to save Tasmanian devils from extinction.
OFFSPRING SERIES 2, Southern Star Entertainment. John Edwards and Imogen Banks, producers. Series 2 of this comedy/drama continues the story of obstetrician Nina Proudman, her boisterous family and chaotic romances.
SPORTING NATION, Princess Pictures. Laura Waters, Yael Bergman, Andrea Denholm, Jeff Stilson, producers; John Clarke and Jeff Stilson, writers; Bruce Permezel, director. In this three-part documentary series, John Clarke, arguably Australia’s greatest natural athlete, kicks around with legendary sporting heroes, amateur athletes and the country’s loudest fans in a documentary series that barracks for and rips into Australian sport, past and present.
PHRYNE FISHER MUDER MYSTERY, Every Cloud Productions. Deb Cox, Fiona Eagger, producers; Tony Tilse, director. This 13-episode murder mystery series based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood is set in 1920s Melbourne.
AUSTRALIA ON TRIAL, December Films and Essential Media & Entertainment. George Adams, Penny Robins, producers; Katherine Thomson, Max Mannix and Ana Kokkinos, writers. The documentary explores the evolution of Australia through three important criminal trials, the Eureka Trail, the Mounts Rennie Rape Trial, and the Myall Creek Massacre Trial.
BEACONSFIELD, Southern Star Entertainment. John Edwards and Sarah Shaw, producers; Judy McCrossin, writer and Glyndin Ivin, director. A tele-feature about the rescue of the trapped miners Beaconsfield, Tasmania.
Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher today announced Production Investment funding to the makers of Beaconsfield, a multi-million dollar television feature based on the story of two miners trapped in the Beaconsfield mine.
“Some of Victoria’s finest screen talent will bring this important Australian story to the screen, delivering jobs to Victoria’s screen sector,” Ms Asher said. “The Baillieu Government will support local production companies fostering talent and ideas and providing employment for local innovators.”
“The Beaconsfield project will be a high profile television feature for Southern Star Entertainment in 2011,” said Ms Asher.
The work of screenwriter Julie McCrossin and renowned producer John Edwards will be integral to telling the story of Todd Russell and Brant Webb, trapped in the collapsed Beaconsfield mine shaft for 15 days and nights. The story follows the women left behind, the fight and dedication of the rescue teams, and two men who had nothing in common trapped together in a dark wet space so small they could neither fully sit up nor fully lie down.
Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig said the projects are all great examples of the strength of the local television industry. “We are delighted to end 2010 with a bumper round of Production Investment funding for such compelling and diverse projects. These stories will continue to build our already vibrant screen industry well into the New Year.
“Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report recently confirmed Victoria as the leading state for drama production activity for the third time in five years. It is incredibly encouraging to see this trend continue into 2011,” Ms Sdraulig said.
Ms Asher announced a total of almost $2.4 million in funding for six new projects to further boost Victoria’s growing television and documentary sector. Projects to be funded are:
• The Tale of Devil Island - wildlife biologist Nick Mooney and his team have hatched an audacious plan to save these devilishly delightful little critters from extinction.
• Offspring Series 2 - continuing the story of obstetrician Nina Proudman, her boisterous family and her chaotic romances. Season 1 brought an estimated $8.4 million to Victoria.
• Sporting Nation - a three-part documentary series celebrating Australia’s obsession with sport, with comedian John Clarke speaking to Australia’s legendary sporting heroes, amateur athletes and loudest fans, past and present.
• Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery - a thirteen episode murder mystery series based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood, set in 1920s Melbourne.
• Australia on Trial - explores the evolution of Australia through three important criminal trials, the Eureka Trail, the Mounts Rennie Rape Trial, and the Myall Creek Massacre Trial.
• Beaconsfield - expected to air on the Nine Network in 2011.
Victoria is home to film and television companies renowned for their creative, high quality screen product and to world class production facilities.
The television sector is the largest contributor to Victorian screen industry, with television production injecting $130 million into Victoria’s economy.
For more information about Film Victoria’s programs and guidelines, visit www.film.vic.gov.au and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/filmvictoria
Project information
DEVIL ISLAND, 360 Degree Films. Sally Ingleton, producer; Andrew Sully, Writer/Director. A documentary series following devil Island wildlife biologist Nick Mooney and his team as they implement an audacious plan to save Tasmanian devils from extinction.
OFFSPRING SERIES 2, Southern Star Entertainment. John Edwards and Imogen Banks, producers. Series 2 of this comedy/drama continues the story of obstetrician Nina Proudman, her boisterous family and chaotic romances.
SPORTING NATION, Princess Pictures. Laura Waters, Yael Bergman, Andrea Denholm, Jeff Stilson, producers; John Clarke and Jeff Stilson, writers; Bruce Permezel, director. In this three-part documentary series, John Clarke, arguably Australia’s greatest natural athlete, kicks around with legendary sporting heroes, amateur athletes and the country’s loudest fans in a documentary series that barracks for and rips into Australian sport, past and present.
PHRYNE FISHER MUDER MYSTERY, Every Cloud Productions. Deb Cox, Fiona Eagger, producers; Tony Tilse, director. This 13-episode murder mystery series based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood is set in 1920s Melbourne.
AUSTRALIA ON TRIAL, December Films and Essential Media & Entertainment. George Adams, Penny Robins, producers; Katherine Thomson, Max Mannix and Ana Kokkinos, writers. The documentary explores the evolution of Australia through three important criminal trials, the Eureka Trail, the Mounts Rennie Rape Trial, and the Myall Creek Massacre Trial.
BEACONSFIELD, Southern Star Entertainment. John Edwards and Sarah Shaw, producers; Judy McCrossin, writer and Glyndin Ivin, director. A tele-feature about the rescue of the trapped miners Beaconsfield, Tasmania.