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The Gods of Wheat Street, new Indigenous drama for ABC1.

A new 6 part drama centres around "a legendary modern local Aboriginal family" for ABC1.

A new 6 part Indigenous drama for ABC1 has begun filming in northern NSW.

The Gods of Wheat Street written by Jon Bell, a Wiradjuri and Bundjalung man, centres around the Freeburn clan, “a legendary modern local Aboriginal family.”

Filming on location in Coraki, Casino and Lismore, the series tells the story of Odin Freeburn (Kelton Pell), head of the family, who is being pulled in all directions as he tries to keep the family together. The series is produced by Jon Bell and Lois Randall (East of Everything, Air, New Boots) with  Every Cloud Productions’  Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) [pictured] as Executive Producers, along with ABC TV’s Head of Indigenous Sally Riley.

“The series is an intimate journey into the lives and hearts of a modern Aboriginal family. Each episode spans a few hectic days with a touch of magic and lots of deadpan humour that help our characters rise above obstacles – like death, financial difficulties and injustice – that would bring mere mortals to their knees so that they can get on with the important matters of love, family and football,” said Jon Bell.

Also starring are Lisa Flanagan (Redfern Now, Look Both Way, Double Trouble),  Shari Sebbens (Redfern Now, The Sapphires), Mark Coles-Smith (Beneath Hill 60), dancer Rarriwuy Hick, Miah Maddeen (The Sapphires), Ursula Yovich (Redfern Now, Jindabyne, Australia) and David Field (Wild Boys, City Homicide, The Oyster Farmer, Chopper).

Directors are Catriona McKenzie (Redfern Now, Satellite Boy), Wayne Blair, director of The Sapphires and Redfern Now, and Adrian Wills (Boxing for Palm Island).

ABC TV’s Head of Indigenous Department Sally Riley said “The Gods of Wheat Street is part of an ambitious new stream of Indigenous programming being commissioned for ABC TV audiences. It depicts a family that people of all ages and walks of life will love and relate to. It will make for compelling viewing.”

Deb Co added, “Fiona and I are delighted that Every Cloud’s next production is back home in the Northern Rivers. We are thrilled to be working with local producer Lois Randall, local producer and screenwriter Jon Bell, who grew up in Casino, and so many fantastic cast and crew, many of them Indigenous. This is such an exciting series – funny, moving, highly original and deeply personal.”

Produced with assistance of The Indigenous Department of Screen Australia, and the Screen NSW’s Regional Filming Fund.

ABC also premieres Redfern Now in November.

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