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New ABC, Foxtel dramas gain investment funding.

A high-end serialised mystery drama set in Tasmania, and a Gold Coast crim in witness protection are amongst new drama projects funded by Screen Australia.

2013-12-06_05255 upcoming dramas have received funding from Screen Australia, including previously unannounced projects for the ABC and Foxtel.

The Kettering Incident, written by Victoria Madden, is described as “a high-end serialised mystery drama set and shot entirely in Tasmania, and is produced for Foxtel by producer Vincent Sheehan with executive producer Penny Win.” Produced by Porchlight Films, it will be distributed by BBC Worldwide.

Hiding, written by Matt Ford and produced for the ABC by Playmaker’s David Taylor, David Maher and Ford, is a series about a Gold Coast criminal who, with his dysfunctional family, enters witness protection, suddenly finding himself in a strange city with a new identity, posing as a psychology academic. ITV will also distribute.

Previously announced mini-series The Secret River, based on the Australian novel of the same name by Kate Grenville and successful stage-play, will be adapted for the small screen by writers Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon. Directed by Daina Reid, the mini-series will be produced for ABC Television by Stephen Luby.

The two-part telemovie biopic Gina, which tells the  story of Australian mining heiress Gina Rinehart, is produced for the Nine Network by Claudia Karvan, Michael Cordell and Paul Bennett, and is written by both Bennett and Katherine Thomson. It is executive produced by Nick Murray, Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan.

Children’s animation series The New Adventures of Figaro Pho also wins second series funding for ABC3. Created by Luke Jurevicius, it is written by various writers including Mark Shirrefs and is produced by Frank Verheggen, Daniel Fill, Michael Boughen and Jurevicius, with executive producers Matthew Street and Christopher Mapp.

Screen Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Mason, said, “These five outstanding television drama projects announced today will deliver exceptional and iconic Australian stories to local audiences, and Screen Australia is proud to be an investor in them.”

GINA
Cordell Jigsaw Productions
Executive Producers Nick Murray, Jo Rooney, Andy Ryan
Producers Claudia Karvan, Michael Cordell, Paul Bennett
Writers Paul Bennett, Katherine Thomson
Broadcaster Nine Network
Domestic Sales Cordell Jigsaw Distribution
Synopsis A sweeping saga of empires rising and falling as the world’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart, fights to maintain and expand the mining dynasty left to her by her father, whilst her children sue her for their share of the multi-billion dollar inheritance.

HIDING
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers David Taylor, David Maher, Matt Ford
Writer Matt Ford
Broadcaster ABC Television
Domestic Sales Universal Pictures (Australasia)
International Sales ITV Global Entertainment
Synopsis A Gold Coast criminal enters witness protection, along with his dysfunctional family. He suddenly finds himself in a strange city, with a new name, a new house and a new job – in a university psychology department.

THE KETTERING INCIDENT
Porchlight Films & Sweet Potato Films
Executive Producer Penny Win
Producer Vincent Sheehan
Writer Victoria Madden
Broadcaster Foxtel
Domestic Sales Jetty Distribution
International Sales BBC Worldwide
Synopsis When two girls mysteriously disappear in identical circumstances in the wilds of Tasmania 15 years apart, Doctor Anna Macy finds herself inexplicably linked to both cases. To clear her name, Anna must delve into her troubled past and face some truths about herself and the otherworldly nature of this gothic land.

THE SECRET RIVER
Ruby Entertainment
Producer Stephen Luby
Writers Jan Sardi, Mac Gudgeon
Director Daina Reid
Broadcaster ABC Television
Domestic Sales ABC Commercial
International Sales ABC Commercial
Synopsis In 1810, emancipated English convict William Thornhill stakes a claim on 100 acres of land on the remote Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, only to find that a clan of Aboriginal people also lay claim to the land, as they have done since time immemorial.

CHILDEN’S TV DRAMA

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FIGARO PHO
Chocolate Liberation Front Pty Ltd (co-production by Ambience Entertainment, an Omnilab company)
Executive Producers Matthew Street, Christopher Mapp
Producers Frank Verheggen, Daniel Fill, Michael Boughen, Luke Jurevicius
Creator/Director Luke Jurevicius
Writer Mark Shirrefs, various
Broadcaster ABC3
Domestic Sales ABC Commercial
International Sales ABC Commercial
Synopsis Figaro Pho has had enough of being fearful. His fears are preventing him from enjoying a fulfilling life. He has decided, once and for all, to face them and head out into the world and live! With his trusty companion Rivet by his side, surely he will succeed. But Figaro Pho’s new adventures are wilder, more surreal and more hilarious than you could ever have imagined.

One Response

  1. The Kettering Incident reads like Top Of The Lake II.

    I can’t see the Reinhardt family squabble over a trust fund making good TV. It makes for boring newspaper articles.

    And how could someone in witness protection pose as an academic? Admin support staff yes.

    Can’t see any of those succeeding.

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