Airdate: Dee-Brief
Could this new C31 show be Melbourne's answer to Girls?
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Programming, Video
Could this be Melbourne’s answer to Girls?
Dee-Brief, a new nine part dramedy about two best friends who move in together after one ends a long-term relationship, has its premiere on Channel 31 Melbourne on Monday.
The series centres around Dee (Alexandra Hines) and Kate (Chloe Martin), who navigate their way through life in their late twenties and learn through each other. Based loosely on actual events, the series was filmed via improvisation by Director / Writer Sarah Hickey (Monster & Bear, Barren) and Producer / Creator / Writer Jessica Pearce (The Legend Of Ben Hall, Superheroes, Nathan Loves Ricky Martin).
“Dee-Brief tells a universal story. Girl breaks up with boy and moves in with best friend,” says Hickey. “Yet we are telling it through a different lens. We’re not drafting clown-like characters, what we’ve done is try to create circumstantial comedy. Comedy that makes you laugh or smile because it makes you say: “Oh yes. I’ve been there before.”
Chloe Martin says “This is a show about friendship between women and it is The Classic Love Story of our time. I’ve spoken with countless women who find the story so relatable and say ‘that’s me and my best friend’. This theme resonates deeply with women because we all experience female friendships which become the formative relationships of our 20s and 30s, our love for our best friend runs way deeper than any lover can get.”
Based in Collingwood, the show highlights the creative hub that is Melbourne. Audiences will feel right at home with the small cafes, alleyways, warehouse parties and Kate’s industrial apartment. Collaborating with independent artists and fashion designers for the entire show, Dee-Brief features indie designer clothing and artwork. Music was also a key element of the show and the soundtrack is packed to the brim with Melbourne based musicians including Banoffee, GL and Batts, with many of the bands being either all female or with female lead singers.
“As the show continues we would love to have the opportunity to highlight more of what makes Melbourne, Melbourne! This city as a culturally diverse hub is so important and we can’t wait to expand the universe and bring more characters into the show” says creator and producer Jessica Pearce.
Written by women for a female audience, Dee-Brief features a female-strong creative team behind the show and with a female driven storyline, the series explores its characters and presents them as some of the most relatable and authentic we’ve seen on Aussie screens in some time. Dee-Brief is a raw, gritty, and compelling breath of fresh air on Australian small screens.
What separates Dee-Brief even further is the fact this dramedy has a truly organic heart, it’s called ‘let’s shoot the entire series IMPROV’. Hickey chose this approach due to the enormous capability of Dee-Brief’s two female leads and the result on screen, certainly speaks to the authenticity of the relationships between the characters.
Director Sarah Hickey said “after months of preparation with the cast, we knew what A was and what Z was, but we accommodated an entire flexible journey in between and the audience is in for a god damn treat because of it”.
Originally from Queensland both Director/Writer Sarah Hickey (Monster & Bear, Barren) and Producer/Creator/Writer, Jessica Pearce (The Legend Of Ben Hall, Superheroes and award winning Nathan Loves Ricky Martin), moved to Melbourne separately and fell in love with the city. Based on real events after moving to Melbourne, Jessica found it important to feature Melbourne as a character in itself. Sarah harnessed this vision even further and brought this authenticity to the screen.
“Sarah and I believed that life has its own innate comedy. In the way you all sit around with your friends laughing about life. It’s this reality we captured through the honest and beautiful friendship between Dee and Kate” said Jessica Pearce, creator and co-writer.
Produced in conjunction with Monster & Bear, one of Melbourne most talented boutique film production houses.
7pm Mondays from May 14 on Channel 31 Melbourne and via YouTube.