Cameras roll on Robbie Hood

Robbie Hood, a new kids’ series announced this week for SBS on Demand has begun filming in Alice Springs.

The 6 x 10 minute series by Ludo Studio and Since1788 Productions follows Robbie, a teenage troublemaker with a heart of gold living in a remote Aboriginal community in Central Australia.

The series is described as “the heart-warming story of three friends who together are rectifying injustices they see in their community but while they may have the best of intentions, they don’t always go about it in the right way.”

Making their screen debut are Pedrea Jackson (Robbie, 14 years old), Jordan Johnson (Blue, 13 years old), and Levi Thomas (Little Johnny, 16 years old).

The series is directed by Dylan River (Finke: There and Back) and produced by Tanith Glynn-Maloney and Meg O’Connell, with Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson executive producing.

Marshall Heald, SBS Director of Television and Online Content, said: “SBS is committed to telling stories that matter and ensuring young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders see positive representations of themselves on screen. Robbie Hood promises to be an upbeat and heartfelt comedy series that showcases fresh on-screen local talent. The new digital series is totally cheeky and uniquely SBS, and we are thrilled to be creating this stellar comedy with an incredibly talented cast led by Director, Dylan River alongside Since1788 Productions and Ludo Studios.”

Tanith Glynn-Maloney said: “It was always an important goal for us to crew and cast as many Central Australian locals as we possibly could. We’re grateful that the funding bodies continue to allow Dylan and I to tell our own stories from our own perspectives. Robbie Hood deals with serious themes and issues that affect many Indigenous people around Australia, but these stories are drawn from lived experiences — many of the storylines have been told to us by friends and family — and we’re using comedy to tell those stories in a light-hearted way.”

Executive Producer, Daley Pearson, said: “We’re incredibly lucky to be making Robbie Hood with Since1788, SBS, Dylan and Tanith. They’re all brilliant talents and amazing collaborators. Dylan is a great filmmaker and the sort of person you want to start dressing like after hanging out together.”

Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen Territory with Screen Queensland.