Cameras roll on First Day

Filming is now underway in Adelaide on upcoming ABC ME drama First Day.

The 4-part series builds on the stand-alone episode commissioned in 2017, which won the Diversity TV Excellence Award for Kids’ Programming at MIPCOM and the Gender Equity Prize at the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International.

The series stars Evie Macdonald as Hannah Bradford, a 12 year old transgender girl navigating her first terms of high school. She not only has to navigate the challenges that come with starting a new school, but find the courage to live as her most authentic self.

The stand-alone episode also won Best Children’s Series (Fiction) at Fan Chile, in addition to Best Screenplay and the Audience Award at the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney.

Writer / Director Julie Kalceff (Starting from Now) said, “I feel very privileged to be telling this story. I’m excited about working with Evie again and to have the opportunity to explore Hannah’s journey in more detail.”

Producer Kirsty Stark said “Having travelled around the world with the original episode of First Day, it’s fantastic to now be shooting our full series back home in Adelaide. Kate and I are really excited to have Julie and Evie here in South Australia, to work with our amazing local cast and crew.”

South Australia’s Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said, “Epic Films is a leading innovator in the local screen industry and Kirsty Stark, both through her own company and as head of Matchbox SA, is securing a pipeline of production for South Australia.

“We are thrilled to see a return to production in the children’s television sector, and to see so many South Australian Heads of Department in key creative roles on this series.”

Kirsty Stark’s Epic Films won the Screen Producers Australian Breakthrough Business Awards in 2016, and she has produced screen content across TV, feature film and online platforms including groundbreaking series Wastelander Panda, ABC series Goober, feature film A Month of Sundays starring Anthony La Paglia which was selected for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and the first episode of First Day.

First Day is produced by Kirsty Stark (Unboxed) and Kate Croser (Top End Wedding), and co-produced by Kate Butler and Julie Kalceff. Director of Photography is Meg White, with Production Design by Robert Webb and Costume Design by Renate Henschke. Editor is Christine Cheung.

Production credit: First Day is an Epic Films production in association with KOJO Entertainment developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation. International sales by Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

Photo: Ian Routledge.