Netflix announces local ‘docu-soap’ Byron Baes
Netflix has commissioned a ‘docu-soap’ series based on influencers living in Byron Bay, titled ‘Byron Baes’.
The series will be executive produced by Married at First Sight Australia and Real Housewives of Sydney’s Emma Lamb and co-founders of production company Superreal, Julian Morgans and Rachel Tuffery.
The commission comes in light of calls for the Australian Government to install content quotas on international streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. A green paper released in November last year proposed the services should be required to spend a certain amount on producing Australian content.
Last month a congregation of filmmakers, producers and actors, including Simon Baker, Bryan Brown and Marta Dusseldorp went to Canberra to call for parliament to take action in introducing local content requirements for streaming services, suggesting a required spend of 20% of local revenue on Australian content.
Stan is exempt from the debate as its ownership by Nine requires it to abide by existing local content quotas.
Byron Baes has been described by Netflix as ‘our love letter to Byron Bay’. The show will follow a number of influencers ‘living their best lives, being their best selves, creating the best (drama) content.’
“With a compelling cast, spectacular settings and some truly addictive drama, Byron Baes has all the binge-worthy ingredients. Eureka is thrilled to be working with Netflix on this love letter to one of the world’s most perfect playgrounds,” said Chris Culvenor, co-CEO of Eureka Productions.
