Victoria ends financial year with a Slap
Film Victoria finished its investment production for 2009/10 with $1.45m on eighth projects, including the TV adaptation of The Slap and a second series of NSW-shot Dance Academy.
Other projects include ABC3 show Prank Patrol, the telemovie Sisters of War, and four documentaries.
The state agency’s board also approved a writer’s fellowship for Roger Monk for the script Romeo and Cheryl. It will allow him to work on the project over a significant period rather than stage-by-stage.
Further funding was approved for market support; Scott Alexander will attend XMediaLab Animation Market China 2010 with his project The Last Andy. It will be a loan, part of the agency’s professional development program.
The funded projects are:
The Slap
Matchbox Pictures. Prod: Helen Bowden and Michael McMahon’ Writers: Alice Bell, Emily Ballou, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrska and Cate Shortland; Directors: Jessica Hobbs, Tony Ayres, Cate Shortland and Robert Connolly.
At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event and what follows ricochets through a tight-knight group of family and friends to shocking effect. Based on Christos Tsiolkas’ bestselling novel of the same name.
Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey
Bearded Lady Production. Prod: Todd Abbott; Writer: Judith Lucy.
Judith Lucy is lost. So now, ready or not, she’s going on a journey to find herself. Over six episodes she’ll explore what’s on offer for the spiritually curious and relive the hilarious, bizarre and profound moments that have shaped her spiritual belief system.
Trafficked – The Reckoning
FairTrade Films. Writer/Director/Producer: Luigi Acquisto; Producer/Researcher: Stella Zammataro.
The sequel to the SBS documentary Trafficked, and the first film to investigate slavery in Australia; it tells of a former police officer’s quest to find the man who enslaved a young Thai girl in a Sydney brothel.
Miss South Sudan Australia
Matchbox Pictures. Producers: Michael McMahon, Polly Staniford, Tony Ayers; Writer/Director: Shannon Owen.
A joyful and exuberant half-hour documentary following the journey to pull together the premiere event for Australia’s Sudanese community – the Miss South Sudan Australia beauty pageant – and the lives of the organisers and participants.
Arthouse
Paalma. Writer/Producer: Martin Bartsch; Director: Britt Arthur.
Looks at the changing face of architecture, innovation and design in Australia through the eyes of Melbourne-based husband and wife team, architect Robert McBride and interior designer Debbie Ryan. The documentary follows this stellar design team over eight months, while examining the intricacies of their working relationship, and the inspiration behind their iconic and at times controversial works.
Prank Patrol – Series 2
ActiveTV. Series producer: Kylie Washington; Co-series producer: Shona Van Lieshout; Victorian director: Peter Lawlor.
The most watched television show on ABC3. Host Scotty Tweedie, his sidekick Ninjas and guest experts, help Aussie Pranksters pull off big time pranks with all the action captured on hidden cameras.
Dance Academy – Series 2
Werner Film Productions. Producer: Joanna Werner; Writers: Samantha Strauss, Liz Doran, Greg Waters.
Tara returns to the National Academy of Dance with the goal of representing Australia in the world’s most prestigious ballet competition in the second series of ABC TV’s drama.
Sisters of War
Pericle Films. Producer: Andrew Wiseman; Writer: John Misto; Director: Brendan Maher.
A 90-minute history drama is inspired by the true story of a small group of Australian nurses and nuns who found themselves in the eye of the storm when the Japanese military made them prisoners of war on the remote island of New Britain in 1942.
If dance academy doesn’t show for another year I think most people will be very very sad. and we will be less wanting it or more not sure but if it doesnt show til next year ill be really really disappointed. half way through this year would be excellent!!!!!!
User ID not verified.
I am most certain that i would die if i dont see a season two of dance academy, I love this show it has so much potential for another season I especially love the characters: abigail, tara, Christian, kat, ethan and sammy, you could just not think of a better group of characters!!!
User ID not verified.
Dance academy, watched the whole first season in one week. It’s first actual season that i like, not the same old crap American series. I really like this show, the second series needs to air soon, keep the fans happy!!
User ID not verified.
Dance academy, watched the whole first season in two marathon weekend at the channel Boomerang. I hope the second season here in Buenos Aires.
User ID not verified.