Tasmania will star on screens across the world this month, with two long-awaited television series set to debut on screens big and small during June.
Leading the Tassie charge is Deadloch, a crime-comedy series created by “The Kates” Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney. The series, filmed in southern Tasmania, is now available for viewing in 240 countries via Amazon Prime Video.
“Through this series, southern Tasmania will be showcased on TV screens across the world,” Minister for the Arts, Elise Archer said.
“Deadloch is one of the largest productions to be wholly filmed in Tasmania and features a substantial ensemble of Tasmanian cast and crew, whose work will be presented worldwide.”
It’s one of two exciting major televisions series filmed in Tasmania last year, along with the highly anticipated Tasmanian drama series Bay of Fires.
“Almost immediately after Deadloch wrapped up its 18-week shoot in southern Tasmania, Bay of Fires started filming on the West Coast,” Minister Archer said.
“These two projects represent a huge investment in our State and a significant boost to Tasmania’s screen industry.
“Importantly, much of this investment has gone into regional parts of our State, generating employment and supporting local businesses.
“In addition, the Tasmanian Government, through Screen Tasmania, has worked with both of these major productions to support opportunities for emerging screen practitioners during filming.
“The value of our screen industry as an economic driver and employer is significant. Our Government recently announced an additional $1 million over two years for our Screen Innovation Fund, to further support the creation of Tasmanian screen content.”
The first two episodes of Bay of Fires will premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on Saturday, 17 June, ahead of its national release on ABC TV.
The series, which co-creator, actor and co-producer Marta Dusseldorp has described as a “love letter to Tasmania,” was filmed predominantly in the West Coast towns of Queenstown, Zeehan and Strahan, with a few days also filming in Collinsvale in southern Tasmania.
Additionally, Platypus Guardian directed and produced by Tasmanian filmmaker Nick Hayward, will air on ABC TV and iView later this month.
This film is presented as part of ABC’s Australian natural history series and explores the unique relationship between Hobart man Peter Walsh and the platypus he encounters in the Hobart Rivulet.
The abundance of Tasmanian content this month follows the unprecedented success of SBS series Alone Australia, which has become the highest-rating original commission in the network’s history.
More than half of the 12 episodes have reached more than 1 million viewers, and the series continues to be streamed at high numbers on SBS On Demand across the world.
“These incredible success stories are testament to the quality of Tasmanian storytelling and demonstrate the value of the Tasmania’s ongoing investment in our State’s screen industry,” Minister Archer said.