Award-winning children’s television programs Lockie Leonard and Dogstar have been given State Government support for production of a second series.
The two highly successful programs are among four new Western Australian film and television productions to receive more than $1million in State Government funding through Screenwest.
The other projects are the groundbreaking indigenous feature film ‘Mad Bastards’ co-produced by the Pigram Brothers, and the documentary ‘My Asian Heart’ from acclaimed Australian director David Bradbury.
Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said State Government investment in these projects would ensure the WA screen production boom continued well into 2009.
“We already have nearly two dozen feature films, television drama and documentary projects currently being shot or in pre or post-production in this State,” Ms McHale said.
“The four new projects will now seek to lock down their budgets with national and international partners over the next few months.”
The Minister said it was particularly pleasing to announce financial support towards a second series of the AFI and Logie-winning children’s series, Lockie Leonard, and the Australian Writer’s Guild Award (AWGIE) winning animated series, Dogstar.
“Both series, based on stories by Tim Winton, were huge successes in Australia and internationally, and this has been reflected by the fact the marketplace has come back and asked for more,” she said.
“While these four projects include both big and small screen productions across different genres, they all share the common element of telling uniquely WA stories.
“From the remote indigenous communities of the Kimberley to a view of modern day Asia through the lens of a WA photojournalist, these projects will utilise the many talented local cast and crew available, and take advantage of our unique and beautiful landscapes.”
Minister's office - 9213 6900
Project details:
Lockie Leonard 2 -
Production Company: Goalpost Pictures
26 x 24-minute children’s television series.
Synopsis: Growing up is an even hairier business.
Dogstar 2 -
Production Company: Media World Pictures
26 x 30-minute animation series.
Synopsis: After the Dogstar is accidentally re-launched into space, the intrepid Clark kids once again set off to find their missing pet dog Hobart and return all the world’s dogs back to Earth.
Mad Bastards -
Production Company: Bush Turkey Films
90-minute feature film.
Synopsis: When TJ a renowned fighter in a remote Western Australian community is locked up one time too many, he takes on the prejudice of the local justice system and opens up new hope for his community by learning to fight a different way.
My Asian Heart -
Production Company: CM Film Productions
52-minute documentary.
Synopsis: Classic photojournalism is still alive, though struggling, among a new generation of photographers. Philip Blenkinsop is one of them.
