The ABC has announced DEADLOCK, a ‘daring new youth series’ for ABC iview, will begin filming this month in the Northern Rivers.
DEADLOCK begins with a mysterious car crash that exposes the dark underbelly of an idyllic paradise, dramatically changing the lives of the teens it touches. Beating the universal anthem of youth, the story ignites their individual quests to assert who they are, what they want and the risks they take to get there.
Starring YouTube sensations Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou (aka RackaRacka), and a young cast including Luca Sardelis (Nowhere Boys) and Darcy McGrath (My Place) this new series has been created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger’s Every Cloud Productions and is written and directed by one of Australia’s most exciting emerging screen talents, Billie Pleffer.
DEADLOCK is a 5 x 12-minute web series which will screen on ABC iview. A one-hour format of the show will also be produced
DEADLOCK crashes though the incredible highs, joy, heartbreak, camaraderie, laughs and bittersweet sorrow of what it is to be a teenager.
The series’ unique development process saw young people from the Northern Rivers region – which traverses Byron Bay and Lismore – contribute their stories and ideas for the series in a workshop facilitated by Bryan Elsey, internationally acclaimed creator and co-writer of the UK teen series Skins. The series was then developed by Billie Pleffer from Deb Cox’s original concept.
The authentic voices of young regional Australia will be represented on screen by a cast that features exciting young talent from the Northern Rivers, including Bijou Gracie Henry, Audrey Spence, Paddy Swaine, Theodore Bourgoin, Sophia Wright and Ned Sacks.
Every Cloud’s Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger said: “Collaborating with younger creators has been such a rewarding experience and seems the way of the future for exciting, high-level content – and working regionally has unearthed a wealth of talent we’re proud to connect with the wider industry.”
Sally Riley, ABC Head of Scripted Production, said:
“DEADLOCK embodies the ambition of our growing iview slate of scripted programming. Drawing together some of the most exciting young Australian talents both in front and behind the camera, this exciting short-form, digital series is helping to develop and nurture the next generation of screen stars.”
Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason, said:
“We can’t wait to see what the combination of the hugely successful RackaRacka brothers and the skills and expertise of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries creators Every Cloud Productions will deliver. The Philippou brothers are the most watched content creators in the country and we are confident DEADLOCK will set a new bar for exciting cross-platform creative collaborations,”
DEADLOCK is produced by Every Cloud Productions in association with Screen Australia, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Create NSW and Film Victoria.
