Latest news with #Screenwest
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Broome filmmaker Brooke Collard to bring First Nations ‘truth-telling' to life in virtual reality
Harnessing the immersive power of virtual reality, Broome filmmaker Brooke Collard and her partner Kylie Bracknell will bring to life Walbreninj — the story of Noongar women seeking to heal both land and spirit — after being named one of two successful teams in the inaugural First Nations VR Documentary Initiative. Walbreninj, which translates to 'healing' in the Noongar language, is about Country holding on to memories and passing those memories on to people through bodily sensations or visions. It explores a group of Noongar women who have held on to a haunting truth about a local parkland for 30 years, and strange events that have drawn people back there. Now, these Noongar women want to bring healing to the spirits of ancestors left behind and return the park to Walbreninj. Brooke Collard said using VR to tell the story allows them to tap into the immersive qualities of the technology that aren't present in other mediums. 'VR has this special extra layer of immersion that you don't get in film,' she said. 'Previously working in narrative design for games really opened my eyes to how far you can push stories and audiences with VR, and with Walbreninj, it brings this extra level of understanding and compassion when you make your audience directly a part of the story. 'I've used VR, and the first time was experiencing Tyson Mowarin's Thalu. I remember sinking into the ground and being awed by the possibilities of storytelling.' The First Nations VR Documentary Initiative, made possible with financial support from Lotterywest, is a special initiative designed to uncover distinctive WA First Nations voices, support their career progressions and enable practitioners to explore new storytelling mediums and markets. Screenwest chief executive Rikki Lea Bestall said virtual reality offered a powerful new way to bring First Nations stories to life. 'Virtual reality doesn't just convey a story, it immerses audiences right into the heart of the film,' she said. 'In Western Australia, we have a wealth of First Nations creatives with incredible stories to tell. No doubt these projects will make important contributions to the national conversation.' Filmmaking brothers Luke and Daniel Riches is the other successful team that will explore First Nations 'truth-telling' through Tiger Shark Dreaming, which tells the story of two young, emerging Bardi leaders as they search of one of Australia's most elusive predators — the tiger shark or Gundarr. 'This opportunity presented itself and we were gripped by the abundant possibilities that will expand our storytelling capability,' Luke and Daniel Riches said. 'We believe this industry will continue to grow each year and as it becomes more accessible to audiences, and we hope to make First Nations stories a contributing part.' The First Nations VR Documentary Initiative is designed to uncover distinctive WA First Nations voices, support their career progression and enable practitioners to explore new storytelling mediums and markets.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer drops trailer featuring Sam Neill, Danielle McCormack... and WA tourist hot spots
First-look images and the official trailer for the third season of The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer were released today — and WA is front and centre. The series, which sees acclaimed actor Sam Neill return to reprise his role as Brett Colby SC, filmed in Margaret River last year, with the trailer featuring a range of stunning visuals from tourist hot spots around Margaret River, Yallingup and surrounds. The third incarnation of the Logie-nominated series boasts an all-star cast including Wentworth's Danielle Cormack, Love Me's Eryn Jean Norvill, WA-raised actor Ewan Leslie and Bump's Nathalie Morris. As well as filming in the South West, production also shot in and around Perth, with WA's State parliament used for filming during production. This season the jury's attention will be drawn to investigating a murder, with Colby called upon to defend the husband of one of his long-term friends. That case has links to the cold case murder of two teens in the area back in 1968. 'The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer is unlike any other as things get personal for Brett Colby, when he is thrust into a murder trial to defend the husband of a life-long friend accused of a heinous murder,' an official release reads. 'As the trial unravels a deeper mystery, a 1968 cold case murder of two teens is re-opened, and the 12 jurors sworn in for the trial find their own lives changed by the experience.' Serving as the jury this time around are Leslie, Phoenix Raei, Hanah Tayeb, Morris, Catherine Moore, Bolude Watson, Bessie Holland, Stuart Daulman, Paul Tassone, Charles Napoleon, Libby Stone and newcomer Claire Leach. The third season of The Twelve is just one of several productions that have headed West in recent years. Supported by Screenwest and the Western Australian Government through the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive, the eight-part series is estimated to have created 150 local jobs, including 50 cast with speaking roles, and attracted a spend of more than $10 million into the local economy, surpassing the economic impact of the previous season, which was also filmed in WA. 'The Twelve has proven Western Australia's innate ability to attract premium productions to our state and I am excited to see this next instalment on screen,' Screenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said. 'Being able to draw series of this ilk to Western Australia provides opportunities for local crew and further cements our position as a go-to destination for screen production.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sam Neill is back in WA in new trailer for The Twelve
First-look images and the official trailer for the third season of The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer were released today — and WA is front and centre. The series, which sees acclaimed actor Sam Neill return to reprise his role as Brett Colby SC, filmed in Margaret River last year, with the trailer featuring a range of stunning visuals from tourist hot spots around Margaret River, Yallingup and surrounds. The third incarnation of the Logie-nominated series boasts an all-star cast including Wentworth's Danielle Cormack, Love Me's Eryn Jean Norvill, WA-raised actor Ewan Leslie and Bump's Nathalie Morris. As well as filming in the South West, production also shot in and around Perth, with WA's State parliament used for filming during production. This season the jury's attention will be drawn to investigating a murder, with Colby called upon to defend the husband of one of his long-term friends. That case has links to the cold case murder of two teens in the area back in 1968. 'The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer is unlike any other as things get personal for Brett Colby, when he is thrust into a murder trial to defend the husband of a life-long friend accused of a heinous murder,' an official release reads. 'As the trial unravels a deeper mystery, a 1968 cold case murder of two teens is re-opened, and the 12 jurors sworn in for the trial find their own lives changed by the experience.' The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer shot in and around Margaret River in 2024. Credit: Trailer image Serving as the jury this time around are Leslie, Phoenix Raei, Hanah Tayeb, Morris, Catherine Moore, Bolude Watson, Bessie Holland, Stuart Daulman, Paul Tassone, Charles Napoleon, Libby Stone and newcomer Claire Leach. The third season of The Twelve is just one of several productions that have headed West in recent years. Supported by Screenwest and the Western Australian Government through the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive, the eight-part series is estimated to have created 150 local jobs, including 50 cast with speaking roles, and attracted a spend of more than $10 million into the local economy, surpassing the economic impact of the previous season, which was also filmed in WA. Perth-raised Ewan Leslie stars in the third season of The Twelve.. Credit: Supplied 'The Twelve has proven Western Australia's innate ability to attract premium productions to our state and I am excited to see this next instalment on screen,' Screenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said. 'Being able to draw series of this ilk to Western Australia provides opportunities for local crew and further cements our position as a go-to destination for screen production.'
Perth Now
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Julian McMahon dies weeks after WA-shot The Surfer released
Just weeks after audiences witnessed one of Julian McMahon's finest performances, opposite Nicolas Cage in the WA-shot psychological thriller The Surfer, the Australian actor has died from cancer aged 56. Wife Kelly Paniagua confirmed the star died on Wednesday in Clearwater, Florida, after a private battle with the disease but did not go into specifics. 'With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,' she said. 'Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.' One of McMahon's last interviews was with The West Australian, and the son of former Prime Minister Billy McMahon spoke in glowing terms of his experience making The Surfer with Cage in Yallingup in 2023. Screengrabs from a first look trailer of the upcoming film "The Surfer" A psychological thriller starring Nicolas Cage, ahead of its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Screenwest / Youtube '(It's) some of the most beautiful and spectacular countryside in the world, so a big part of this experience was actually the opportunity to live in such a wonderful place, for a period of time,' he said. Actor Julian McMahon and wife Kelly Paniagua arrive at the 6th AACTA International Awards at Avalon Hollywood on January 6, 2017. Credit: Gregg DeGuire / WireImage Playing masculinity guru Scally in The Surfer, McMahon not only matched Cage's trademark intensity, the Aussie actor was often the most magnetic presence in the scene, which hinted at a potential career resurgence after a few years out of the spotlight. But hindsight casts a very different light on one of his last public appearances, at the film's US premiere at South by Southwest in Texas, where the star looked considerably more gaunt than his character in the movie. His death brings an end to a fascinating career of highs and, ultimately, unfulfilled potential, which began with a 150-episode stint on Home and Away as main character Ben Lucini. He met future wife Dannii Minogue in Summer Bay, and even starred in the music video of the singer's hit, This Is It, recorded as a tribute to their relationship. The marriage lasted 18 months. By that point, McMahon was living in America and trying to make it big on US network television, starting with a 22-episode character arc on the NBC soap opera, Another World. The cast of the Channel 9 series Nip/Tuck includes Julian McMahon. Credit: Unknown / STW 9 McMahon parlayed that success into his first leading role on American TV, as the arrogant, womanising plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy in six seasons of Nip/Tuck, for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2005. The actor's biggest film role came playing the villainous Victor Von Doom, AKA Dr Doom, in the 2005 superhero movie The Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Sequel. Julian McMahon attends the "The Surfer" Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2024 in Cannes, France. Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Getty Images Charmed co-star Rose McGowan shared a tribute to McMahon on Instagram, posting an illustration of the Aussie with the words, 'Oh Julian, you force of brilliance, wild talent and humour. For you, your family and loving fans all over the world, I pray comfort'. Former Mr Fantastic, British star Ioan Gruffudd, posted his own tribute. 'Even though we played each other's nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy,' Gruffudd wrote. Speaking to The West in May, the actor gave no indication he was in a fight for his life, and even dreamed of returning to WA. 'Take me back to Yallingup, if you don't mind,' he said. McMahon was born in Sydney on July 27, 1968, and is survived by Paniagua, and his daughter, Madison, from a previous marriage.
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Another TV series comes to Fremantle
Yet another TV series has commenced production in Fremantle, with confirmation Reckless, a BBC Studios Production for NITV and SBS, has begun filming in the port city. Leading the cast is WA's own Tasma Walton (The Twelve) who stars alongside AACTA Award-winner Hunter Page-Lochard (The Newsreader). They play feuding siblings forced to work together to get away with a hit-and-run accident that occurs in Fremantle. Reckless is an adaptation of the Scottish mystery thriller TV series Guilt, written by Neil Forsyth, which premiered on both BBC Two and BBC Scotland in 2019. It is being brought to Aussie screens by WA creative, EP and writer Kodie Bedford. 'From day one, I wanted to make a bold show with audacious characters that felt unapologetically Western Australian,' she said. 'I'm so bloody happy to be home telling this yarn with a team of creatives who have all shared the vision and taken it somewhere even wilder than I ever imagined.' Reckless sports a talented supporting cast. Credit: Supplied. Joining Walton and Lochard is a stacked cast, which includes Perth-raised stars, Jessica De Gouw (The Survivors), Steve Le Marquand (Mystery Road: Origin) and Clarence Ryan (Mystery Road: Origin). Jane Harber (Offspring), Tracy Mann (The Twelve), and WA-based Kath and Kim star Peter Rowsthorn also star, alongside Duncan Fellows (Deadloch), Perry Mooney (Population: 11), Paul Tassone (Pokerface) and Kelton Pell (Redfern Now). The production, which is supported by Screenwest, is one of several to take advantage of State Government investment through the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive. Oscar Redding and George Mason star in a new Binge series also currently filming in Fremantle. Credit: John Platt. It is expected to inject more than $5 million into the WA economy, creating 250 jobs for local screen practitioners, and up to 20 WA cast speaking roles. 'This production continues a strong pipeline of television series being produced in WA showcasing the amazing creative talent we have in our State,' Screenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said. Also currently filming in and around Fremantle is the newly announced Binge series based on the life of notorious WA criminal Brenden Abbott, aka The Postcard Bandit. Both projects are filming simultaneously, with crews spotted earlier this week at the Fremantle Prison and at Leighton Beach.
