- Cook
Government contributed $1.9 million towards production via Screenwest,
Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund (WARSF)
- Stan partnered with Hollywood studio Lionsgate and
Jungle Entertainment to film comedy crime thriller in Kimberley region,
benefitting local community and economy
- American
actor Ben Feldman(Superstore, Silicon Valley, Mad Men)
leads the cast in TV series inspired by true events, with regional WA as
backdrop
Population 11, the first
Stan Original Series to be filmed in Western Australia, will premiere on 14
March.
Population 11 is a 12-episode
series about a man who goes missing from a tiny outback town of only 12
residents (11 after the missing man) and his estranged son (played by Ben
Feldman), who journeys from the United States to find him.
Filming of the quirky
comedy crime thriller series took place in Derby in the Kimberley region of WA
with the Cook Government contributing $1.9
million towards production via Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western
Australian Regional Screen Fund (WARSF).
Produced by Jungle
Entertainment, Population 11 was created by AACTA Award-winner
Phil Lloyd (The Moodys, Review With Myles Barlow), as showrunner working with a
team of writers and directors, including WA writer Zoe Pepper (The Big
Spaghetti, Birthright) and WA director Ben Young (Hounds of Love, The Twelve).
The series was executive produced by Trent O'Donnell (No Activity, New Girl),
Chloe Rickard and Jason Burrows (No Activity, Wakefield), with Bridget
Callow-Wright (No Activity: The Night Before Christmas) and WA producer Melissa
Kelly (Upright) producing.
Population 11 joins the ranks of
other high-profile WA Regional Screen Fund (WARSF) productions, including Sweet
As, Blueback and Mystery Road: Origin.
The WARSF has also
supported popular documentaries Ningaloo Nyinggulu for ABC, Aussie Gold Hunters for
Discovery and Shipwreck Hunters Australia for Disney+, all taking advantage of
the stunning WA landscapes.
The WA Regional Screen Fund (WARSF) is designed to attract
screen projects to undertake production in regional Western Australia,
encouraging regional film industry activity, building local capacity and
contributing to the liveability and vibrancy of regional WA communities.
Invisible Boys,
filming in Geraldton, and We Bury the Dead, in the Great Southern, are two
further productions supported through the WA Regional Screen Fund and will
commence filming in 2024.
Comments
attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"The Cook
Government's significant investment in our screen industry has raised the
profile of WA as both a source of great talent and a sought-after filming
destination.
"Supporting these kinds of
productions boosts our regional communities, provides opportunities for local
talent and creatives, and places WA on the map for international audiences.
"It is
pleasing to know Western Australian locations are being shared with global
viewers when they get to watch these exciting new productions."
Comments attributed to Regional
Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Kimberley region has already
proven itself as a stunning backdrop, hosting the critically acclaimed series
Mystery Road.
"We also know the
outstanding impact projects such as this have on our local communities,
including job creation and lasting economic impacts."
Comments attributed to Kimberley
MLA Divina D'Anna:
"Showing our beautiful and
treasured Kimberley landscape to the world brings me great pride.
"The Kimberley community already
knows how special it is here, and now the world will get a glimpse too."
