Media Release
> Friday 8 July 2016
Screen Queensland announces support of ABC TV series Blue Water Empire
Blue Water Empire is produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey – principals in Queensland-NSW production company Bunya Productions – and local producer/writer Aaron Fa’Aoso. Steven McGregor will direct the series.
The series will commence filming on location on the Torres Strait this month along with filming in Cairns and Bamaga.
‘Blue Water Empire is an important investment by the Queensland Government through SQ as it delivers significant economic and cultural benefits to Queensland,’ said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira. ‘The series will employ around 80 Queensland crew and spend over $1.8 million in Queensland.
‘Blue Water Empire will tell and preserve the story of the Torres Straight Islands and its people, and this significant Queensland story will also promote the remote locations of Cape York Peninsula and Far North Queensland.
‘It will play an important role in creating jobs, up-skilling local crew in key creative and technical roles and engaging early career Aboriginal and Torres Straight screen practitioners affording them an incredible opportunity to develop their skills and strengthen their careers.
‘We are so proud of Aaron Fa’Aoso who we have worked with on other productions including Mystery Road and Goldstone. By supporting productions like Blue Water Empire, we are supporting the growth of individual practitioners like Aaron who are the sum of the parts that make our industry stronger.
‘We also congratulate Bunya Productions who continue to deliver successful productions that pack a cultural punch.’
Via computer-generated imagery, dramatised action, narration, archival footage and current day interviews to tell its narrative, Blue Water Empire starts from the seventeenth century until present day. Post production will be carried out at Brisbane company Run Run Run.
Blue Water Empire is supported by Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.
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For all media enquiries: +61 7 3248 0500 | media@screenqld.com.au
Screen Queensland supports a creative, innovative and successful screen industry through development and investment; secures production to Queensland; and delivers an active screen culture across the state.
