NITV is excited to announce its first ever commission of a scripted live-action series, Grace Beside Me. This is with major support from Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, Screen Queensland, the ABC and with assistance from Screen NSW, Grace Beside Me is the story of an extraordinary girl trying to lead an ordinary life.
Adapted from the award winning novel by Sue McPherson, Grace Beside Me follows Fuzzy Mac, whose life is turned upside down when, at the age of 13, she discovers she can see ghosts and spirits. But all she wants is to fit in and have fun with her mates. It’s hard enough navigating the highs and lows of becoming a teenager while living with your eccentric Nan and Pop, without also having to deal with needy ghosts, mischievous totems and cantankerous Ancestors.
Combining whimsy, adventure, comedy and drama, Grace Beside Me takes 8 – 12 year old audiences on a roller coaster adventure as Fuzzy reluctantly learns to accept her gift and understand its importance. With one foot in the Indigenous realm of culture, Country – and spirits – and the other firmly planted in the world of a 21st century teenager, Fuzzy Mac’s journey is to realise she belongs to both in her own unique way. She must learn to be herself and to walk in two worlds.
NITV's Channel Manager Tanya Orman says, “This is another hugely exciting step for NITV and testament to the beauty and depth of our story telling. Our goal is to create award-winning children’s content that speaks to a new generation, and this is truly unique story telling from the world’s oldest story tellers for Australian children. The story of Fuzzy Mac is told with warmth, humour and pathos by the best of our Indigenous screenwriters.”
Development is underway for the Magpie Pictures children's series Grace Beside Me, adapted from the novel by Sue McPherson. Lois Randall and Dena Curtis are producers, with writers Jon Bell, Danielle MacLean and Sue McPherson and Gina Roncoli as story editor. (Magpie Pictures) Source: Magpie Pictures
Our goal is to create award-winning children’s content that speaks to a new generation, and this is truly unique story telling from the world’s oldest story tellers for Australian children.
Penny Smallacombe, Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia, says reaching young audiences with Indigenous and culturally diverse content is an incredibly important focus for Screen Australia.
"We are proud to be supporting Grace Beside Me which is helmed by an all-female producing team, including Aboriginal producer Dena Curtis, and are confident that with three Australian broadcasts this unique story will resonate with audiences around the country,” Smallacombe said.
ABC’s Head of Children’s and Education Michael Carrington says he is thrilled that the corporation is building strong ties with NITV talent and offering a much-deserved additional platform for Indigenous talent both on and off screen.
"Children’s audiences across Australia are bound to enjoy Grace Beside Me, a smart funny drama series made specifically for them," he told NITV.
Grace Beside Me is produced by Lois Randall (The Gods of Wheat Street, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble) and Dena Curtis (8 MMM Aboriginal Radio, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble) with direction by star Indigenous talent including Beck Cole (Black Comedy, Redfern Now,The Warriors) and Adrian Russell Wills (Wentworth, Redfern Now, The Warriors).
The programme's writers include, Danielle MacLean (Little J and Big Cuz, Double Trouble, Blown Away), Jon Bell (The Gods of Wheat Street, Cleverman), Sue McPherson (Grace Beside Me, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble), Briar Grace-Smith (Being Eve, Kaitangata Twitch), Adrian Russell Wills (Redfern Now, Ready for This), Tristan Savage (Gubbament Man, Un-Australian) and Erica Glynn (Little J and Big Cuz).
The series is currently in pre-production and will commence filming in early 2017. In an Australian first, the series consisting of 13 episodes will be screened on three subsequent networks. Grace Beside Me will premiere on NITV, followed by a secondary broadcast on the ABC, and a third release on subscription TV on the Disney Channel.
