By NOEL MURPHY
GEELONG’s film industry is kicking another goal with production of an $8.7 million ABC mini-series under way at the You Yangs near Little River.
Co-starring Tim Minchin, The Secret River is adapted from Kate Grenville’s award-winning book of the same name.
The colonial-era mini-series’ producers are Stephen Luby and Mark Ruse of Ruby Entertainment, who worked on Crackerjack and Bed of Roses.
Oscar nominee screenwriter Jan Sardi, of Shine and Mao’s Last Dancer, is also involved, while Fred Schepisi, Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, is director.
The story follows ex-convict Will Thornhill and partner Sal through their desperate and tragic fortunes amid cultural clashes between whites and blacks.
The two-part show will be filmed over eight weeks at both the You Yangs and on Sydney’s Hawkesbury River.
In addition to Minchin, the production stars British actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen, of Mr Selfridge and Dracula, in the chief role of Thornhill, Australian Sarah Snook as Sal, Lachy Hulme of Kerry Packer Howzat! fame, Rake’s Genevieve Lemon and Rabbit Proof Fence’s Trevor Jamieson.
Grenville’s novel won the 2006 Commonwealth Writers Prize and was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize.
