West Coast wows Marta

New TV drama production a ‘love letter to Tasmania’

THE wonders of Tasmania’s West Coast will be on show for all to see with a new eightpart television series to be filmed in the region next year.

The series called Bay of Fires has been touted as the largest production filmed in regional Tasmania.

The series has been created by Tasmanian-based actor Marta Dusseldorp, who will star in the series and produce it with her production company Archipelago Productions.

“It really is a love letter to Tasmania,” Dusseldorp said.

“Moving here gave me the full inspiration to base the show here and to take the world to a place a lot of people haven’t seen.

“I have fallen in love with the place and I know the whole world will with the West Coast.”

Dusseldorp said it was their sense of humour to base the production on the West Coast, 400km away from the real Bay of Fires on the East Coast.

The series has been described as Ozark meets Fargo meets Schitts Creek.

“It’s about a woman with her two children who end up having to move because they’re in grave danger and she comes across this beautiful community of people who are quite mysterious,” the Place to Call Home and Wentworth star said.

“As the show unfolds we’ll find out who they are, why they’re there or whether they’ll help her or kill her.”

The state government is providing $1.5m to the production.

“It’s the most significant screen investment that we’ve made in this state ever, particularly in relation to regional Tasmania,” Arts Minister Elise Archer said.

Ms Archer said the West Coast would reap the benefits of that investment.

“It’s going to be significant for job opportunities for Tasmanians, with up to 80 jobs and particularly opportunities for senior roles as well,” she said.

“We’re delighted the return on that type of investment will be in the vicinity of $8m.

“The flow on benefits with a screen production is the world gets to see what we have to offer here in Tasmania.”

Dusseldorp said it would be very different to other Tasmanian productions.

“It’s actually nowhere near Rosehaven, it’s nowhere near the Gloaming or Kettering Incident,” she said.

“We’re not here to repeat, we want to create something unique.”