TV JOBS BOOST
NEW COAST SERIES
A 20-PART children’s TV series is being filmed on the Gold Coast, creating 200 cast and crew jobs and pumping $8.5 million into the local economy.
The man behind international hit children’s TV series Mako Mermaids and H20 Just Add Water, Jonathan M. Shiff, will begin shooting a new tale, The Bureau of Magical Things, on the Gold Coast today.
The series is being filmed in a purpose-built studio at Arundel and on location on the Coast and in Brisbane through to December.
The backbone of the local film and TV industry before Disney and Marvel began making blockbuster movies on the Coast, world renowned producer Shiff has helped uncover Hollywood stars including Liam Hemsworth and Margot Robbie (The Elephant Princess).
Shiff said he was delighted to be filming on the Coast again.
“It is fantastic to be bringing back another local high quality children’s series which showcases the enormous talent and beautiful locations of southeast Queensland,” he said. “Most importantly, it is vital to bring Australian children their own stories at a time when Australian kids’ TV is so under threat.”
The Bureau of Magical Things boasts an all-Queensland cast including Coast actors Mia Milnes and Rainbow Wedell, playing fairies, and real-life siblings Elizabeth and Julian Cullen, who play brother and sister elves.
Brisbane actress Kimie Tsukakoshi (The Family Law) leads the cast as Kyra, a regular teenage girl who acquires magical powers when she’s caught in a clash between an elf and a fairy.
Kyra discovers a secret world of magic exists all around her – and uncovers a threat to both the magical and human worlds.
The series follows the teen’s quest to unite fairies and humans in a bid to save them all, with Coast actor Jamie Carter to play Kyra’s human friend from high school.
The Bureau of Magical Things has been pre-sold to Network Ten Australia.