The much-anticipated reimagining of iconic Australian story, Storm Boy, will be filmed in South Australia, injecting millions into the State's economy and creating more than 150 jobs.
Screen Australia today announced production investments funding for Storm Boy, with the support of the South Australian Government and the South Australian Film Corporation.
Production will commence in 2017, using the state-of-the-art Adelaide studios, Adelaide city and regional locations including the original filming location of the Coorong.
The original film showcased the beauty of South Australian landscapes, and introduced the State's unique identity to the national and international stage. This modern reframing of the story will once again profile the State and significantly contribute to the regional profile and economy.
An inspired and contemporary reimagining of the 1976 classic family film Storm Boy will be produced by Ambience Entertainment's Michael Boughen and Matthew Street, whose feature film Tomorrow When the War Began was the highest grossing domestic film of 2010. Storm Boy is written by Justin Monjo (The Secret Daughter, Spear), and will be directed by Shawn Seet (Deep Water, The Code).
This time around we first met Mike 'Storm Boy' Kingley as a grandfather recounting his childhood adventures to his conflicted teen granddaughter and how while living on an isolated coastline with his father Hideaway Tom, his life changed forever when he formed a special bond with orphaned pelican Mr. Percival.
Quotes attributable to Arts Minister Jack Snelling
Storm Boy is a uniquely South Australian story- and it makes perfect sense that the beautiful Coorong region is again used as its iconic setting.
I congratulate the south Australian Film Corporation and Screen Australia's commitment to re-telling this story, which holds a special place in the heart of many, and showcasing our great State in the process.
Quotes attributable to Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock
The distinctly South Australian feel to the film will no doubt help attract visitors to the Coorong, creating ongoing tourism benefits to this region and others nearby.
Productions such as these are invaluable for our regions, as are the 100-plus jobs that will be created during production and the millions that will be injected into our economy.
Quotes attributable to Screen Australia CEO, Graeme Mason
This interpretation of the classic Colin Thiele novella reframes the story within a grandfather-granddaughter relationship, retaining the magic from the original whilst including an ecological perspective relevant to a contemporary audience.
This beloved tale is in the safe hands of writer Justin Monjo, director Shawn Seet and producers Michael Boughen and Matthew Street, who all have such a strong history of telling Australian stories.
Quotes attributable to South Australian Film Corporation CEO, Annabelle Sheehan
The SAFC is delighted to be bringing Storm Boy home to South Australia. Storm Boy is one of Australia's most classic and iconic films, and introduced the majesty of South Australian landscapes to national and international audiences.
Quotes attributable to Producer, Michael Boughen
I was born and raised in South Australia and studied Colin Thiele's books at school so when I had the chance to re-imagine this wonderful story I discussed with my fellow producer Matthew Street the option to film in South Australia. He immediately embraced the idea to shoot in the birthplace of Storm Boy. It is a real pleasure for me to come home with such an iconic story.
In 2016, South Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of Storm Boy's original release date in November 1976.
Successfully showing South Australia to the world, Storm Boy screened in cinemas around the globe, on the Queen's royal yacht Britannia, at the White House for president Jimmy Carter, and at the place of Emperor Hirohito Japan.