A new, home-grown screen production is underway in Victoria, creating jobs and injecting millions into the local economy, backed by the Allan Labor Government.
SBS drama series The Airport Chaplain is an eight part series, starring Australian screen legend Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses, The Royal Hotel) and Shabana Azeez, breakout star of the Golden Globe winning HBO US drama series The Pitt, along with Claudia Karvan (Bump, Halifax: Retribution) and Thomas Weatherall (Heartbreak High, The Narrow Road to the Deep North).
The Airport Chaplain explores the world of a bustling international airport through the struggles and triumphs of the workers who keep it running. The story is inspired by a real life experience the series' co-creator Jude Troy (The Clearing, Mother & Son) had with Melbourne Airport's own Chaplain, Martyn Scrimshaw.
The production will inject over $8 million into the Victorian economy and create an estimated 170 jobs for Victorian screen workers including three placement opportunities that will upskill emerging female screen practitioners.
The Airport Chaplain is filming in and around Melbourne on purpose-built sets that recreate the interiors of airport terminals. Post-production and visual effects work will also take place in Victoria.
The series is co-created by Troy and Elise McCredie (Stateless, Jack Irish, The Clearing), and written by McCredie, Sarah Bassiuoni (Critical Incident), Mithila Gupta (Four Years Later) and Vidya Rajan (Why Are You Like This, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe).
It is directed by Bonnie Moir (Run), and Tig Terera (Swift Street), produced by Jude Troy and Alexandra Cameron (The Cape, Mother & Son) and Executive Produced by Elise McCredie and Jude Troy.
The Airport Chaplain has received support through VicScreen's Victorian Production Fund and will premiere on SBS later this year. The series comes hot on the heels of the Gerard Butler action thriller Empire City, which is currently filming in Victoria, as well as mystery drama High Country: What Lies Beneath.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks
"The Victorian Government is proud to back this home-grown production that is inspired by real events and real people at Melbourne Airport."
"With some of Australia's most exceptional talent in front of and behind the camera, the series is creating jobs for Victorian screen workers, boosting our state's economy, and showcasing our local screen industry to global audiences."
As stated by VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher
"VicScreen is delighted to support The Airport Chaplain - an ambitious prestige drama that is set to resonate with audiences around the world through its powerful storytelling.
"Created by a highly experienced female-led creative team, this highly original series is a testament to the strength of Victorian talent and our commitment to backing female creatives who are redefining the screen landscape."
As stated by Co-Creator and Executive Producer Jude Troy
"Set in the controlled chaos of a high stakes, emotionally charged environment that audiences will recognise, this series will change how they travel through that world moving forward."
"This prestige drama is inspired by a real-life encounter I had with an airport chaplain here in Melbourne and brings to screen characters that connect us - literally and figuratively."
"Boasting a world-class line-up of creatives on and off screen, we are thrilled to bring this unique workplace drama series to life here in Victoria."
