Redfern Now
Redfern Now (2012) is an Australian television drama program screening on ABC1 in Australia and Vibrant TV Network and Netflix in the United States. It tells contemporary stories about Indigenous Australians in the Sydney suburb of Redfern.[1] The first season received five AACTA award nominations for 2013.[2] The series has received numerous additional AACTA nominations, winning 5 in total, including Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for Leah Purcell, Best Screenplay in Television, and Best Television Drama Series.
Redfern Now | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Written by | Jon Bell Wayne Blair Michelle Blanchard Danielle MacLean Steven McGregor Leah Purcell Adrian Russell Wills |
Directed by | Rachel Perkins Wayne Blair Leah Purcell Catriona McKenzie Adrian Russell Wills Beck Cole |
Starring | Jimi Bani Wayne Blair Dean Daley-Jones Rarriwuy Hick Johnny Lever Deborah Mailman Marley Sharp Kelton Pell Leah Purcell Tessa Rose Shari Sebbens Miranda Tapsell |
Opening theme | "Lonely Child" by Kira Puru |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 2 + 1 telemovie |
No. of episodes | 13 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Erica Glynn Sally Riley |
Producer(s) | Darren Dale Miranda Dear |
Production location(s) | Redfern, New South Wales, Australia |
Cinematography | Mark Wareham Jules O'Loughlin |
Editor(s) | Dany Cooper Nicholas Holmes |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production company(s) | Blackfella Films |
Distributor | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Release | |
Original network | ABC1 |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 1 November 2012 – 9 April 2015 |
External links | |
Website | |
Production website |
The series was produced by Blackfella Films, whose productions include First Australians and Mabo. It was developed by local indigenous writers with the support of UK screenwriter Jimmy McGovern.[3] The project also has indigenous directors, producers and actors. It is directed by Rachel Perkins, Catriona McKenzie, Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell.[4]
A second season was commissioned in late 2012[5] and went into production in May 2013,[6] premiering 31 October 2013.[7]
The series concluded with a telemovie titled Promise Me which aired on 9 April 2015.[8]
Cast
- Wayne Blair as Constable Aaron Davis (2012–2015)
- Dean Daley-Jones as Indigo (2012–2015)
- Deborah Mailman as Lorraine Blake (2012–2015)
- Richard Green as Nathan (2012–2015)
- Lisa Flanagan as Allie (2012–2015)
- Kelton Pell as Raymond (2012–2015)
- Rarriwuy Hick as Robyn Davis (2012–2015)
- Kirk Page as Peter (2013–2015)
- Leah Purcell as Grace Nielson (2012–2013)
- Tessa Rose as Coral (2012–2013)
- Shari Sebbens as Julie (2012)
- Miranda Tapsell as Teneka (2012)
- Rhimi Johnson Page as Danny Blain (2012)
- Ursula Yovich as Nic Shields (2012–2013)
- Marley Sharp as Eddie Shields (2012–2013)
- Aaron McGrath as Joel "Joely" Shields (2012–2013)
- Madeleine Madden as Chloe (2012–2013)
- Stephen Curry as Constable Ryan Hobbs (2012–2013)
- Trisha Morton-Thomas as Aunty Mona (2012–2013)
- Oscar Redding as Richard (2013)
- Craig McLachlan as Jack (2013)
- Ernie Dingo as Ernie Johnson (2013)
- Steve Bisley as Richard (2013)
- Meyne Wyatt as Justin Myles (2013)
- Tammy Clarkson Jones as Mattie Erica Collinson (2013)
Series overview
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||
1 | 6 | 1 November 2012 | 6 December 2012 | ||
2 | 6 | 31 October 2013 | 5 December 2013 | ||
3 | 1 | 9 April 2015 | N/A |
Episodes
Series 1
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian Viewers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Family"[9] | Catriona McKenzie | Danielle MacLean | 1 November 2012 | 721,000[9] | |
Grace (Leah Purcell) and Wesley (Alec Doomadgee) haven't had a holiday for years - with two kids and Wesley's work, there hasn't been time. Now ready to go, Grace discovers that her sister is off her meds and unable to look after her children so Grace has to find temporary care for the children, but nobody wants to care for them. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "Joyride"[10] | Catriona McKenzie | Michelle Blanchard | 8 November 2012 | 644,000[10] | |
In her mid fifties, Coral (Tessa Rose), works in a food van, which sometimes brings her into contact with victims of abuse, leading her to the mistaken conclusion that her daughter's bruised face is the result of more than just an accident. When Coral is hit by a stolen car (the joyride) with Danny as a passenger, her granddaughter, Julie, arrives to look after her, but she is forced into hospital. Danny comes seeking forgiveness and falls in love with Julie. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "Raymond"[11] | Wayne Blair | Adrian Russell Wills | 15 November 2012 | 654,000[11] | |
Raymond (Kelton Pell) and Lorraine (Deborah Mailman) have it pretty sweet - house, four kids and Raymond has been nominated for an award for his services to community. But Raymond's celebrity has put him under scrutiny and he is investigated for unduly claiming benefits. Someone may have dobbed him in, but the question is who? | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Stand Up"[12] | Rachel Perkins | Steven McGregor | 22 November 2012 | 620,000[12] | |
Sixteen-year-old Joel Shields (Aaron McGrath) has just won an Indigenous scholarship to Clifton Grammar School - one of Sydney's most elite private schools. However, things get complicated when he is forced to sit down for what he believes in. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Sweet Spot"[13] | Leah Purcell | Jon Bell | 29 November 2012 | 560,000[13] | |
Indigo (Dean Daley-Jones) is a professional boxer so he knows how to hit a man, how to land the perfect punch, how to find the sweet spot, but also how to recognise a sweet spot when he has found it. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "Pretty Boy Blue"[14] | Rachel Perkins | Steven McGregor | 6 December 2012 | 603,000[14] | |
Aaron Davis (Wayne Blair) is proud of his police uniform, proud of the community in which he works and very proud of his daughter Robyn (Rarriwuy Hick) and his 3 year old granddaughter Donna. What happens when he loses pride in himself and what does he have to do to find his way again? |
Series 2
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title[15] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian Viewers[15] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 1 | "Where The Heart Is" | Adrian Russell Wills | Adrian Russell Wills | 31 October 2013 | 604,000 | |
When a freak accident takes the life of his partner Richard, Peter (Kirk Page) has to fight Richard's mother (Noni Hazlehurst) to keep custody of their daughter. | |||||||
8 | 2 | "Starting Over" | Rachel Perkins | Jon Bell | 7 November 2013 | 529,000 | |
Aaron Davis's (Wayne Blair) career in the force is on hold since an Aboriginal teenager died in police custody on his shift, but his life changes when he begins a relationship with a neighbour (Lisa Flanagan). | |||||||
9 | 3 | "Babe In Arms" | Adrian Russell Wills | Steven McGregor | 14 November 2013 | 449,000 | |
New parents, Janine (Caren Pistorius) and Justin (Meyne Wyatt) are tested to their limit when their newborn son goes missing and suspicions grow in the community and then between one another. | |||||||
10 | 4 | "Consequences" | Leah Purcell | Leah Purcell | 21 November 2013 | 478,000 | |
Mattie (Tammy Clarkson Jones) races to share the news of her PhD with her estranged white father Jack (Craig McLachlan) - who she hasn't seen in 19 years - only to find he has died days earlier. | |||||||
11 | 5 | "Pokies" | Beck Cole | Steven McGregor | 28 November 2013 | 469,000 | |
Nic Shields (Ursula Yovich) spends her lunchtimes playing the pokies, and in a desperate attempt to absolve a whirlpool of deceit and debt she has found herself in, stages a robbery. | |||||||
12 | 6 | "Dogs Of War" | Wayne Blair | Wayne Blair | 5 December 2013 | 483,000 | |
The purchase of an undisciplined guard dog poisons relationships between Redfern neighbours and aggravates a malignant memory for ex-serviceman Ernie (Ernie Dingo). |
Telemovie
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian Viewers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 1 | "Redfern Now: Promise Me (Telemovie)"[16] | Rachel Perkins | Steven McGregor | 9 April 2015 | 455,000[16] | |
When a young Aboriginal woman is raped and doesn't report it, it has consequences she never could have imagined. |
Reception
The series has generally received critical praise. Of the first episode Melinda Houston of The Age said, "It makes for television that works on every level: as an important cultural contribution, as a vehicle for sensational actors, writers, directors and technicians, as a great conversation-starter and as a fabulous piece of drama."[17] Based on the second episode, Bob Ellis writes, "It was very well done indeed, and the mixture, like Obama’s Dreams From My Father, of honesty, eloquence and hope, bids fair... for a series outcome that may well be seen, in sum, hereafter, as a classic."[18] After viewing the third episode, the television writer for The Canberra Times writes, "Redfern Now is probably as important as any drama produced this year. This is really mature and clever storytelling with the strangest taste of an old O. Henry morality tale."[19]
See also
- Blackstone a Canadian television program with a similar theme.
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | ASSG Awards[20] | Best Sound for a Television Drama Series | Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' - Wes Chew, Sam Gain Emery, Mick Boraso, Luke Mynott, Blair Slater, Andrew Simmons, Duncan McAllister, Dan Johnston, Robert Mackenzie, Paul “Salty” Brincat, Shanti Burn, Ruth Vance | Won |
2013 | AACTA Awards[21] | Best Television Drama Series | Redfern Now - Darren Dale and Miranda Dear. | Nominated |
Best Screenplay in Television | Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' - Steven McGregor. | Won | ||
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Leah Purcell | Won | ||
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama | Luke Carroll | Nominated | ||
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Shareena Clanton | Nominated | ||
Logie Awards[6][22] | Most Popular Actress | Deborah Mailman | Nominated | |
Most Outstanding Drama Series | Redfern Now | Won | ||
Most Outstanding Actress | Leah Purcell | Nominated | ||
Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent | Shari Sebbens | Won | ||
Deadly Awards[23] | TV Show of the Year | Redfern Now | Won | |
Male Actor of the Year | Luke Carroll | Won | ||
Female Actor of the Year | Deborah Mailman | Won | ||
ADG Awards[24] | Best Direction in a TV Drama Series | Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' - Rachel Perkins | Won | |
ASE Awards[25] | Best Editing in Television Drama | Redfern Now - Series 1, Episode 1 'Family' - Dany Cooper ASE | Nominated | |
Redfern Now - Series 1, Episode 6 ‘Pretty Boy Blue’ - Nicholas Holmes ASE | Nominated | |||
NSW/ACT ACS Awards[26] | John Bowring ACS TV Station Breaks / Promos - Gold Medal | Redfern Now - Titles - Tom Gleeson | Won | |
Australian Screen Music Awards | Best Music for a Television Series or Serials[27] | Redfern Now - Series 1, Episode 4 'Stand Up' - David McCormack and Antony Partos | Won | |
Best Television Theme[28] | Redfern Now - David McCormack and Antony Partos | Nominated | ||
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen[29] | Lonely Child from 'Redfern Now' - David McCormack and Antony Partos | Won | ||
2014 | ACS Awards[30] | John Bowring ACS TV Station Breaks / Promos - Golden Tripod | Redfern Now - Titles - Tom Gleeson | Won |
AACTA Awards[31] | Best Television Drama Series | Redfern Now - Series 2 - Darren Dale and Miranda Dear. | Won | |
Best Screenplay in Television | Series 2, Episode 3 'Babe in Arms' - Steven McGregor. | Nominated | ||
Best Cinematography in Television | Series 2, Episode 6 'Dogs of War' - Jules O'Loughlin ACS. | Nominated | ||
Best Editing in Television | Series 2, Episode 6 'Dogs of War' - Dany Cooper ASE. | Nominated | ||
Best Sound in Television | Series 2, Episode 3 'Babes in Arms' - Grant Shepherd, Wes Chew, Robert MacKenzie, Tom Herdman & Sam Gain-Emery | Nominated | ||
Best Original Music Score in Television | Series 2, Episode 3 'Babe in Arms' - Antony Partos | Won | ||
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama | Ernie Dingo | Nominated | ||
Meyne Wyatt | Nominated | |||
Logie Awards[32] | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Redfern Now | Won | |
Most Outstanding Actor | Kirk Page | Nominated | ||
Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent | Meyne Wyatt | Nominated | ||
Most Popular New Talent | Caren Pistorius | Nominated | ||
ASE Awards[33] | Best Editing in Television Drama | Redfern Now - Series 2, Episode 1 'Where The Heart Is' - Nicholas Holmes ASE | Won | |
Australian Screen Music Awards[34] | Best Music for a Television Series or Serial | Redfern Now - Series 2, Episode 3 'Babe in Arms' - Antony Partos | Nominated | |
APDG Awards[35] | Design on a Television Drama | Redfern Now - Felicity Abbott (Production Designer) Design Team: Loretta Cosgrove (Art Director), Christian Petersen (Set Decorator), Peter Malatesta (Property Master), Michael Kissane (Standby Props), Zuzia Buszewicz (Buyer/Dresser). Highly Commended | Nominated | |
2015 | AACTA Awards[36] | Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama | Wayne Blair | Nominated |
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Deborah Mailman | Nominated | ||
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Rarriwuy Hick | Nominated | ||
Best Cinematography in Television | 'Promise Me' - Mark Wareham ACS | Nominated | ||
Best Editing in Television | 'Promise Me' - Nicholas Holmes ASE | Won | ||
Best Sound in Television | 'Promise Me' - Rainier Davenport, Ian McLoughlin CAS, Wes Chew, Tom Herdman, Annie Breslin & Blair Slater | Nominated | ||
Best Original Music Score in Television | 'Promise Me' - Antony Partos | Nominated | ||
ASE Awards[37] | Best Editing in Television Drama | 'Promise Me' - Nicholas Holmes ASE | Nominated | |
Australian Screen Music Awards[38] | Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie | Redfern Now - Antony Partos | Nominated | |
APDG Awards[39] | Production Design on a Television Drama | 'Promise Me' - Felicity Abbott APDG | Nominated | |
ASSG Awards[40] | Best Sound for a Tele Feature | 'Promise Me' - Wes Chew, Luke Mynott, Ian Mcloughlin, Tom Herdman, Annie Breslin, Sam Gain-Emery, Ryan Millard, Dan Johnston, Duncan Mcallister, Blair Slater, Tom Pastro, Ranier Davenport, Sam Davis and Paradox Delilah. | Nominated | |
2016 | Logie Awards[41] | Most Outstanding Actress | Deborah Mailman | Won |
Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | Rarriwuy Hick | Nominated |
References
- "Funding Indigenous Programs: Redfern Now". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- Kate Goodacre (4 December 2012). "AACTA Awards 2013 nominees: The Voice Australia, The Sapphires, more". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- David Knox (28 May 2012). "Cameras Roll on Redfern Now". TV tonight. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- "ABC TV announces Redfern Now - a drama series collaboration with Jimmy McGovern". ABC. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- David Knox (13 November 2012). "Renewed: Redfern Now". TV tonight. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- "Redfern Now season 2 goes into production". Official website. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- Blundell, Graeme (23 October 2013). "Redfern Now delves into the lives of ordinary people". The Australian. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- "Promise Me telemovie to wrap Redfern Now". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 3". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 4". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 5". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 1 Ep 6". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- "Redfern Now: Promise Me". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- Melinda Houston (28 October 2012). "Critic's choice: The week ahead in TV". The Age. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- Bob Ellis (10 November 2012). "The Redfern Saga (2)". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- "Advance Australia fare". The Canberra Times. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- "ASSG - ASSG 2012 Award Winners". ASSG. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- Knox, David (31 January 2013). "AACTA Awards 2013: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- Burgess, Matthew (7 April 2013). "2013 Logies Award Blog". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- Aboriginal magistrate Pat O'Shane, Archie Roach honoured at Deadly Awards, ABC News, 11 September 2013.
- Mair, Tracey. "WINNERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS ANNOUNCED" (PDF). Australian Directors' Guild. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "Awards 2013 | Australian Screen Editors". www.screeneditors.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "NSW/ACT 2013 Annual Awards for Cinematography - Australian Cinematographers Society". www.cinematographer.org.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- AMCOS, APRA. "Best Music for a Television Series or Serial | APRA AMCOS Australia". apraamcos.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- AMCOS, APRA. "Best Television Theme | APRA AMCOS Australia". apraamcos.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- AMCOS, APRA. "Best Original Song Composed for the Screen | APRA AMCOS Australia". apraamcos.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "Congratulations to all our National Award Winners - Australian Cinematographers Society". www.cinematographer.org.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "AFI | AACTA | Winners & Nominees | 3rd AACTA Awards". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- Knox, David (27 April 2014). "Logie Awards 2014: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- "Awards 2014 | Australian Screen Editors". www.screeneditors.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- AMCOS, APRA. "Best Music for a Television Series or Serial | APRA AMCOS Australia". apraamcos.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "2014 APDG Award Winners". APDG. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "AFI | AACTA | Winners & Nominees | 5th AACTA Awards". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "Awards 2015 | Australian Screen Editors". www.screeneditors.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- AMCOS, APRA. "Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie | APRA AMCOS Australia". apraamcos.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "2015 WINNERS". APDG. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- "ASSG - ASSG Awards Nominations 2015". ASSG. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- Knox, David (8 May 2016). "2016 Logie Awards: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
External links
- Official website @ the ABC. There are behind the scenes snippets for all episodes here.
- Redfern Now on IMDb