The ABC and Aquarius Films identified Warburton as the ideal high-country location to film for their upcoming six-part crime drama Savage River.
Savage River tells the story of Miki Anderson who returns to her hometown in rural Victoria after eight years in prison, determined to finally move on with her life before a murder rocks the town and Miki becomes the prime suspect desperately trying to prove her innocence.
Producers and co-writers Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford of Aquarius Films describe the show as an edge of your seat, character-driven mystery with lots of twists and turns.
“Set against the unique specificity of the Australian rural and social landscape, Savage River will take viewers on an unsettling exploration of a small-town community that hides many secrets,” they said.
Fielder and Staniford said to Star Mail that the Yarra River running through Warburton and the town’s natural environment provided exactly what the show was looking for.
“We were looking for a small town with lots of natural beauty, that had a river running through it and was ideally nestled within nature,” they said.
“When we came to Warburton we knew it was perfect as it ticked all those boxes and more.”
The show is being made by a world-class creative team including director Jocelyn Moorhouse and the legendary cinematographer Don McAlpine.
The quality does not stop there, the cast starring Golden Globe-nominated actress Katherine Langford (Thirteen Reasons Why and Knives Out)in the lead role, and featuring Jacqueline McKenzie (Bloom, Reckoning), Cooper Van Grootel (One Of Us is Lying), Nadine Garner (The Doctor Blake Mysteries), James Mackay (Dynasty), Bernard Curry (Wentworth), Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin), Virginia Gay (Winners and; Losers), Daniel Henshall (Snowtown) and Osamah Sami (Ali’s Wedding).
Fielder and Staniford said they are thrilled to be making the show alongside talents like Langford, Moorhouse, and scriptwriter Giula Sandler.
“We are so excited and lucky to be working with the cast and crew. Everyone signed on knowing there was a regional component to the show, and loved being in Warburton for the week,” they said.
“Being on location really brings a crew together!”
Fielder and Staniford told Warburton residents they can look out for the pharmacy (which had a name change for the show) and the swing bridge when the show airs.
Savage River will film in Melbourne and regional Victoria over the next 9 weeks and will air on ABC TV and ABC iView later this year.
