Lights, Camera, Arcadia!
Arcadia, Orange’s very own film production company has been around for a mere five years, but they’ve had nothing but success since.
Relocating three years ago, the Arcadia team are excited to be in Orange and soon to be filming in the central west.
“It's been a dream of ours to film here,” founding partner and head of distribution and marketing, Alexandra Burke said.
Beginning production in Orange next year, While the men are away will be the first television series to be made by Arcadia, who are eager to make the most of our beautiful scenery and local talent.
“While the men are off fighting in WWII, the people who have been excluded from power suddenly find themselves running the show,” Alexandra explains, describing the series as a queer, revisionistic, historical dramedy.
“Two Women’s Land Army recruits from Sydney arrive in the country and undergo a heady course in race relations, rural politics, spirituality, sex, and personal growth - oh, and farming.”
With a variety of prestigious International film festival awards, their science fiction film 2067 — which can be watched on Netflix — reached number two on iTunes in the United States.
The Arcadia team credit the success to great storytelling.
“We always talk about things that we really care about like climate change and mental health, but at the end of the day, we just really want them to be entertaining and for people to be able to sit down and have a great ride,” Founding partner and producer, Lisa Shaunessy said.
“The film and television industry is always a challenge because it’s always a moving feast,” Lisa continued. “What I really love about our company is we’ve always wanted to tell stories that haven’t been told before.”
“The streaming platforms that are coming in has changed a lot,” Alexandra added. “It has hurt some sides of the industry, but what it has allowed us to do is bring diverse stories in a way that prove that you don't need to use the same actors and the same stories over and over again.”
Head of production and a producer for Arcadia, Bec Janek is also behind Orange Open Air which brings movie lovers together to enjoy films at outdoor screenings.
Orange Open Air has also run screenwriting and directing workshops with locals and Bec said they’re excited to continue nurturing local, budding filmmakers.
The three wonderful ladies encourage everyone to get out and watch their new horror-comedy movie, Sissy, which recently premiered locally with a special screening and Q&A at the Odeon 5 Cinema.
“Go and watch Sissy – it’s a Muriel’s Wedding with a Tarantino ending!” Alexandra said, “It’s very cool, a lot of fun!”
For more information and all of ARcadia’s past and upcoming projects, visit www.thisisarcadia.com