Fighting Season

Television Subscription and International
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###Fighting Season

Foxtel announces new event drama

Foxtel today announced the commissioning of Fighting Season, a complex, character-driven drama about Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan, from Goalpost Pictures and writer Blake Ayshford.

This is a story about the invisible men and women who fight for our country, what they bring home and what of themselves they leave behind, and the secrets that must remain hidden.

At the spine of the six part event drama is a compelling mystery regarding a possible cover-up where the lines between killer and family man, between hero and victim, between truth and imagination, are constantly shifting.

Foxtel Head of Drama Penny Win said: “Fighting Season will be a powerful and provocative addition to Foxtel’s drama slate of great Australian storytelling. The drama explores a masculine world, unpicking the mythology surrounding ‘The Diggers’ and the reality of being a modern soldier, as they try to live up to the heroic expectations placed on them by society, and themselves. Their transition from a high-adrenaline existence to being loving husbands and partners is both fascinating and incredibly moving.

“Fighting Season will be Foxtel’s first drama production with Goalpost Pictures and we are very pleased to be working together with Kylie du Fresne and writer Blake Ayshford to bring to life this very timely story.”

Goalpost Pictures’ Kylie du Fresne said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Foxtel. This series tackles an issue being faced by communities across the globe and it’s a subject that has yet to be tackled in any depth in Australian television drama. At Goalpost we were intrigued by the notion of ‘good soldier, bad citizen’ and we believe Blake and his writing team have created characters that are complex and fascinating.”

Fighting Season has production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW, with Broken Hill to be one of the key locations. Casting is underway for production in 2017 and to air in 2018.

Sky Vision, the distribution and production arm of Sky, has signed an exclusive output distribution deal with Australian subscription broadcaster Foxtel. Worldwide distribution for Fighting Season, excluding Australia and New Zealand, is being handled by Sky Vision

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I’m surprised they’re considering this genre again considering how badly Gallipoli and all the other war related series did last year.

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###Filming begins on Fighting Season

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Foxtel today announced that Fighting Season, a complex, character-driven drama about Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan, begins filming this week in Sydney with a superb ensemble cast.

Jay Ryan (Beauty and the Beast, Top of the Lake,) Ewen Leslie (Top of the Lake, The Daughter), and Kate Mulvany (Secret City, The Great Gatsby), headline a cast that also includes new and diverse talent including George Pullar (A Place to call Home S5), Marco Alosio, Julian Maroun, Paul De Gelder, Sarah Armanious and Sabryna Walters. Lucy Bell, Lex Marinos, David Roberts, Camilla Ah Kin, Ching Po and Jay Lagaiai will play supporting roles.

The series will be helmed by the award-winning Director Kate Woods (Looking for Alibrandi), who returns to Australia after a decade in the US working on shows such as Law and Order SVU, Nashville and Suits. Also directing is the dynamic Ben Lucas (Wasted on the Young).

Fighting Season, from production company Goalpost Pictures (Cleverman,The Sapphires) and writer Blake Ayshford (Barracuda, Devil’s Playground) is the story about the invisible men and women who fight for our country, what they bring home and what of themselves they leave behind, and the secrets that must remain hidden.

The six-part event drama is a compelling mystery regarding a possible cover-up where the lines between killer and family man, between hero and victim, between truth and imagination, are constantly shifting.

Foxtel Head of Drama Penny Win said: “Fighting Season has all the elements of a superb drama event, with exquisite scripts and a talented cast, along with directors Kate Woods and Ben Lucas, Foxtel is looking forward to Goalpost delivering an amazing drama.”

Goalpost Pictures’ Kylie du Fresne said: “The series is based on extensive research including interviews with a number of experienced former soldiers who have generously shared their stories about their time in Afghanistan and the realities of coming home and reintegrating into society.”

Fighting Season has development and production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW, with Broken Hill to be one of the locations. Producers are Kylie du Fresne, Elisa Argenzio and Blake Ayshford. Executive Producers are Penny Win, Rosemary Blight and Ben Grant.

Sky Vision, the distribution and production arm of Sky, has signed an exclusive output distribution deal with Australian subscription broadcaster Foxtel. Worldwide distribution for Fighting Season, excluding Australia and New Zealand, is being handled by Sky Vision

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Starts next Sunday 8.30pm on Showcase,

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What about The Bodyguard that just aired on BBC where PTSD is one of the key elements to the background of the main character.

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He probably meant Free to Air TV here in Australia.

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Yes but I don’t see why ABC wouldn’t make a show like this even if the commercials might be reluctant.