Christian Schwochow, Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks and Hakan Kousetta on the volume stage at Docklands Studios Melbourne, photo by Lachlan Moore.
After 20 weeks of filming across Victoria, psychological drama series The Dispatcher has just wrapped in Victoria – creating jobs and delivering a $50 million boost to the state economy, including bringing $5 million into regional Victoria.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks recently met actor Brendan Cowell, director Christian Schwochow, executive producers Hakan Kousetta and Joanna Werner, producer Katharina Haase and writer Kris Mrksa on the set at Docklands Studios Melbourne.
Minister Colin Brooks and Caroline Pitcher watch the monitors at Docklands Studios Melbourne, photo by Lachlan Moore.
The series has been filmed almost entirely on location in regional Victoria, showcasing the state’s diverse landscapes from the coast to forests, farms, towns and roads for a global audience. Filming has taken place in Somers, Hoddles Creek, Yarra Bend Park, Altona, Avalon, Warburton, Mount Dandenong, Warrnambool and Portland among others.
The Dispatcher has created 1,668 jobs for Victorian screen workers, including 768 cast and crew and 900 background artists, and engaged 735 Victorian businesses
The production trained and employed 22 emerging Victorian screen practitioners for an average of five months each in roles such as shadowing director, shadowing producer and in departments lighting, transport, art department, assistant directors and script. The Dispatcher also had Access, People and Culture, Training and Sustainability departments, all of which are integral to 60Forty Films approach to productions.
L-R (back row) Kris Mrksa, Joanna Werner, Brendan Cowell, Karl Liegis, Stuart Menzies. L-R (front row) Minister Colin Brooks, Christian Schwocow, Caroline Pitcher, Katharina Haase, Hakan Kousetta, Kate Marks, photo by Lachlan Moore.
Based on award-winning author Ryan David Jahn’s novel of the same name, the six-part series adaptation is by Victorian writer and executive producer Kris Mrksa and directed by Emmy Award-nominated Christian Schwochow (The Crown, Bad Banks, Munich - The Edge of War), who also serves as executive producer.
The series is executive produced by Emmy® Award winners Jamie Laurenson and Hakan Kousetta from 60Forty Films (Slow Horses, Hijack), alongside Schwochow, Mrksa and Joanna Werner at Werner Film Productions, who has provided local production services. They are joined by producer Katharina Haase, co-producer Stuart Menzies and line producer Amanda Crittenden.
The series stars Gotham Award winner Patrick Brammall (Colin from Accounts, Evil), BAFTA Award nominee Maxine Peake (Words of War, Say Nothing, Black Mirror), Brendan Cowell (Dune: Prophecy, Plum), Daniel Henshall (Mickey 17, How to Make Gravy), Jessica Wren (Mr. Inbetween, Return to Devil’s Playground), Zahra Newman (Thirteen Lives, Addition) and newcomer Chloe Jean Lourdes.
The Dispatcher was attracted to Victoria through VicScreen’s Victorian Screen Incentive and also received support from the Federal Government’s Location Offset.
Recent productions that have filmed in the state include ABC drama series Goolagong, Stan Original comedy series Gnomes, WWII thriller Play Dead and gridiron drama feature the Untitled John Tuggle Project.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said, “The Dispatcher is another world-class production that we’re proud to have attracted to Victoria, showcasing our stunning locations and screen capabilities to the world. Productions like this are big business for our state – including regional communities. The Dispatcher contributed $50 million to our economy, engaged hundreds of local businesses and employed more than 1,600 Victorians.”
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “VicScreen is proud that 60Forty Films chose to make The Dispatcher in Victoria. Their commitment to sustainable practices and their focus on inclusivity and diversity and training is to be commended. We’re thrilled that so many emerging screen workers have had the opportunity to be a part of the crew and refine their skills on the set of this gripping new series.”
Executive Producer Hakan Kousetta said, “The State of Victoria afforded us an abundance of opportunities for making a series of this scale possible. Fantastic facilities, competitive incentives, incredible locations and first-class crew made filming here a really easy choice. We’re genuinely excited to be making this compelling Australian set show for international audiences to enjoy and have it serve as a showcase for what is possible to achieve in Victoria."