Producers of the upcoming Picnic At Hanging Rock TV series will hire an Australian woman to direct an episode, marking a win for protests against the program’s slated directorial personnel.
Fremantle Media will now add local female talent to its directorial line-up of Canadian Larysa Kondracki and Aussie Michael Rymer. Those two appointments were roundly criticised by Women in Film and Television NSW (WIFT) for overlooking equally-competent Aussie women.
ICYMI, WIFT staged a thematically-perfect demonstration outside Fremantle Media’s offices earlier this month regarding the issue:
Jo Porter, chief of Fremantle Media’s drama portfolio, said the organisation “acknowledges the sensitivity around the selection of the creative team and as a consequence, we have engaged with Screen Australia, Film Victoria, the Australian Director’s Guild and the commissioning broadcaster, Foxtel, to move forward in a productive manner.”
They will now “welcome the engagement of a third, Australian female director to work with Michael and Larysa on this landmark project.”
In response to the move, WIFT NSW’s president Sophie Mathisen said “given the disproportionately low instance of female directorship of significant works of dramatic film and television, WIFT NSW welcomes the addition of a third female director to the upcoming Foxtel and Fremantle production of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“Through a united effort with the ADG we are pleased with this outcome that will provide a meaningful credit on a (Australian) project of scale.”
It’s not yet known who will be taking the gig, but hell, at least another talented Aussie woman is now assured a spot at the top of a culturally significant outing.
