Glasgow-based production company, Synchronicity Films, is opening a Melbourne production office, following the huge success of BBC One series The Cry starring Jenna Coleman, which was filmed in Victoria.
Former BBC Drama Development Producer Ruth Underwood is heading up Synchronicity Australia to source local IP and scripted content for Synchronicity, as well as potential UK-Australia co-productions.
Claire Mundell, Founder and Creative Director at Synchronicity Films says: “A key goal for Synchronicity is to expand our production reach so we can focus on truly universal stories with global appeal. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Australia filming The Cry we feel a real affinity with the country, so it’s a natural place for us to set up a new office to originate projects.”
Synchronicity partnered with Melbourne-based production company December Media (The Blake Mysteries) to make the four-part psychological thriller, which stars Victorian actor Asher Keddie (Nine Perfect Strangers) alongside Ewen Leslie (Top of the Lake) and Coleman (Victoria).
Helmed by Victorian Glendyn Ivin, who directed the International Emmy Award-winning series Safe Harbour, The Cry won Best Mini Series at the Scottish BAFTA Awards in 2019.
The team made the most of Melbourne’s inner city neighbourhoods and Victorian architecture in The Cry, as well as the capital city’s proximity to picturesque coastlines, wild beaches and agricultural settings, to tell the story of a young couple dealing with an unthinkable tragedy.
Claire made no secret of the wonderful experience they had filming The Cry on location in Victoria and how experienced and talented the crew are in Melbourne.
“The landscape and the scenery worked incredibly well in a thriller sense because it seems so incongruous that something so terrible should happen in a place that looks as beautiful as this,” she said.
“Genuinely we felt like it was one of the best, if not the best, crew experiences that we’ve had and we were blessed to have Glendyn Ivin as our director. Every single person came to the show with the intention of making the best piece of work that they could, and they really did, it was just a real pleasure.”
Film Victoria sat down with Claire to talk about filming The Cry in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Cry was supported through Film Victoria’s Production Incentive Attraction Fund and Regional Location Assistance Fund.
Find out more about bring your next project to Victoria at film.vic.gov.au/funding/incentives or contact:
Joe Brinkmann
Manager – Production Attraction & Support
joe.brinkmann@film.vic.gov.au