Stranger Things isn’t the only teen drama getting rave reviews on Netflix right now – the new Australian surfing series Surviving Summer is making a splash and putting Victoria’s iconic beaches and creative talent on global screens.
Released on June 3 in 60 languages to over 190 countries, the 10-part young adult series by Melbourne-based Werner Film Productions immediately landed in Netflix’s Top 10 in 43 countries across the globe, with 20.3 million hours viewed in its first week.
Filmed along Victoria’s scenic surf coast – located 90 minutes from downtown Melbourne – Surviving Summer follows a rebellious Brooklyn teen, played by Sky Katz (Raven’s Home), who is sent to stay with family friends in Australia and finds herself in the small town of Shorehaven.
Photo Sarah Enticknap
Producer Joanna Werner – known for the hugely successful teen dramas Dance Academy and Ready for This – co-created Surviving Summer with Josh Mapleston. The popular beaches and towns along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road provided the inspiration for the series, so in their minds shooting on-location was the only choice.
Enter VicScreen’s Regional Location Assistance Fund, which supports productions to film off the beaten path and accommodate their cast and crew in the regional location.
VicScreen supported Surviving Summer to set up production in the town of Anglesea for 10 weeks and shoot at some of Victoria’s best-known beaches, including the globally renowned surf spot Bells Beach.
Bells Beach. Photo Rob Blackburn. Image Visit Victoria
“Setting the series in a tiny coastal town away from the facilities and access to cast and crew in a major city was ambitious, but VicScreen’s support made this possible and our experience of shooting in regional Victoria was incredible,” said Werner.
Take a moment to meet some of the 60 business owners and 260 locals in regional Victoria who helped bring Surviving Summer to the screen.
Surviving Summer is available to watch on Netflix now → https://bit.ly/netflixwave
Want to find out more about filming in Victoria?
Contact Joe Brinkmann, Head of Incentives & Production Support at VicScreen, at [email protected].au