The hit children’s television series The Elephant Princess will bring magic and adventure when series two goes to air, Arts Minister Rachel Nolan announced today.
“Filmed entirely in Queensland, series two promises to be another international success when it launches tomorrow,” Ms Nolan said.
“The Elephant Princess is a hit in Australia and the UK, and has sold to more than 20 countries including France, India and Spain.
“Series one of program was set in Melbourne, but series two is set on the Gold Coast where the production took advantage of a variety of great locations, including the Gold Coast Arts Centre, Village Roadshow Studios and Gold Coast’s beaches, rainforest and selected urban areas.
“Through Screen Queensland, the Bligh Government invested $567,700 in series two, which led to production expenditure in the state of $10 million, and the creation of 370 jobs for Queensland cast and crew.
“The series is another successful offering from Jonathan M. Shiff, one of Australia’s premier children’s television producers, who is a welcome visitor to Queensland with his Queensland-based previous productions including two seasons of H20 – Just Add Water and most recently Lightning Point, now in post-production.”
The Elephant Princess by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions, Network Ten and Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF, follows the story of a seemingly average Australian girl who learns that she is also a princess with magical powers and heiress to the throne of a magical kingdom in a parallel universe.
The series filmed for three months from October 2009 and involved several high production value sets, including an ancient stone temple ruin, set amongst a beautiful private rainforest on Mount Tamborine. It used over six metres of carved styrofoam to give it a look inspired by Thailand’s Angkor Wat.
Producer Jonathan M. Shiff said they worked on the Mount Tamborine set for three weeks.
“It was magical and we even brought in a real live elephant to film with us on the rainforest track,” Mr Shiff said.
“Siam the elephant, one of the stars of our show, is from nearby Australia Zoo.
“We would like to thank Screen Queensland and the Gold Coast City Council for their support in filming this series, as well as the people of the Gold Coast, and specifically the Tamborine community for hosting the production.”
The Elephant Princess can be seen on Network 10 weekly at 9.30am, from Saturday 2 July 2011.
