BLACK AS IS BACK! THE HIT SERIES RETURNS TO ABC FOR A SECOND SEASON

Screen Australia, in association with Screen Territory and Film Victoria, are pleased to announce production investment funding for Black As: We’re Back, the second series of the online hit from the team behind Bush Mechanics, which has been commissioned exclusively for ABC iview.

Black As series two promises more non-stop adventure in the wilds of Arnhem Land. Off the beaten track and on a new mission, this time around the going gets even tougher for the boys from Ramingining.

When the first series of Black As launched on ABC iview it was the platform’s second highest-rating program and most successful documentary series ever. The show also reached a large global audience via social media, with clips from the series amassing a combined total of 120 million views.

Black As: We’re Back has just completed production in Arnhem Land and will screen on ABC iview in 2018. ABC’s Head of Indigenous Kelrick Martin said, “After an incredible response to the first season of this energetic and unique factual series, ABC Indigenous is very excited to bring another Black As adventure to our iview audience.”

This action-packed series follows the exploits of three young Yolngu men – Jerome, Chico and Dino – and their adopted brother Joe. This time they are embarking on a new mission from their Uncle Bobby to collect an old broken-down tractor from a distant outstation. The boys are challenged at every turn by tides, breakdowns and ever-present crocs in their latest Arnhem Land adventure, putting their bush know-how and innovative ways to get from A to B to the test.

The series is written and directed by David Batty (Bush Mechanics, Coniston) and produced by Jeni McMahon (Bush Mechanics, Then the Wind Changed) for Rebel Films.

Director David Batty said: “Once again the Black As boys took on an almost impossible mission, risking life and limb to rescue their uncle’s tractor. As usual they relied on their bush know-how as they battled ferocious seas, heat, dust and thirst and maintained their sense of humour throughout. They never cease to amaze me!”

Liz Stevens, Senior Manager of Documentary at Screen Australia said: “Black As has brought contemporary life in remote regions of Australia to global audiences. Rebel Films have furthered their close partnership with the Indigenous community of Ramingining for the new series, which reveals more of what it takes to be a young man in the bush today.”

Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi said: “We are thrilled to support Victorian production company Rebel Films who have a strong track record in Indigenous production. Black As provides a positive and entertaining glimpse into the contemporary lives of young men living in a remote Indigenous community. We eagerly await its return on ABC.”

Screen Territory Director Sally Ingleton said, “We are thrilled to have the Black As team back in the NT filming the boys from Ramingining. It’s a positive story that opens up Arnhem Land to the world.”

Production Credit: A Rebel Films production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria and Screen Territory. Producer Jeni McMahon. Writer/Director David Batty. Executive Producer David Noakes.