Australian Culture & Folklore In My Works

Two of my works are inspired by Australian culture, life and folklore, and one seems very close to portraying an Australian folktale.

The 'Hood is a TV series inspired by life in Australia and TV channels ABC Kids and ABC Me, an Australian version of I.B.F.Fs. It is also inspired by the imaginary games Aussie kids play with their favourite ABC Kids and ABC Me characters and features a 7 year old girl named Izzy who explores her world with her friends Mitchell, Becky, Templeton, Luke, Resus, Cleo, Tiny, Small, Bluey and Bingo and discovers new things each day. The show features a score of reggae music, to give it its childhood summer feel, and airs on both ABC Kids and ABC Me, just like some shows like Odd Squad and Little J & Big Cuz. The show deals with subjects like dangers of alcohol, same-sex relationships, deployment and school embarrassment, but sometimes focuses on joyful aspects of an Australian childhood.

Me, You, And Transformers Cybertron on the other hand is based on Australian folklore and Aborigine tales, and it features a music score entirely of both African and Australian music, as performed by world musicians Eyuphuro and Garrangali. The film, like most films and in the Me, You, And...franchise, deals with subjects like friendship, emotion, family and grief, and features our six cubs - Furaha, Upendi, Nakona, Lanka, Allie and Haraka - as they wander away from their family and end up in the care of the Autobots. Each cub is paired up to a specific Autobot in the kind, gentle leader Optimus Prime's ranks - Upendi is in the care of Scattershot, Nakona gets super-cool big brother of a 'bot Hot Shot, Haraka finds similarities in Overhaul, Lanka gets lost on Velocitron and befriends the planet's leader Override, Allie is kidnapped by Megatron and taken to Jungle Planet, where she befriends and falls in love with the planet's leader Scourge and most of all, Furaha and Jetfire deeply bond with each other, creating a friendship that lasts a confident lifetime. The Autobots act like brothers, uncles and fathers to the young, lonely cubs, playing with them and sometimes teaching them to be brave and speak for themselves in times of crisis. Furaha and Jetfire's playful and yet loving friendship is the symbol of the film's theme of companionship and brotherhood - Jetfire helps Furaha develop the skills she'll need to protect her siblings and find her family again. Hopefully it'll simulcast on ABC and ABC Me in Australia Day - the short, special and film - after their Acknowledgement Of Country airs.