Mako Mermaids creator returns to Gold Coast to film new children’s TV series about fairies and elves

THE man behind international hit TV series Mako Mermaids and H20 Just Add Water will begin filming a new tale on the Gold Coast today. And what he’s got in store is magical.

The cast of The Bureau of Magical Things will begin filming a 20-episode series in Arundel today.

HE’S back!

The man behind international hit children’s TV series Mako Mermaids and H20 Just Add Water, Jonathan M. Shiff, will begin filming a new tale, The Bureau of Magical Things, on the Gold Coast today.

The 20-part series, to be filmed in a purpose built studio at Arundel and on location on the Coast and in Brisbane through to December, is expected to create more than 200 cast and crew jobs and inject more than $8.5 million into the local economy.

The backbone of the local film and TV industry before Disney and Marvel began making blockbuster movies on the Coast, world renowned producer Shiff has helped uncover Hollywood stars including Liam Hemsworth and Margot Robbie (The Elephant Princess).

The cast of Jonathan M. Shiff Production’s new children’s TV series The Bureau of Magical Things: (From left) Julian Cullen, Elizabeth Cullen, Kimie Tsukakoshi, Jamie Carter, Rainbow Wedell and Mia Milnes. Picture: Supplied.

Shiff said he was delighted to be filming on the Coast again.

“It is fantastic to be bringing back another local high quality children’s series which showcases the enormous talent and beautiful locations of southeast Queensland,” he said.

“Most importantly, it is vital to bring Australian children their own stories at a time when Australian kids’ TV is so under threat.’

The Bureau of Magical Things boasts an all-Queensland cast including Coast actors Mia Milnes and Rainbow Wedell, playing ‘gorgeous’ fairies, and real-life siblings Elizabeth and Julian Cullen, who play brother and sister elves.

A young Liam Hemsworth in a scene from Jonathan M. Shiff’s children’s TV series The Elephant Princess.

Brisbane actress Kimie Tsukakoshi (The Family Law) leads the cast as Kyra, a regular teenage girl who acquires magical powers when she’s caught in a clash between an elf and a fairy.

Kyra discovers a secret world of magic exists all around her — and uncovers a threat to both the magical and human worlds.

The series follows the teen’s quest to unite fairies and humans in a bid to save them all, with Coast actor Jamie Carter to play Kyra’s human friend from high school.

Rounding out the cast are experienced actors Nicholas Bell (Mission Impossible II, Wanted), Christopher Sommers (The Water Diviner), Steve Nation (Neighbours) and Melanie Zanetti (The Leisure Class, Tracks).

Jonathan M. Shiff at Broadwater Parklands during filming for season two of Mako Mermaids. Picture: Regi Varghese

A who’s who of young acting talent have cut their teeth in Shiff’s previous productions, including H20 stars Phoebe Tonkin and Claire Holt, who went on to star in US series The Vampire Diaries and sequel The Originals, and their co-star Luke Mitchell, who appeared in Blindspot and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

His award-winning export successes including Mako Mermaids — Netflix Original’s first-ever live action kids’ TV series — have also trumpeted the city’s natural beauty to audiences in almost 200 countries.

Actor Alex Cubis as merman Erik on the set of Mako: Island of Secrets 2.

The Bureau of Magical Things has been pre-sold to Network Ten Australia and German Public Broadcaster ZDF, which will also distribute the series worldwide.

Developed with support from Film Victoria, the project is supported by principal investment from Screen Australia, in association with Screen Queensland, and the City of Gold Coast Film Attraction Program.

Screen Australia head of production Sally Caplan said The Bureau of Magical Things would was sure to continue Shiff’s “incredible success”.

“We’re extremely pleased to see a new live-action kids’ series from one of Australia’s finest

producers of children’s television,” Ms Caplan said.

Linda Ngo, pictured during filming at Tallebudgera Creek, played a Chinese mermaid on Mako Mermaids. Picture: Tim Marsden.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said the first series of Mako Mermaids reached an estimated audience of more than 150 million viewers worldwide.

“Jonathan Shiff’s reputation for quality, combined with his dedication to working with

Queensland crew in Queensland locations, means The Bureau of Magical Things is on track to be another big success for our State,” she said.

Shiff, who relocated his production company from Melbourne to the Coast in 2005, spent 10 years based on the lot at Village Roadshow Studios until he was forced to make way for US blockbusters Kong: Skull Island and Thor: Ragnarok in October 2015.

“I’m making way for superheroes — you don’t fight superheroes,” he said at the time.