Thalu

Thalu
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	April 2020; 6 years ago
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia
Key people	Beck Cole (creator), Sam Paynter (creator), Tyson Mowarin (producer), Robyn Marais (producer), Mark O'Toole (executive producer)
Products	Television series

Thalu is an Australian post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama series for children, created for National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ABC Me, which premiered in April 2020. The show features a cast of Indigenous Australian children making their acting debuts, alongside guest appearances from seasoned actors such as Elaine Crombie, Trisha Morton-Thomas, and Hunter Page-Lochard. Production was carried out in the Pilbara area of Western Australia.

Synopsis

Spanning ten episodes, the narrative centers on Indigenous youngsters embarking on a mission to protect their land from an enigmatic dust cloud and its occupants known as the Takers. Their adventure leads them to Thalu, where they must gather eight sacred stones along with a key, encountering both friends and foes along the way. Hunter Page-Lochard characterized the environment as "its own little Dreaming," a spiritual realm inspired by Indigenous mythology that emphasizes their deep ties to the land.

Cast

Logan Adams portraying Noodles
Cherry-Rose Hubert as Em
Jakeile Coffin in the role of Keile
Sharliya Mowarin playing Kali
Ella Togo cast as Samara
Wade Walker as Hudson
Penny Wally portraying Vinka

Guests

Elaine Crombie featured as Bits and Bobs, an unconventional pedlar
Trevor Ryan in the role of Jack in a Box
Gabriel Willie as Man up a Tree
Tootsie Daniel, Allery Sandy, Jean Churnside, Judith Coppin, Pansy Hicks, Pansy Sambo, Violet Samson collectively playing The Nannas
Trisha Morton-Thomas as The Principal
Aaron McGrath portraying Random Dan
Wendyl Alex as Big Joey
Ashton Munda in the role of Traditional Man
Trevor Jamieson playing The Shadow Boxer
Derik Lynch as The Trainer
Maverick Eaton, Sidney Eaton, Fabian Togo, Tiras Walker featured as Boxers
Hunter Page-Lochard cast as The Trapper
Dave Johnson portraying The Nhuka
Della Rae Morrison as Aunty
Tameeka Rassip-Andrews playing Other Gang Girl
Zack Levi as Other Gang Boy
Leon Burchill and Billy McPherson as The Brothers

Production

Co-commissioned by NITV and ABC Children's, Thalu continues the collaborative efforts previously seen in Little J & Big Cuz and Grace Beside Me. Funding was primarily provided by Screen Australia, supplemented by contributions from Screenwest, the Western Australian Regional Film Fund, NITV, ABC, and the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF).

Originally named Neomad, the series took creative cues from an interactive Aboriginal graphic novel and series set in Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula). The title Thalu, which means "totem" in the Ngarluma language, alludes to sacred ceremonial locations essential for species renewal.

Set against the backdrop of Western Australia's Pilbara region, the cast members come from Roebourne (Ieramugadu). Character development involved collaboration with the young actors themselves to incorporate their individual traits, humor, and cultural backgrounds. Creators Beck Cole and Sam Paynter engaged local elders and youth starting in 2018 through extensive community consultations described as "an unprecedented, top-to-bottom model." Elders appear on screen as The Nannas, while elements of the Ngarluma language are woven into the dialogue.

The series was directed by Amie Batalibasi, Dena Curtis, Tyson Mowarin, and Hunter Page-Lochard for NITV and ABC Me. The writing team included Nayuka Gorrie, Beck Cole, Sam Paynter, David Woodhead, and Donald Imberlong. Filming occurred entirely on location in the Pilbara over an eight-week period.

Produced by Tyson Mowarin and Robyn Marais of Weerianna Street Media in partnership with ACTF, executive producer Mark O'Toole—known for his work on Spicks and Specks and Black Comedy—contributed to shaping the storyline. The original score was composed by Ned Beckley and Josh Hogan.

Broadcast

Thalu made its debut on 20 April 2020, airing on NITV and becoming accessible through SBS on Demand as well as ABC iview.

Accolades

In February 2020, Thalu received a nomination for the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN) Awards; however, the honor was awarded to Blackfella Films' documentary Maralinga Tjarutja, directed by Larissa Behrendt. Later, on 1 December 2020, Ned Beckley and Josh Hogan earned the APRA AMCOS / Australian Guild of Screen Composers award for Best Music for Children's Television at the Screen Music Awards.

Thalu: Dreamtime Is Now

In 2018, Tyson Mowarin, an artist from the Ngarluma community, created and directed an 18-minute virtual reality presentation titled Thalu: Dreamtime Is Now. This work features a spirit guide who presents traditional custodians through Ngarluma Dreaming narratives. The initiative was shortlisted for Best Digital Product at the 2019 First Nations Media Awards.

External links