K.T Simpson
The award-winning supernatural thriller series “Jade of Death” is set to debut at Queer Screen’s 25th anniversary of the Mardi Gras Film Festival on February 23. This will be the first chance for the public to see the highly-acclaimed series from filmmaking duo Erin Good (writer / director) and Taylor Litton-Strain (producer), which is now being developed into a second season with the ABC and Screen Australia.
“Jade of Death” tells the story of Jade (Bernie Van Tiel), a young runaway with a powerful ability who plies her trade as the ‘Fortune-Teller of Death’ at a seedy freak show carnival. But now people are after her and there’s much more to Jade’s past and abilities than she knows. The talented ensemble cast also includes Logie and AACTA-nominated Sara West (Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door), AACTA award winner Susan Prior (Jasper Jones, The Rover) and the greatly admired Nicholas Hope (Bad Boy Bubby).
The series is one of the top fastest selling programs of the Festival. “I was thrilled to program “Jade of Death” for the festival,” said Queer Screen festival director Lisa Rose. “It’s definitely going to be a crowd pleaser.” Both Good and Litton-Strain agree the Mardi Gras launch is the perfect stage for “Jade of Death’s” Premiere showing. “We’re so excited to premiere with Queer Screen and I couldn’t think of a better audience to experience it with,” said Litton-Strain. Presented by Women in the Arts, the Premiere will also include an all women Q&A panel where Good and Litton-Strain will be joined by members of the cast and crew.
Conceived, developed and written over a period of six months, Good’s initial motivation for “Jade of Death” was to create a high-end online series with television quality narrative and plot, a rich story world and main characters she loved. “When I was writing “Jade of Death”, the TV series that came to mind were Lost Girl, True Blood and Jessica Jones. Also I’m also a huge Buffy fan so I have no doubt that influenced me too,” said Good.
With other exciting projects already in the pipeline, the collaborative duo of Good and Litton-Strain are proving somewhat of a filmmaking powerhouse. “Taylor and Erin are perfect examples of the exciting wave of Australian talent forging careers in the dynamic digital landscape, propelling fresh local voices out in to the world,” said Rosie Lourde, Interim Investment Manager, Screen Australia.
“Jade of Death” picked up the highest number of nominations across all categories at the 2017 International Academy of Web Television Awards and went on to win Best Series, Best Director, Best Makeup and Best Ensemble Cast. With a distribution deal already secured and a second season planned, “Jade Of Death’s” Premiere at the Mardi Gras Film Festival is surely one of the hottest tickets in town.
You can grab tickets to the premiere screening here.
Check out the trailer above and some stills from the flick below.
