Overview
East of Everything is an Australian drama series set in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales which screened in 2008–2009 on the ABC.
Synopsis
The story initially revolves around Art Watkins (Richard Roxburgh), a globe-trotting travel writer who returns home for his mother's funeral to a neglected resort town, Broken Bay, on the easternmost point of Australia, where he is challenged by a crooked local council, his brother Vance who is trying to cheat him out of his inheritance, his first love who broke his heart when he was a teenager and the son he hasn't seen in ten years. As the series progresses, the life journeys of other characters are interwoven, including the unexpected return of Gerry (Nick Tate), estranged father of the Watkins brothers (and original constructor of the resort).
Background
While season one is mainly about the initial ensemble characters coming to terms with, and resolving some of their problems, in season two some new characters are introduced and, with many demons disposed of, a somewhat lighter tone is permitted to prevail, although a range of serious themes is still addressed. In addition to its principal themes of families, relationships, values and small-town politics, the series pays homage to the relaxed beach lifestyle, adjacent rainforest, "hippy vibe", and potential conflicts with developers associated with its principal setting. According to The Age, the series creators "see their multi-generational ensemble as characters bruised by life, some seeking refuge, most requiring restoration.
Reaching Broken Bay, they have come as far as they can and must turn back to face their demons, confront the problems they have endeavoured to escape." Of the initial principal characters (the Watkins brothers), series creator Cox says, "There's a group of men, children in the 1970s, who were left by their fathers and left wondering how to be men... Divorce became easier in the 70s and there were more family break-ups. Men grew up as small children with the breadwinner around and then became confused when their own fathers took a different path... We were kind of interested in the idea of fatherhood and brothers, and men's relationships to each other."
Cast
* Richard Roxburgh as Art Watkins * Susie Porter as Eve Pritchard * Tom Long as Vance Watkins * Gia Carides as Melanie Freedman * Steve Bisley as Terry Adams * Kathryn Beck as Lizzy Dellora * Valerie Bader as Bev Flick * Craig Stott as Josh Watkins * Liana Cornell as Rebecca * Imogen Annesley as Suzy Burns * Mouche Phillips as Sandy * Tom Budge as Dale * Damien Garvey as Owen * Errol O'Neill as Len * Glen Shea as Edgar * Fletcher Humphrys as Jai * Leah Vandenberg as Lara * Tracy Mann as Rosemary de Jong (season 2) * Nick Tate as Gerry Watkins (season 2) * Craig Hall as Carter Smith (season 2) * Christine Amor as Matron (season 2, 2 episodes)
Season 2
Detailed plot summaries for all episodes of both series are available here and here.
Production details
The series, consisting of two seasons, was produced by Deb Cox (SeaChange), Fiona Eagger (CrashBurn) and Roger Monk (The Secret Life of Us). Season one had six episodes, with the show airing on Sunday nights at 8.30pm. It premiered on Sunday, 30 March 2008, and the season finale aired on Sunday, 4 May 2008. Season two had seven episodes, with the show airing on Saturday nights at 7.30pm. It premiered on Saturday, 25 July 2009. Nick Tate joined the cast for the season.
Filming locations
The fictional town of Broken Bay in which the show is set, is loosely based on Byron Bay, on the northern New South Wales coast, where the majority of filming took place. The run down fictional 'Far Out East' resort where much of the action is set, was a specially constructed set on the site of the future Byron Beach Resort situated on Belongil Beach. The inspiration for Far Out East was in part from backpacker accommodation associated with the former Piggery site and music venue in Byron Bay, which still exists under its current (2021) name, The Arts Factory Lodge.
Music
The contribution of the incidental music (featuring many local and generally less well-known artists, as well as occasionally unusual instrumentation) to the story and the sense of place, is discussed in an article in Screen Sound by Liz Giuffre, who points out that these attributes reinforce the "somewhat exotic location" used for the setting.
DVD and CD releases
Both seasons were released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on DVD for home viewing, Series 1 in 2008 and Series 2 in 2009, accompanied by various extras on each 2-disc set, while the soundtracks for both series were also available on CD. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2009 the soundtrack was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.
See also
* List of Australian television series * List of programs broadcast by ABC (Australian TV network)
External links
* Series 1 official website at ABC TV (original no longer accessible; archived version as at 24 July 2008) * Series 2 official website at ABC TV (original no longer accessible; archived version as at 6 February 2015) * * East of Everything Production Blog (original no longer accessible; archived version as at 6 July 2011) * East of Everything: articles (Australian Television Information Archive)