BTS of the DEAD CENTRE team - Photo Credit: Benno Thiel

We chat with Benno Thiel about DEAD CENTRE.

What inspired you to create this production?

At its heart, DEAD CENTRE is a story about family, that no matter the distance we are always intrinsically connected and drawn together. Coming from a large family, I wanted to weave in my personal experiences, particularly the complex relationships between siblings and their parents.

DEAD CENTRE is a dark comedy thriller, juxtaposing the neon lights of Tokyo against the harsh, dilapidated aesthetic of an old, outback town. I’ve always been inspired by unique and creative worlds that captivate an audience. Movies such as BLADE RUNNER and GHOST IN THE SHELL were major influences and I fell in love with the aesthetic. I wanted to challenge the team and the myself and see if we could create something that popped on screen but was populated by memorable and relatable characters. The result was an outback setting, paired with a futuristic cult that is at odds against the environment.

What challenges did you face in creating this production?

From world creation and locations partially burning down, DEAD CENTRE had its share of speed bumps along the way. The biggest challenge was the sheer scale of the project, how do we create a neon flamingo cult? We were luckily enough to find an old pioneer town just outside of Adelaide which set the stage for the series. Our incredible production designer designed a cost-effective way to create the flamingos and green walls. This was matched with a prop building team who worked tirelessly to bring the dream to reality. A total of eighteen flamingos were built with twenty large grass walls.

The day before production began, we heard the news that part of the pioneer town had burnt down. The news was shocking and certainly stressful from a production standpoint, but with some careful planning we integrated it into the shots. See if you can spot it!

What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring filmmakers?

My advice for aspiring content creators would be to take the time to really think about the films, television series or other media that you really love and inspire you. The whole process from turning a blank page into a script or turning footage into an edit can be extremely tough and you’ll find moments where you can’t stand working on the project. It’s in those moments you need that list to go back to and rewatch what you love, the media that made you want to be a filmmaker in the first place. The best thing about you as a creator is your voice and the stories you can tell, anything that can inspire you go get back to that page or back into the editing suite and closer to your stories on the screen is invaluable.

What are you hoping audiences will take away from watching this series?

I hope DEAD CENTRE provides the audiences with a sense of intrigue and it spurs some thoughts about family and what it means to them. Ultimately the story is about family and the different dynamics we all have with our mother, father, sisters and brothers. If the series can invigorate thought past the screen, then it’s been worth it.

Further to this, I hope DEAD CENTRE transports the audience to a unique world with a diverse range of characters. A world they can indulge in and forget about worries just for a moment. An escapism to a weird cult in the outback guided by a lone wolf who wants a partner, a nervous crypto-currency farmer and a talking AI fish.

I’m extremely proud of what the team have been able to achieve, and I hope audiences find truth in the series, a connection with this odd world and the memorable characters who inhabit it.

For more on DEAD CENTRE visit the production's Facebook page.