Richard Clune
dailytelegraph.com.au
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| cL>R. Anthony Hayes and Luke Hemsworth in a scene from Ten's new mini-series Brothers in Arms, based on the Milperra massacre. |
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Flashback to the infamous 1984 Milperra massacre, a bikie lies over the body of his brother. Picture: Peter O'Halloran Source: The Daily Telegraph |
ONE of the bloodiest chapters in NSW history is set to hit the small screen, with filming last week wrapping on Ten's closely guarded mini-series about the "Milperra massacre".
While the network hopes the six-part series, Brothers In Arms, will rival the success of Nine's Underbelly, producers have kept details under wraps amid fears of reprisal attacks from the bikie gangs depicted in the program.The actors and locations involved in the series were cloaked in secrecy by production company Screentime until filming was completed.
"There was some apprehension, yes," Screentime's Des Monaghan said.
"But did we expect to be physically attacked? No."
The program, expected to air early next year, explores the events leading up to the brutal shootout between the Comancheros and Bandidos in the car park of Milperra's Viking Tavern on Father's Day in 1984.
Six club members lay dead following the bloody battle, along with 14-year-old bystander Leanne Walters, who was killed by a stray bullet. A further 28 people were wounded, 20 requiring hospitalisation.
Mr Monaghan said current Comanchero and Bandido club members were not consulted on the project and writers had been conscious to portray the story in an unbiased manner, focusing on individual characters.
"It's a fascinating story about what was a shocking event. The characters are fascinating and the dynamics that led to that day are fascinating as it's a world we don't really know, a world that's closed off from us," Mr Monaghan said.
"We're not taking sides and there is no evidence to support that one (gang) was more culpable than the other. We looked at it from the characters involved and the events that led up to and the events that happened on that day. Our story is largely over once the shoot-out occurs."
Luke Hemsworth leads a stellar cast of Australians in the series, including Matt Nable (East West 101), Callan Mulvey (Rush), Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Sea Patrol), Susie Porter (Two Hands), Anthony Hayes (The Slap), Todd Lasance (Cloudstreet), Nathaniel Dean (Wild Boys), Luke Ford (Red Dog), and Damien Walshe-Howling (Underbelly). Hemsworth said the project had rekindled his acting desires.
"I did Neighbours, was a guestie on Blue Heelers and All Saints but I got a bit frustrated with the industry a couple of years back and took some time off, had a family and started a business. But being here now I've realised this is what I like doing," Hemsworth said.