PRODUCTION COMPANY SPOTLIGHT: Pink Pepper and Banshee Hills
WA production companies PiNK PEPPER and Banshee Hills are cooking up three deadly Western Australian Indigenous-led projects.
The two companies, founded by producers Taryne ‘PiNKY’ Laffar and Aaron McCann respectively, have teamed up with emerging WA writers Gary Hamaguchi, Brooke Collard, Clarence Ryan and Renato Fabretti, and together are the successful recipients of development funding for a TV series, feature film and web series – Old Mate, Deadly Love and A Cracked Christmas.
Old Mate
- Format: TV series
- Genre: Comedy
- Production Company: PiNK PEPPER
- Key Creatives:
- Creators: Clarence Ryan and Renato Fabretti
- Producers: Taryne Laffar and Aaron McCann
- Writers: Taryne Laffar, Aaron McCann, Gary Hamaguchi and Brooke Collard
Logline: A 47,000-year-old Aboriginal superhero is dragged out of hiding by a 14-year-old girl, and the pair are pitted against a power-hungry mining magnate who only has profit on his mind. Originally supported for the development of a web series pitch bible, the series has now moved into TV pilot script development.
Deadly Love
- Format: Feature Film
- Genre: Rom-Com
- Production Company: PiNK PEPPER and Banshee Hills
- Key Creatives:
- Creators: Taryne Laffar and Aaron McCann
- Producers: Taryne Laffar and Aaron McCann
- Writers: Taryne Laffar and Aaron McCann
Logline: An Irish farmhand from the remote Aran Islands and an Indigenous Australian primary school teacher from the remote Kimberleys, fall in love over the course of three years of letter exchanges. But, when the pair finally meet in person, they quickly realise that their expectations of each other are well off the mark. “Deadly”, of course, being the colloquialism used by both Indigenous Australians, and the Irish to denote something “more than awesome”.
A Cracked Christmas
- Format: Web series
- Genre: Horror Comedy
- Production Company: Banshee Hills
- Key Creatives:
- Creator: Gary Hamaguchi
- Producer: Aaron McCann
- Writer: Gary Hamaguchi
Logline: A modern indigenous retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic; A Christmas Carol – set in Broome, Western Australia that learns heavily on the Indigenous spirits attached to the land.
“I’m pleased to support further development opportunities on so many interesting diverse projects, that offer a voice to unique emerging First Nations stories. I’m looking forward to the outcomes from these three Indigenous-led projects from WA production companies PiNK PEPPER, and Banshee Hills, who are both driving the ship as a new genuine co-production team.” said Devina McPherson, Screenwest Indigenous Manager.
About PiNK PEPPER
Founded by Taryne Laffar in 2020, PiNK PEPPER already has a number of impressive credits to its name including KGB and Our Law, the groundbreaking half hour documentary that was acquired by Netflix and has since been turned into a full 6-part series for NITV. PiNK PEPPER is inclusive, positive and original in its approach to developing and producing both scripted and unscripted Indigenous screen content with the primary aim of supporting Indigenous filmmakers and educating non-Indigenous audiences.
“I am extremely grateful to Screenwest and in particular, Devina McPherson, our deadly Indigenous Manager for the fantastic support received for PiNK PEPPER’s exciting slate of dynamic projects! To work with trusted friend and colleague Mr Aaron McCann and his new company Banshee Hills, allows us both to work creatively, interculturally and with deep respect in our collaborative work as Western Australian filmmakers.” said Taryne (PiNKY) Laffar of PiNK PEPPER.
About Banshee Hills
Founded by Aaron McCann in 2021, Banshee Hills aims to assist in developing and producing exciting, interesting and challenging content across multiple platforms with a keen focus on elevated genre storytelling. Horror to science fiction, comedy to thrillers, drama and everything in-between. The young company has an exciting slate of projects currently in the pipeline. The Irish name, “Banshee” [Bean-sí; Gaelic-Irish] describes a “fairy woman”, a spirit from Irish folklore. Sometimes a harbinger of ‘death’, she has close traditional ties to the Tumulus mounds found all across the Irish countryside: the “hills”.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be collaborating with a dear friend, whilst also branching out solo to find, and nurture, new talent – especially within a genre space. Our West Australian storytellers, technicians, and practitioners are some of the best around and we absolutely want to tell escapist stories in a multitude of genres that aren’t just labelled “comedy” or “drama”. Stories as old as the land beneath our feet which help us to connect with each other… and some that are a little scary too, because that’s always fun.” said Aaron McCann of Banshee Hills.
Check out pinkpepper.com.au and bansheehills.com to see what else PiNK PEPPER and Banshee Hills have in the works.
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