Australia's best surf spots will be the key to "Surviving Summer"

Ed Horasz

Director, Kids & Family Content

Grab your boards, and hit the beach with a squad of new pro surfers in the making! International stars Sky Katz and João Gabriel Marinho, and Aussie talent Kai Lewins, Savannah La Rain and Lilliana Bowrey have been spotted along the Victorian coast catching barrels for Netflix's latest made in Australia title, Surviving Summer, a 10 episode drama series we're producing with Joanna Werner and her Werner Film Productions and our German mates ZDF Enterprises.

They're taking on some of the best surf beaches in Victoria. Who knows, you might even spot them if you're a regular along the local surf spots like Bell's Beach, Jan Juc, Winki Pop or Lorne!

The crew have just finished up three whole weeks of a 'surf boot camp' at URBNSURF, making sure they're ready to take on the real deal. Check out some of the behind the scenes action of our gang at work:

Keen to hear more, yeah? We got you covered:

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

Summer Torres is a fierce Brooklyn teen who's just been sent Down Under to live with family friends the Gibsons, in a tiny coastal town on the Great Ocean Road. Ari Gibson is an introverted but ambitious young surfer returning to competitive surfing after a life-threatening injury. Summer's about to spend the next three months falling in love with surfing, driving Ari crazy... and upending everyone's lives.

MEET OUR CAST

SUMMER TORRES (Sky Katz, USA) (Raven's Home) is a 15-year-old force of nature - expelled from school in New York and sent to the Australian coast, she finds herself giving up her skateboard and falling in love with surfing.

ARI GIBSON (Kai Lewins, AUS) (Wild Boys, Carlotta) is completely obsessed with surfing, but a serious injury a year ago has shaken his confidence and put a dent in his dream to make the State team. His life is about to be changed again when rebellious Summer walks in.

BODHI JOHNSON (Savannah La Rain, AUS) (Content, the soon to be released Bosch & Rockit) is the calming centre of the group. Since being picked up by a major sponsor, she's been cultivating her social media profile - but that image is a cover for a lot of self-doubt.

MARLON SOUSA (Joao Gabriel Marinho, BRA) (Malhação) has a wisecrack for every situation. Out in the water, he's a showman, talented and flashy - but he's got a strong competitive streak and when things don't go his way, he tends to blame everyone but himself.

POPPY TETANUI (Lilliana Bowrey, AUS) (5 X's QLD Junior State Surf Champion) is chatty, funny, outgoing - and more determined than ever to achieve her dream of one day becoming world champion. But she's carrying a heavy weight after the recent death of her mother and will have to rediscover what drew her to surfing in the first place, or she risks burning out completely.

AUSSIE REPRESENT

We are excited to be working again with three-time Emmy nominated producer Joanna Werner as Executive Producer/Producer, who produced Dance Academy, H2O: Just Add Water, and Clickbait.

Jo is a creative and innovative powerhouse producer, making shows that audiences love, and that have received awards over the world!

Jo says "I am so excited to start filming Surviving Summer all along the Great Ocean Road at some of the most stunning beach locations in the world. We have assembled an amazing crew and cast who have been training hard to get ready for what will be an incredibly exciting and demanding shoot with drama, surfing, skating, stunts and more. Fingers crossed for some great surf conditions and for a safe and fun shoot!"

Jo is also on the Board of Screen Australia and is the chair of Screen Australia's Gender Matters Taskforce, where she is leading the charge to achieve gender parity in the screen industry.

The series is supported by Film Victoria and will shoot in regional Victoria March through April 2021. ZDF Enterprises are co-producers.