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Clip description
The opening titles introduce us to Cybergirl (Ania Stepien). The start of the episode sets up Cybergirl’s arrival, her pursuit by replicants Isaac (Ric Anderson) and Xanda (Jennifer Congram), and introduces Jackson Campbell (Craig Horner) and his father Hugh (Mark Owen-Taylor) on the road to River City.
Curator’s notes
This sequence, including the opening titles, sets up the premise of the show as we explore the futuristic world of Cybergirl and her superpowers. This is contrasted with the very earthbound Jackson and his father as they travel around Australia in a customised bus. Shiff and co-creative producer Daniel Scharf credit feature films The Matrix (1999), Pitch Black (2000) and Three Kings (1999) as influencing the style of the series. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) is also a likely inspiration both in character and story.
The challenge identified by Shiff and Scharf was achieving high production values within a limited children’s television budget. The opening titles establish the series’ special effects achievements. Brisbane-based post-production house BEEPS worked closely with cinematographer Ian ‘Thistle’ Thorburn to establish a number of specific looks for Cybergirl, which was shot on Super 16mm film and included in-camera and telecine-created looks. It is also worth mentioning the award-winning partnership of Garry McDonald and Lawrence Stone who composed the futuristic musical score.
