Stormworld

Stormworld is a drama television series which first aired on Canadian TV channel Space[1] on March 18, 2009[2][3] with a repeat broadcast in August 2009, and aired in Australia on the Nine Network in 2009.

Stormworld
Title card to the series.
GenreScience fiction-Drama
Created byJohn Goldsmith
Paul Barron
Written byRobert Greenberg
Alex Burrows, David Ogilvie, Bryan McQueen-Mason and others
Directed byMark DeFriest
Ted McQueen-Mason
StarringAndrew Jenkins
Calum Worthy
Valentina Barron
Lim Kay Tong
Andrew Kavadas
Theme music composerTim Count
Keith VanGeyzel
Country of originAustralia
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producersPaul Barron
Shawn Williamson
ProducersPaul Barron
Stephen Hegyes
Production locationsWestern Australia, Australia
Burnaby, British Columbia
CinematographySimon Akkerman
EditorsEdward McQueen-Mason
Bryan McQueen-Mason
Camera setupNigel Tomkinson
Rusty Geller
Running time26 minutes
Production companiesBrightlight Pictures Television
Great Western Entertainment
Release
Original networkNine Network
Space
Original release18 March (2009-03-18) 
9 September 2009 (2009-09-09)

Plot

The show follows best friends Jason (Andrew Jenkins) and Lee (Calum Worthy), after they are transported through a vortex while on a boat trip that started in Vancouver, Canada, to the alien world "Stormworld". The boys receive help from Flees (Valentina Barron), a seasoned survivor of Stormworld who uses a boat to navigate the hostile environment. The boys, as new arrivals or "access crashers" as the local inhabitants call them, find shelter at The Settlement.

Stormworld is a destination for people and objects from many different worlds. Transport to Stormworld happens when a vortex is created between Stormworld and another world by large beetle-like insects. The surface of Stormworld is a saltwater ocean with many islands that have a generally hot climate. Fresh water is a scarce resource that is central to the survival of all inhabitants, making it a sought-after resource. Trade and barter of the objects brought through the vortices operate as the basis of the inhabitants' economy.

There are three principal groups on Stormworld, between which conflict between regularly occurs: The Settlement, The Arkoddians, and The Drogue.

The Settlement is a constitutionally-based society with democratic principles. The Settlement is located at the Sighing Peaks on an island. It was founded by Werrolda who wrote its constitution. When Jason and Lee arrive, Werrolda is the leader. High on a hill not far from the Settlement is a beacon that flashes a bright light at regular intervals to attract other "access crashers" after arriving in a Vortex.

The Arkoddians are a tightly hierarchical society run by the patriarchs. They live on an island a significant distance away from the Settlement. Each Arkoddian requires more water per day than a human. Some of the Arkoddians are armed with lazbolts. Unlike most of the other people on Stormworld, the Arkoddians appear to have arrived as a group on a large boat.

The Drogue are a small band of thugs that prey on the Settlement and collect objects from the vortices. They are equipped with flybikes that are armed with energy cannons.

The Abiders were a race of people who occupied Stormworld sometime ago. They placed the sighing peaks in order to create a map, and presumably were the creators of the portal that leads off the planet.

Notable Characters

  • Jason (Andrew Jenkins) – an athletic, high-energy, positive person who has strong leadership qualities. Lee is his best friend, also from Earth and arrived on Stormworld at the same time. Jason is the pilot of the boat named Cougar. In the final episode he decides to stay behind with Flees and Ogee and become leader of The Settlement.
  • Lee (Calum Worthy)[3] – an intelligent, savvy and logical individual with a strong scientific mind. He arrived on Stormworld with his best friend, Jason. Lee wants very much to return to Earth, which he does in episode 26.
  • Flees (Valentina Barron) – arrived 7 years ago with her father, an engineer, after their small aircraft was drawn through a vortex from Earth. Flees' father disappeared four years after their arrival on Stormworld when he went out kayaking. Now 15 years old, she has continued an ongoing search to find her missing father for the past 3 years. In her searching, she has acquired an excellent knowledge of geography of Stormworld. Luce regards Flees as an older sister.
  • Ogee (voiced by Andrew Kavadas) – an extremely clever talking bowling ball.[2]
  • Khelioz (Lim Kay Tong) – also known as The Navigator. On his home world of Maren, Khelioz was a fisherman. On Stormworld he is a trader with a small sailing vessel who is trying to collect information to learn where the portal is for people to return to their home planets. His methods are often viewed as being sneaky or self-serving.

Episodes

Stormworld consists of 26 episodes[4] [5] The series aired weekly on Wednesdays, over the course of 7 months in 2009 between the months of March and September.

Episode Number Episode Title Initial Date of Release
1 Three Sun Day 18 March, 2009
2 The Settlement 25 March, 2009
3 Barter, Barter Everywhere 1 April, 2009
4 Callaghan 8 April, 2009
5 Salvage Rights 15 April, 2009
6 Out of the Frying Pan 22 April, 2009
7 Follow the Bouncing Ball 13 May, 2009
8 Escape from New Arkoddia 20 May, 2009
9 Family Ties 27 May, 2009
10 Changing Ties 3 June 2009
11 Farmer Flees 10 June, 2009
12 Family First 17 Jun, 2009
13 The Race is On 24 June, 2009
14 Luce Island 8 July, 2009
15 Deep Down 15 July, 2009
16 Fire and Flight 29 July, 2009
17 The Old Order Changes 5 August, 2009
18 Raising the Cougar 5 August, 2009
19 A Hot Bath 12 August, 2009
20 A Handful of Sand 12 August, 2009
21 Lord of the Flybikes 19 August, 2009
22 Twists and Turns 19 August, 2009
23 Liberation Day 26 August, 2009
24 The Great Water 26 August, 2009
25 Long Way Home 2 September, 2009
26 Homeward Bound 2 September, 2009

International syndication

Country TV Networks
Australia Nine Network, ABC3
Canada Space
Israel Arutz HaYeladim
Kenya Kenya Television Network
Croatia HRT
Brazil HBO Family
Bulgaria BNT 1

Production

The series was shot in Australia and Canada in 2008.[6][7][8] Post-production sound and effects was done by Kojo Productions, who sued the production company for more than $265,000 in 2010 for unpaid invoices.[9]

Critical response

When it premiered in Canada, it was called a "a hyper-flimsy sci-fi offering" with "cheesy low-budget special effects".[2]

Andre Jenkins, Calum Worthy, and Valentina Barron were all nominated for the Best Performance in a TV Series at the 2010 Young Artist Awards[10] with Worthy winning the award for leading young actor in a drama series.[11]

References

  1. "Australian Television: Stormworld". Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. Oswald, Brad (18 March 2009). "Funny? Or weird? Or a bit of both?". Winnipeg Free Press. ProQuest 2547982823. Retrieved 4 July 2021 via Newspaperarchive.com.
  3. Reid, Michael D. (7 April 2009). "Acting can be dangerous game; Victoria actor has suffered his share of bumps and bruises, but says it's all part of the learning process". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. D.5.
  4. "Stormworld (a Titles & Air Dates Guide)". epguides.com. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  5. Stormworld (TV Series 2009– ) - Episode list - IMDb, retrieved 1 October 2023
  6. Schaefer, Glen (18 March 2009). "Wormholing through to an alien world; Vancouver link with Pacific rim makes good TV and smart business". The Province. Vancouver. p. B.3. ProQuest 269567443. Retrieved 4 July 2021 via PressReader.
  7. Andrews, Marke (18 January 2008). "Canadian productions get boost from U.S. strike; While service- production industry suffers, Canadian shows are still in business". Vancouver Sun. p. D3. ProQuest 243885147. Retrieved 4 July 2021 via PressReader.
  8. Frater, Patrick (18 October 2007). "Red riding 'Storm' series". Varietyvolume=297. No. 14. p. 5. Gale A171136366. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  9. Emmerson, Russell (29 December 2010). "Adelaide company sues over TV series". The Advertiser. Adelaide. p. 67. Gale A245319770.
  10. Knox, David (28 February 2010). "Stormworld actress up for US award". tvtonight.com.
  11. "31st Annual Young Artist Awards – Nominations / Special Awards". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
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