Filming begins for Aussie TV series ‘The Family Law’ based on memoir of gay author

FILMING has begun on a new six-part comedy series based on the bestselling memoir The Family Law by acclaimed author Benjamin Law.

Set to air on SBS in 2016, filming of the eponymous series will take place in and around Brisbane this month, and it’s being hailed as the first Asian-Australian comedy series for TV audiences.

The Family Law revolve around a 14-year-old Benjamin and his dreams to become a TV star — while simultaneously battling with the emotional turmoil of his parents splitting up, coming to terms with his sexual identity, and dealing with the “double minority” of being Asian and gay in a small coastal town in Queensland.

Law, who also co-wrote the script, said: “Growing up, my family used to play ‘spot the Asian’ and squeal with delight every time we saw an Asian person on Australian TV, which was basically never. So I’m so pumped to have made this often crazy, sometimes heartbreaking comedy where the cast is 90 per cent Asian-Australian faces.”

Executive producer Tony Ayes said the characters in The Family Law are “a family in the true sense that everyone can relate to – insanely honest and deeply loyal.”

The cast includes TV newcomers Trystan Go who stars as a young Benjamin Law, Shuang Hu as eldest sister Candy, George Zhao as older brother Andew, Karina Lee as Tammy and Vivian Wei as Michelle. Parents Jenny and Danny Law will be played by Australian actress Fiona Choi and Anthony Brandon Wong.