Mark Valadez, who wrote and produced Queen of the South, will serve as showrunner on the new series These Little White Lines, which is being developed by Brisbane’s Red Empire Productions and Organic Media Group, based in Taipei and Los Angeles.
The drama is based on an autobiographical novel by former rock era insider Kaz Piper, and centers on a woman who rose through the music industry in the 1980s. The story employs a dual timeline structure, chronicling her journey through a world filled with drug abuse, criminal networks, and personal danger, to her eventual liberation.
“What drew me to ‘The Little White Line’ is the same dynamic that drives all great crime stories: a protagonist who learns the rules and survives faster than those trying to control her,” Valadez said. “Set in the over-the-top music world of the 1980s, this is a story about power, addiction, ambition, and reinvention. Visceral, dangerous, and deeply human, it’s exactly the kind of character-first drama I want to make.”
Producers are preparing to offer the project to buyers as an Australian-American co-production.
Executive producer Steve Chicorell noted the international nature of the collaboration. “The development of ‘That Little White Line’ from Australia, Taiwan and the US reflects how global cinema actually works right now, with creative voices, production and audiences fluidly moving across borders,” he said. “Australia and Asia are no longer just markets, they’re part of a global creative engine. This series tells the story of that evolution, while delivering powerful, character-driven stories internationally.”
The production will be based in Wollongong, Australia, under the direction of Red Empire’s Amy Casey, and filming locations will be in both modern and period settings. The roster of executive producers includes Shari Hamrick Grewal of Organic Media Group, who will handle U.S. production and Taiwanese casting, along with author Piper.
“This story comes from lived experience: the attractions, dangers, and costs of seeking too much freedom at a young age,” Piper said. “For years, we’ve been told this world is too wild, too feminine, too honest to fit in. Seeing this world reimagined as a series with this creative team feels like we’re reclaiming our own voice and finally telling the truth behind the myths of our time.”
Founded by actor and producer Kelly Mee Lee and musician and producer Chikoreru, Organic Media Group develops scripted and unscripted programming for international buyers, with a particular focus on projects that bridge Asian and Western markets.
Founded by writer, producer and actor Amy Casey, Red Empire Productions focuses on premium international drama, partnering with international producers to bring Australian content to audiences around the world.
