Mark Valadez, who served as a writer-producer on “Queen of the South,” will lead “Those Little White Lines” as showrunner, a new series being developed by Brisbane’s Red Empire Productions and Organic Media Group, based in Taipei and Los Angeles.
The drama draws from an autobiographical novel by Kaz Piper, a former rock-era insider, centering on a woman navigating the music industry during the 1980s. The narrative employs a dual-timeline structure to chronicle her journey through a world marked by substance abuse, criminal networks and personal danger before ultimately breaking free.
“What drew me to ‘Those Little White Lines’ is the same thing that drives all great crime stories — a protagonist who survives by learning the rules faster than the people trying to control her,” Valadez said. “Set inside the excess of the 1980s music world, this is a story about power, addiction, ambition, and reinvention. It’s visceral, dangerous, and deeply human — exactly the kind of character-first drama I love to make.”
The producers are preparing to bring the project to buyers as an Australia-U.S. co-production.
Executive producer Steve Chicorel noted the international nature of the collaboration. “Developing ‘Those Little White Lines’ from Australia, Taiwan and the U.S. reflects how global motion pictures now truly works — creative voices, production, and audiences moving fluidly across borders,” he said. “Australia and Asia are no longer just markets; they’re part of a global creative engine. This series speaks to that evolution while delivering a powerful, character-driven story with international reach.”
Production will be based in Wollongong, Australia, under the supervision of Red Empire’s Amie Casey, with filming locations serving both contemporary and period settings. The executive producer roster includes Shari Hamrick Grewal from Organic Media Group, handling U.S. production and Taiwan casting, along with author Piper.
“This story comes from lived experience — the glamour, the danger, the cost of wanting too much freedom too young,” Piper said. “For years I was told this world was too wild, too female, too honest to adapt. Seeing it reimagined as a series with this creative team feels like reclaiming my voice and finally telling the truth behind the myth of the era.”
Organic Media Group, launched by actor-producer Kelly Mi Li and musician-producer Chicorel, develops scripted and unscripted programming for international buyers, with a particular emphasis on projects that bridge Asian and Western markets.
Red Empire Productions, established by writer-producer-actor Amie Casey, focuses on internationally oriented premium drama, partnering with producers across territories to bring Australian-originated content to worldwide viewers.
Source: variety.com
