‘From the Flame Trees’ Jewellery Featured in Australian Vampire Fantasy Series

Yarn's partner brand From the Flame Trees have recently had their stunning jewellery featured in the brand new Australian vampire fantasy series, Fire Bite (2021-). This new series shakes up the mythology of the Outback, incorporating Indigenous culture and touching upon themes of colonisation (Deadline, 2021).

Tyson (Rob Collins) and Shanika (Shantae Barnes-Cawan). Courtesy of Indie Wire, 2022.

Fire Bite is co-written and directed by renowned Indigenous filmmakers, Warwick Thornton, and Brendan Fletcher. The series was filmed in the regional town of Coober Pedy, as well as the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara peoples’ Country in the Western Desert and the Kaurna People’s Country on the Adelaide Plains. In the show, residents live beneath the surface in subterranean abodes in order to escape the cruel, blistering heat of the Desert (Deadline, 2021).

Underground dwellings of Fire Bite. Courtesy of the South Australian Film Corporation, 2022.

As mentioned earlier, Fire Bite takes themes from Australia’s dark colonial past. Thornton and Fletcher have reimagined ‘Invasion Day’/’Survival Day:’ the arrival of the First Fleet, marking the beginning of British colonisation. It’s important to note that the series isn’t a history lesson, it’s a celebration of First Nations people’s strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Fire Bite aims to give insight into Australia’s past, whilst spinning an entertaining yarn about a battle against bloodsucking parasites (Indie Wire, 2021).

Action scene from Fire Bite. Courtesy of Decider, 2022.

The heroes of the story are called ‘blood hunters.’ They are effectively Indigenous trackers, who in colonial times were used by surveyors to assist them in exploring the Australian landscape. The story centres around two blood hunters Tyson (Rob Collins seen in Cleverman and Extraction) and Shanika (Shantae Barnes-Cowan seen in Wyrmwood: Apocalypse) in their quest to fight the last colony of vampires in the middle of the South Australian desert. It is a show that balances the serious themes of Australia’s past with fantastical elements and humour (Indie Wire, 2021). 

In an interview with Supanova (2021), Warwick Thornton talks about what he hopes people will gain from Fire Bite:

“You know, the series is kicking in the doors and turning the amps up. So, when you watch it, turn it up, have as much fun as possible. Absolutely enjoy it for what it is. It’s a bunch of Blackfellas killing vampires, but if you accidentally get educated, I’m happy.”

From the Flame Trees Jewellery featured in Fire Bite. Courtesy of From the Flame Trees, 2022.

As a series embedded with Indigenous culture and history, it was incredibly important to the directors that Fire Bite supported and showcased First Nations talent. Indigenous actors Rob Collins and Shantae Barnes-Cowan form a core part of the show. Many Aboriginal artefacts, such as boomerangs, were also included as well as From the Flame Trees’ crystal necklaces. Shown in the images above are two of the magical necklaces worn in the show.

Shantae Barnes-Cowan (left) and Ngaire Pigram (right) wearing a From the Flame Trees necklace in Firebite (2021). Courtesy of IMDb (2022).

From the Flame Trees founder and owner Wakka Wakka woman Sharntell Ferrari uses these crystal energies, ancient wisdom, and connection to Country to draw comfort, strength, safety, insight, knowledge, and power. 

We couldn’t be more excited for From the Flame Trees about their first appearance on the screen. You can check out the trailer here and stream Fire Bite on Amazon Prime here.