Mark Valadez, known for his work as a writer-producer on Queen of the South, is set to serve as showrunner on Those Little White Lines, a new drama series in development from Brisbane-based Red Empire Productions and Organic Media Group, which operates out of Taipei and Los Angeles.
The series is adapted from an autobiographical novel by Kaz Piper, a former insider in the 1980s rock scene. The story follows a woman navigating the excesses and dangers of the music industry during that era, unfolding across two timelines that chart her exposure to substance abuse, criminal networks and personal risk before she ultimately finds a path to survival and reinvention.
“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 project is being positioned as an Australia-U.S. co-production, with producers preparing to present it to buyers. Executive producer Steve Chicorel highlighted the cross-border 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 is planned for Wollongong, Australia, under the supervision of Red Empire’s Amie Casey, with locations doubling for both contemporary and period settings. The executive producing team also includes Shari Hamrick Grewal for Organic Media Group, overseeing U.S. production and Taiwan casting, along with Piper herself.
“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, founded by Kelly Mi Li and Chicorel, focuses on projects bridging Asian and Western markets, while Red Empire Productions develops premium Australian-originated dramas for international audiences. Together, the companies are aiming to deliver a character-driven series rooted in personal history but designed for global reach.
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