Industry & Investment NSW has helped secure production in Sydney of a new FOXTEL television series - "Spirited" – for the State generating $6.4 million in production spend and employing over 140 cast and crew.

The Film and Television Industry Attraction Fund has helped secure the production by Southern Star, Australia's largest independent television production and distribution group.

The eight one hour episode series starts production this week and will be completed by March 2010.

Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald said: “This latest boost to TV drama production activity builds on recent high profile series secured for NSW including Underbelly III, currently filming in Sydney, and Rescue Special Ops.

"Underbelly III, currently in production in Sydney, is generating over $12 million in film industry work and supporting 170 jobs.

"The 13-part television drama series Rescue which premiered on Channel 9 in August has injected an estimated $10.8 million into the economy and employed over 300 people.

"The June budget delivered a $5 million boost to screen production support in NSW with the doubling of the Screen NSW Production Investment Fund. This injection of funds will further enhance the opportunities for TV drama production in NSW," Mr Macdonald said.

Spirited will be a 'ghost love story' starring and co-produced by the award winning Australia actor Claudia Karvan.

Commissioned by FOXTEL for its W Channel, the series will be produced by the creators of the successful FOXTEL TV series Love My Way, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske.