Jessica Mauboy, star of 2013 Australian breakout hit “The Sapphires,” returns to a leading film role for the first time in over a decade in family feature “Windcatcher.”
Directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney, from a screenplay by Boyd Quakawoot, the film is branded as a Stan Original and will play on the Australia-only streamer from March 28.
Set in a small country town, “Windcatcher” follows the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, newcomer Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they band together to take the local school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies. But as Percy Boy trains with the help of his mates, he then discovers his supernatural ability to see lost souls – a gift passed down from his grandfather. Percy Boy must overcome his fears, prove his resilience and become a force to be reckoned with.
Mauboy, who is an iconic figure in Australian entertainment has...
Directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney, from a screenplay by Boyd Quakawoot, the film is branded as a Stan Original and will play on the Australia-only streamer from March 28.
Set in a small country town, “Windcatcher” follows the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, newcomer Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they band together to take the local school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies. But as Percy Boy trains with the help of his mates, he then discovers his supernatural ability to see lost souls – a gift passed down from his grandfather. Percy Boy must overcome his fears, prove his resilience and become a force to be reckoned with.
Mauboy, who is an iconic figure in Australian entertainment has...
- 2/5/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Producer Hayley Adams has joined the Unless Pictures team as the company ramps up its short-form content slate, while Sanja Simić also joins as a development producer.
Adams is the producer and co-director of TikTok narrative series Love Songs, which amassed over 20 million views, and more recently, produced TikTok series Scattered, with over 2 million views and 50,000 followers. She was among Screen Producers Australia’s Ones to Watch in 2020, and won the Sbs First Look Development Grant.
Her role at Unless takes the form of a two-year placement, supported by Screen Australia’s Enterprise People Program, working under company director Meg O’Connell.
Adams will focus on developing and producing a slate of premium short-form shows, including I Could Make That, a 1 x 30-minute program for Sbs Viceland and Sbs On Demand with art history TikToker Mary McGillivray.
“Unless will work with me to develop and produce online content that is financially...
Adams is the producer and co-director of TikTok narrative series Love Songs, which amassed over 20 million views, and more recently, produced TikTok series Scattered, with over 2 million views and 50,000 followers. She was among Screen Producers Australia’s Ones to Watch in 2020, and won the Sbs First Look Development Grant.
Her role at Unless takes the form of a two-year placement, supported by Screen Australia’s Enterprise People Program, working under company director Meg O’Connell.
Adams will focus on developing and producing a slate of premium short-form shows, including I Could Make That, a 1 x 30-minute program for Sbs Viceland and Sbs On Demand with art history TikToker Mary McGillivray.
“Unless will work with me to develop and produce online content that is financially...
- 10/18/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
The world is melting but fear not: Amazon’s satirical sketch show The Moth Effect is here to repeatedly flap and bump into humanity until all our problems go away.
Created by Nick Boshier and Jazz Twemlow, the Bunya Entertainment series features some of Australia’s best and funniest performers as they punch up and punch themselves, tackling everything from climate change and reality TV to the military industrial complex and time travel paradoxes.
Stars include Bryan Brown, Vincent D’Onofrio, David Wenham, Jack Thompson, Miranda Otto, Ben Lawson, Peter O’Brien, Kate Box, Zoe Terakes, Miranda Tapsell and Jake Ryan alongside Mark Humphries, Nazeem Hussain, Zoe Coombs Marr, Jonny Brugh, Lucinda Price, Dave Woodhead, Louis Hanson, Steen Raskopoulos, Tim Franklin, Sam Cotton, Christiaan van Vuuren, Sarah Bishop, Sam Campbell, Megan Wilding and Brooke Boney.
The Moth Effect is directed by Craig Anderson and Gracie Otto. Produced by Lauren Elliott and Jordana Johnson,...
Created by Nick Boshier and Jazz Twemlow, the Bunya Entertainment series features some of Australia’s best and funniest performers as they punch up and punch themselves, tackling everything from climate change and reality TV to the military industrial complex and time travel paradoxes.
Stars include Bryan Brown, Vincent D’Onofrio, David Wenham, Jack Thompson, Miranda Otto, Ben Lawson, Peter O’Brien, Kate Box, Zoe Terakes, Miranda Tapsell and Jake Ryan alongside Mark Humphries, Nazeem Hussain, Zoe Coombs Marr, Jonny Brugh, Lucinda Price, Dave Woodhead, Louis Hanson, Steen Raskopoulos, Tim Franklin, Sam Cotton, Christiaan van Vuuren, Sarah Bishop, Sam Campbell, Megan Wilding and Brooke Boney.
The Moth Effect is directed by Craig Anderson and Gracie Otto. Produced by Lauren Elliott and Jordana Johnson,...
- 7/21/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia and Nitv have unveiled the six projects that will share in more than $600,000 of production funding under the No Ordinary Black short film initiative.
Aimed at bringing First Nations stories to the screen, No Ordinary Black is run in partnership Screen Nsw, Screen Territory, Screen Queensland and Screenwest.
The program brought together eight teams for a virtual development workshop in July last year, from which six successful projects were selected to go into production for Nitv.
Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason said the agency was proud to support the creators in taking the next step in their careers.
“Each of the six teams has created the kind of bold and ambitious stories that are exactly what we are looking for, with captivating scripts that explore a range of themes, including family, identity, childhood, belonging, and adventure,” he said.
Nitv head of commissioning and programming Kyas Hepworth said...
Aimed at bringing First Nations stories to the screen, No Ordinary Black is run in partnership Screen Nsw, Screen Territory, Screen Queensland and Screenwest.
The program brought together eight teams for a virtual development workshop in July last year, from which six successful projects were selected to go into production for Nitv.
Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason said the agency was proud to support the creators in taking the next step in their careers.
“Each of the six teams has created the kind of bold and ambitious stories that are exactly what we are looking for, with captivating scripts that explore a range of themes, including family, identity, childhood, belonging, and adventure,” he said.
Nitv head of commissioning and programming Kyas Hepworth said...
- 6/21/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Unless Pictures’ Meg O’Connell and Ruby Entertainment’s Stephen Luby have been added to the lineup of Screen Canberra’s Screen Pod program, set to begin next month.
The pair will join seven other screen representatives for the five-month market-centred initiative that aims to assist writers of diverse backgrounds in generating, developing, and pitching a screen project.
This year’s platform-agnostic program will be split into three streams – process, project, and pitch.
The process phase will comprise a combination of lecture-based training modules and practical exercises in group workshops, while in the project stage, writers develop specific projects with the market in mind, assisted by fellow writers and developers.
In pitch, participants hone pitching skills and build confidence, working in group simulations as well as real-life pitching opportunities.
The program will begin with a group session on July 10.
Early bird sale for Screen Pod registration ends June 17. Find information on how to register here.
The pair will join seven other screen representatives for the five-month market-centred initiative that aims to assist writers of diverse backgrounds in generating, developing, and pitching a screen project.
This year’s platform-agnostic program will be split into three streams – process, project, and pitch.
The process phase will comprise a combination of lecture-based training modules and practical exercises in group workshops, while in the project stage, writers develop specific projects with the market in mind, assisted by fellow writers and developers.
In pitch, participants hone pitching skills and build confidence, working in group simulations as well as real-life pitching opportunities.
The program will begin with a group session on July 10.
Early bird sale for Screen Pod registration ends June 17. Find information on how to register here.
- 6/10/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Brisbane-based writer, producer, and director Clare Sladden will benefit from the guidance of renowned US showrunner Bradford Winters in developing a new drama series after being selected for the final component of a Screen Queensland writers’ initiative.
Delivered in conjunction with Winters, the week-long Bradford Winters Series Lab comprised five participants, who were invited to pitch their concepts to Netflix, Stan, or Sbs executives for feedback.
Sladden will now assemble a five-day writers’ room to apply feedback from the pitch experience to create a pilot script for her series Pathological, as well as a bible to present to the market.
Pathological, follows the story of Claudia, a ruthless, sociopathic lawyer who, after the removal of a brain tumor, acquires a new sense of empathy and must navigate a dangerous corporate conspiracy to protect a teenage runaway from a contract kill Claudia orchestrated previously.
Sladden, whose recent credits include the upcoming Stan Original series Eden,...
Delivered in conjunction with Winters, the week-long Bradford Winters Series Lab comprised five participants, who were invited to pitch their concepts to Netflix, Stan, or Sbs executives for feedback.
Sladden will now assemble a five-day writers’ room to apply feedback from the pitch experience to create a pilot script for her series Pathological, as well as a bible to present to the market.
Pathological, follows the story of Claudia, a ruthless, sociopathic lawyer who, after the removal of a brain tumor, acquires a new sense of empathy and must navigate a dangerous corporate conspiracy to protect a teenage runaway from a contract kill Claudia orchestrated previously.
Sladden, whose recent credits include the upcoming Stan Original series Eden,...
- 5/13/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Screen Queensland has partnered with Unless Pictures to launch Ride Shorts, which will support up to six early to mid-career creative teams to create short films that will premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival (Biff).
The program is part of Sq’s larger Ride Initiative, which aims to bolster filmmakers from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Other partners in the initiative include Sbs, Madman Entertainment and The Post Lounge.
Each of the Ride shorts will be executive produced by Unless Pictures’ Meg O’Connell and Jackson Lapsley Scott. Teams will receive up to $55,000, as well as creative feedback and guidance from Unless Pictures throughout development, production, post, delivery and distribution.
In addition to the premiere at Biff, there is the potential for the shorts to stream on Sbs on Demand and packaged as an anthology feature film for theatrical distribution by Madman.
Screen Queensland’s chief creative officer Jo Dillon said Ride...
The program is part of Sq’s larger Ride Initiative, which aims to bolster filmmakers from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Other partners in the initiative include Sbs, Madman Entertainment and The Post Lounge.
Each of the Ride shorts will be executive produced by Unless Pictures’ Meg O’Connell and Jackson Lapsley Scott. Teams will receive up to $55,000, as well as creative feedback and guidance from Unless Pictures throughout development, production, post, delivery and distribution.
In addition to the premiere at Biff, there is the potential for the shorts to stream on Sbs on Demand and packaged as an anthology feature film for theatrical distribution by Madman.
Screen Queensland’s chief creative officer Jo Dillon said Ride...
- 3/8/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia, together with its Gender Matters Taskforce, has used International Women’s Day to unveil two initiatives aimed at supporting women and gender-diverse practitioners.
These include a series of webinars presented by women working in key creative roles and a mentoring program.
Hosted by Screenworks, the Gender Matters Webinars will engage with representatives from the Gender Matters Taskforce and the wider industry, leveraging their expertise and connections to advocate for change in each of their individual areas of speciality.
Gender Matters Taskforce chair and producer Joanna Werner, director Corrie Chen, documentary filmmakers Jen Peedom and Yaara Bou Melhem, and screenwriter Sarah Bassiuoni will join moderato, dean of Rmit University’s School of Media and Communication, Lisa French, in speaking at the sessions.
There is also Gender Matters Connect, a mentoring program delivered by Women in Film and Television Australia (Wift Australia) and Screen Australia.
Among those sharing their expertise...
These include a series of webinars presented by women working in key creative roles and a mentoring program.
Hosted by Screenworks, the Gender Matters Webinars will engage with representatives from the Gender Matters Taskforce and the wider industry, leveraging their expertise and connections to advocate for change in each of their individual areas of speciality.
Gender Matters Taskforce chair and producer Joanna Werner, director Corrie Chen, documentary filmmakers Jen Peedom and Yaara Bou Melhem, and screenwriter Sarah Bassiuoni will join moderato, dean of Rmit University’s School of Media and Communication, Lisa French, in speaking at the sessions.
There is also Gender Matters Connect, a mentoring program delivered by Women in Film and Television Australia (Wift Australia) and Screen Australia.
Among those sharing their expertise...
- 3/8/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Australia received strong representation at the Rose d’Or Awards on Wednesday, with First Day and Content among the winners at the virtual ceremony.
The series beat finalists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands at the international entertainment broadcasting and programming awards, which attracted more than 760 entries.
First Day, produced by Epic Films, won the Children and Youth Award for its story about a transgender girl starting high school and finding the courage to live as her most authentic self.
Commissioned by the ABC, the series has since been sold to the BBC and Hulu.
Producer Kirsty Stark told If the feedback she and director Julie Kalceff had received from the trans and LGBTQ communities had shown the story’s power to resonate with audiences.
“We are thrilled to have been recognised with a Rose d’Or Award,” she said.
“For us, the...
The series beat finalists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands at the international entertainment broadcasting and programming awards, which attracted more than 760 entries.
First Day, produced by Epic Films, won the Children and Youth Award for its story about a transgender girl starting high school and finding the courage to live as her most authentic self.
Commissioned by the ABC, the series has since been sold to the BBC and Hulu.
Producer Kirsty Stark told If the feedback she and director Julie Kalceff had received from the trans and LGBTQ communities had shown the story’s power to resonate with audiences.
“We are thrilled to have been recognised with a Rose d’Or Award,” she said.
“For us, the...
- 12/10/2020
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Epic Films’ First Day, Ludo Studio’s Content, and More Sauce’s Cancelled are among the Aussie nominees for this year’s prestigious Rose d’Or Awards.
Commissioned by the ABC, First Day will compete in the Children and Youth category, against projects from the UK, Canada, US, and Belgium.
The series, which has sold the BBC and Hulu, stars young transgender actor Evie Macdonald as Hannah Bradford, who is about to start her first year of high school.
As a transgender girl, Hannah not only has to navigate the challenges that come with starting a new school but find the courage to live as her most authentic self.
Created and written by Julie Kalceff and produced by Kirsty Stark and Kate Croser, First Day has already won a slew of awards including the Diversify TV Excellence Award for Kids’ Programming at MIPCOM 2018, the Gender Equity Prize at the Prix...
Commissioned by the ABC, First Day will compete in the Children and Youth category, against projects from the UK, Canada, US, and Belgium.
The series, which has sold the BBC and Hulu, stars young transgender actor Evie Macdonald as Hannah Bradford, who is about to start her first year of high school.
As a transgender girl, Hannah not only has to navigate the challenges that come with starting a new school but find the courage to live as her most authentic self.
Created and written by Julie Kalceff and produced by Kirsty Stark and Kate Croser, First Day has already won a slew of awards including the Diversify TV Excellence Award for Kids’ Programming at MIPCOM 2018, the Gender Equity Prize at the Prix...
- 11/13/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Screen Producers Australia has named the members of its two advisory boards for the upcoming Screen Forever conference.
The programming advisory board, made up of a group of producers, directors and writers, will help set the strategic direction for the February event, aiding in the creation of a program that will reflect the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in the wake of the pandemic.
This year, Spa has also enlisted the help of a market and financing advisory board for the first time, comprised of representatives from broadcasters and screen organisations across Australia, Canada and the United States. The aim is to maximise the global business opportunities available to delegates at the Spa Connect market.
“After such an unprecedented year, having the guidance of two dynamic and multi-disciplined boards who will focus on the key pillars of Screen Forever – discovery and deal-making – will no doubt pay dividends for our delegates,...
The programming advisory board, made up of a group of producers, directors and writers, will help set the strategic direction for the February event, aiding in the creation of a program that will reflect the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in the wake of the pandemic.
This year, Spa has also enlisted the help of a market and financing advisory board for the first time, comprised of representatives from broadcasters and screen organisations across Australia, Canada and the United States. The aim is to maximise the global business opportunities available to delegates at the Spa Connect market.
“After such an unprecedented year, having the guidance of two dynamic and multi-disciplined boards who will focus on the key pillars of Screen Forever – discovery and deal-making – will no doubt pay dividends for our delegates,...
- 10/20/2020
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Alexandra Keddie, Drew Weston and Gemma Bird Matheson in ‘The Housemate.’
Frustrated with the scarcity of job offers, two years ago young actors Gemma Bird Matheson and Alexandra Keddie decided to launch their own production company, Chips & Gravy Films.
Their maiden production was The Housemate, an affectionate take on The Bachelor. They spent several thousand dollars of their own money to make a 4-minute teaser, in which they played friends who are searching for the housemate of their dreams, posted it online and got 260,000 views in the first week.
So they sent the teaser to Rick Kalowski, then the ABC’s head of comedy, who called them within 30 minutes and quickly commissioned a series of 6 x 5′ episodes for iview.
Since then the duo have created four or five projects which are in development with Screen Australia, while Matheson also performs in plays (currently the Griffin Theatre Company’s Superheroes...
Frustrated with the scarcity of job offers, two years ago young actors Gemma Bird Matheson and Alexandra Keddie decided to launch their own production company, Chips & Gravy Films.
Their maiden production was The Housemate, an affectionate take on The Bachelor. They spent several thousand dollars of their own money to make a 4-minute teaser, in which they played friends who are searching for the housemate of their dreams, posted it online and got 260,000 views in the first week.
So they sent the teaser to Rick Kalowski, then the ABC’s head of comedy, who called them within 30 minutes and quickly commissioned a series of 6 x 5′ episodes for iview.
Since then the duo have created four or five projects which are in development with Screen Australia, while Matheson also performs in plays (currently the Griffin Theatre Company’s Superheroes...
- 10/7/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Charlotte Nicdao and Gemma Bird Matheson in ‘Content’ (Photo credit: ABC/Mia Forrest).
Ludo Studio’s vertical comedy Content and Endemol Shine Australia’s documentary Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, both ABC commissions, will fly the flag for Australia at this year’s International Emmy Awards.
Produced by Meg O’Connell and written by Anna Barnes, the comedy starring Charlotte Nicdao as Lucy, an extrovert chasing Internet fame and Gemma Bird Matheson as her best friend Daisy, is nominated for Short-Form Series.
“I love this show so much and I’m so proud of the team,” Ludo Studio’s Daley Pearson said on social media. “This is Ludo’s 4th Emmy [nomination] and I’m so happy for everyone at the studio.”
In April, the Brisbane-based studio’s Bluey won the International Emmy Kids Award for best preschool program, following wins for interactive comedy #7DaysLater in 2015 and animated series Doodles in 2016.
The Esa documentary,...
Ludo Studio’s vertical comedy Content and Endemol Shine Australia’s documentary Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, both ABC commissions, will fly the flag for Australia at this year’s International Emmy Awards.
Produced by Meg O’Connell and written by Anna Barnes, the comedy starring Charlotte Nicdao as Lucy, an extrovert chasing Internet fame and Gemma Bird Matheson as her best friend Daisy, is nominated for Short-Form Series.
“I love this show so much and I’m so proud of the team,” Ludo Studio’s Daley Pearson said on social media. “This is Ludo’s 4th Emmy [nomination] and I’m so happy for everyone at the studio.”
In April, the Brisbane-based studio’s Bluey won the International Emmy Kids Award for best preschool program, following wins for interactive comedy #7DaysLater in 2015 and animated series Doodles in 2016.
The Esa documentary,...
- 9/24/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Shannon Molloy (R) and his husband Rob Battisti.
Kurt Royan and Dan Lake’s Orange Entertainment Co. has bought the screen rights to Shannon Molloy’s autobiographical book Fourteen, which chronicles one year of his life as a gay teenager in regional Queensland.
It’s the first acquisition for the production company which launched last year as an offshoot of The Post Lounge post-production house.
Published in March by Simon & Schuster Australia, Fourteen: My Year of Darkness, and the Light that Followed is described as a harrowing but ultimately hopeful account of his search for identity and acceptance, aged 14, while attending an all-boys Catholic school.
“It was a year in which I started to discover who I was, and deeply hated what was revealed,” Molloy says. “It was a year in which I had my first crush and first devastating heartbreak.
“It was a year of torment, bullying and betrayal...
Kurt Royan and Dan Lake’s Orange Entertainment Co. has bought the screen rights to Shannon Molloy’s autobiographical book Fourteen, which chronicles one year of his life as a gay teenager in regional Queensland.
It’s the first acquisition for the production company which launched last year as an offshoot of The Post Lounge post-production house.
Published in March by Simon & Schuster Australia, Fourteen: My Year of Darkness, and the Light that Followed is described as a harrowing but ultimately hopeful account of his search for identity and acceptance, aged 14, while attending an all-boys Catholic school.
“It was a year in which I started to discover who I was, and deeply hated what was revealed,” Molloy says. “It was a year in which I had my first crush and first devastating heartbreak.
“It was a year of torment, bullying and betrayal...
- 9/14/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Meg O’Connell.
Thanks to Screen Queensland’s Enterprise Funding, Meg O’Connell is adding two execs at her banner Unless Pictures to help drive her slate and grow the business.
One new hire is her frequent collaborator, producer Jackson Lapsley Scott. The other, yet to be chosen, will be a development producer.
The producer/creator/writer is teaming up again with writer Anna Barnes on vertical murder mystery series Apollo under the Snapchat and Screen Australia joint initiative.
O’Connell and Barnes were among the creatives behind the Ludo Studio/ABC iview comedy Content and the ABC’s Retrograde.
Set at an exclusive boarding school for children of the elite, Apollo will be a co-production between Unless Pictures and Kurt Royan and Dan Lake’s Orange Entertainment.
The plot revolves around the murder of the class president, which leads to a spate of killings. A student turned private detective investigates...
Thanks to Screen Queensland’s Enterprise Funding, Meg O’Connell is adding two execs at her banner Unless Pictures to help drive her slate and grow the business.
One new hire is her frequent collaborator, producer Jackson Lapsley Scott. The other, yet to be chosen, will be a development producer.
The producer/creator/writer is teaming up again with writer Anna Barnes on vertical murder mystery series Apollo under the Snapchat and Screen Australia joint initiative.
O’Connell and Barnes were among the creatives behind the Ludo Studio/ABC iview comedy Content and the ABC’s Retrograde.
Set at an exclusive boarding school for children of the elite, Apollo will be a co-production between Unless Pictures and Kurt Royan and Dan Lake’s Orange Entertainment.
The plot revolves around the murder of the class president, which leads to a spate of killings. A student turned private detective investigates...
- 8/31/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Leah Purcell on the set of ‘The Drover’s Wife’.
Screen Queensland has announced 11 companies to share in just under $1 million in funding, designed to help their businesses pivot and diversify through the pandemic.
The Sq Enterprise fund forms part of the agency’s $3.3 million Covid-19 support package, and the recipients include a range of production companies, post-production houses and production service businesses. Grants of up to $150,000 were available.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said the diverse range of recipients is testament to the strength and skill of Queensland production and post-production talent and entrepreneurship.
“Recipients have come from the breadth of our sector, representing new and established businesses in production, cinematography, audio, visual effects, screenwriting and location scouting,” she said.
“These 11 companies were selected on the basis of their ability to significantly pivot and innovate, and we are excited to see the impactful and creative outcomes that will emerge from this support.
Screen Queensland has announced 11 companies to share in just under $1 million in funding, designed to help their businesses pivot and diversify through the pandemic.
The Sq Enterprise fund forms part of the agency’s $3.3 million Covid-19 support package, and the recipients include a range of production companies, post-production houses and production service businesses. Grants of up to $150,000 were available.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said the diverse range of recipients is testament to the strength and skill of Queensland production and post-production talent and entrepreneurship.
“Recipients have come from the breadth of our sector, representing new and established businesses in production, cinematography, audio, visual effects, screenwriting and location scouting,” she said.
“These 11 companies were selected on the basis of their ability to significantly pivot and innovate, and we are excited to see the impactful and creative outcomes that will emerge from this support.
- 8/12/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Pallavi Sharda, Ilai Swindells and Maria Angelico.
The ABC has ordered a six-part narrative comedy from Unless Pictures and Orange Entertainment centred on Covid-19 isolation, due to start filming – remotely – this month before airing in July.
Titled Retrograde, the series follows the lives of a group of 30-something friends, as they drown their sorrows at a ‘virtual bar’ during the pandemic. It will star Pallavi Sharda, Ilai Swindells, Maria Angelico, Esther Hannaford and Nick Boshier, with guest star Ronny Chieng.
The cast will film from their respective locations, activated by remote technical operators and working with an overarching technical director, as they record a group video chat that forms the central storyline. In addition to the main eps, there will be extended digital content to deepen audience engagement.
The full synopsis: “Gemma is about to embark on an exciting career in Korea when Covid-19 crashes her farewell party. Faster than...
The ABC has ordered a six-part narrative comedy from Unless Pictures and Orange Entertainment centred on Covid-19 isolation, due to start filming – remotely – this month before airing in July.
Titled Retrograde, the series follows the lives of a group of 30-something friends, as they drown their sorrows at a ‘virtual bar’ during the pandemic. It will star Pallavi Sharda, Ilai Swindells, Maria Angelico, Esther Hannaford and Nick Boshier, with guest star Ronny Chieng.
The cast will film from their respective locations, activated by remote technical operators and working with an overarching technical director, as they record a group video chat that forms the central storyline. In addition to the main eps, there will be extended digital content to deepen audience engagement.
The full synopsis: “Gemma is about to embark on an exciting career in Korea when Covid-19 crashes her farewell party. Faster than...
- 6/10/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Meg O’Connell and Anna Barnes.
Writer Anna Barnes and director Meg O’Connell’s vertical murder mystery series Apollo has been selected for development under the Snapchat and Screen Australia initiative.
When the class president of an exclusive boarding school for the elite is is murdered, a former student turned private detective returns to investigate. Her only lead is that everyone at the school is obsessed with an astrology app called Apollo. Barnes and O’Connell are teaming up with producers Dan Lake and Jackson Scott, executive producers Justine Flynn (The Unlisted) and Kurt Royan (Slim & I), and story producer Beatrix Christian (Picnic at Hanging Rock).
Barnes and O’Connell are experienced in vertical production as two of creatives behind Ludo Studio/ABC iview comedy Content.
The team will receive $15,000 Aud of development funding and take part in workshops in May with the Snapchat development team based in Los Angeles.
Writer Anna Barnes and director Meg O’Connell’s vertical murder mystery series Apollo has been selected for development under the Snapchat and Screen Australia initiative.
When the class president of an exclusive boarding school for the elite is is murdered, a former student turned private detective returns to investigate. Her only lead is that everyone at the school is obsessed with an astrology app called Apollo. Barnes and O’Connell are teaming up with producers Dan Lake and Jackson Scott, executive producers Justine Flynn (The Unlisted) and Kurt Royan (Slim & I), and story producer Beatrix Christian (Picnic at Hanging Rock).
Barnes and O’Connell are experienced in vertical production as two of creatives behind Ludo Studio/ABC iview comedy Content.
The team will receive $15,000 Aud of development funding and take part in workshops in May with the Snapchat development team based in Los Angeles.
- 4/29/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Jo Dillon.
Screen Queensland is spending $1 million to help the state’s screen businesses diversify, build capability and develop new revenue streams during and beyond the pandemic.
In the program named Sq Enterprise, grants of up to $150,000 each will be available to businesses across a wide spectrum: production, production services, post-production, game development and distribution, as well as related media companies which are keen to move into the screen sector.
The funding can support a range of activities including the development of projects that can move into production in the next 12 months, hiring expertise and additional staff, diversifying talent, new partnerships and investments, marketing, infrastructure and innovation.
Applicants must furnish a compelling a 12-month business plan, financial strategy, market and competitor analysis and demonstrate the immediate and long-term benefits to the Queensland screen industry.
Sq Enterprise is the latest component of the $3.3 million support package announced in March to help...
Screen Queensland is spending $1 million to help the state’s screen businesses diversify, build capability and develop new revenue streams during and beyond the pandemic.
In the program named Sq Enterprise, grants of up to $150,000 each will be available to businesses across a wide spectrum: production, production services, post-production, game development and distribution, as well as related media companies which are keen to move into the screen sector.
The funding can support a range of activities including the development of projects that can move into production in the next 12 months, hiring expertise and additional staff, diversifying talent, new partnerships and investments, marketing, infrastructure and innovation.
Applicants must furnish a compelling a 12-month business plan, financial strategy, market and competitor analysis and demonstrate the immediate and long-term benefits to the Queensland screen industry.
Sq Enterprise is the latest component of the $3.3 million support package announced in March to help...
- 4/28/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Kylie Munnich.
Screen Queensland is providing $3.3 million in re-allocated funding to support the stricken Queensland screen industry through the Covid-19 crisis.
The primary aim is to ensure as many productions as possible are ready to resume or start filming as soon as it’s safe to do so.
The initiatives include an extra $250,000 for the existing Ideas Program and a new Creative Consultations Program to mentor up-and-coming writers and other creatives. More measures will be announced in coming weeks.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich says the agency’s support will focus on five key areas: Continuity for productions, creativity for screen practitioners, skills, business development and screen culture.
““It’s vital that we focus on continuity and creativity now so we can support the creation of local jobs for crew through existing productions that can quickly ramp up again, as well as new projects that are poised to commence filming...
Screen Queensland is providing $3.3 million in re-allocated funding to support the stricken Queensland screen industry through the Covid-19 crisis.
The primary aim is to ensure as many productions as possible are ready to resume or start filming as soon as it’s safe to do so.
The initiatives include an extra $250,000 for the existing Ideas Program and a new Creative Consultations Program to mentor up-and-coming writers and other creatives. More measures will be announced in coming weeks.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich says the agency’s support will focus on five key areas: Continuity for productions, creativity for screen practitioners, skills, business development and screen culture.
““It’s vital that we focus on continuity and creativity now so we can support the creation of local jobs for crew through existing productions that can quickly ramp up again, as well as new projects that are poised to commence filming...
- 4/7/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ben Lawrence, Meg O’Connell and Mithila Gupta.
Screen Australia has selected 11 creatives to travel to New York in April as part of the Talent USA: New York delegation, where they will attend the Australian International Screen Forum.
The program is designed give Australian creators an opportunity to learn on the ground in the Us, and provides networking and professional opportunities.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “To achieve success in this global industry it is imperative we help Australian talent establish and foster creative and business relationships in the Us – the largest English speaking market for screen content. This group were chosen because they are at the point in their careers where they can really take advantage of the opportunity and leverage these connections for their upcoming projects.”
Australian International Screen Forum co-founder and executive director Michael Kelleher said, “We are excited to showcase the 2020 Talent USA delegation to a New York industry audience.
Screen Australia has selected 11 creatives to travel to New York in April as part of the Talent USA: New York delegation, where they will attend the Australian International Screen Forum.
The program is designed give Australian creators an opportunity to learn on the ground in the Us, and provides networking and professional opportunities.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said: “To achieve success in this global industry it is imperative we help Australian talent establish and foster creative and business relationships in the Us – the largest English speaking market for screen content. This group were chosen because they are at the point in their careers where they can really take advantage of the opportunity and leverage these connections for their upcoming projects.”
Australian International Screen Forum co-founder and executive director Michael Kelleher said, “We are excited to showcase the 2020 Talent USA delegation to a New York industry audience.
- 2/19/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
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