Ten NSW-based filmmaker teams have been selected to attend an expert masterclass in conjunction with the Half Hour Drama development partnership between Create NSW and ABC. This partnership will see the launch on the development 30-minute drama series ‘Heart and Humour‘.
The masterclass will be headed by key creators and show-runners of both local and international productions, taking place in mid-2018. Up to four projects will then be selected to share $100,000 in funding from both Create NSW and ABC to aid the development of the selected half hour drama projects.
During this time, Create NSW, ABC TV and production company Jungle Entertainment have announced eight new projects chosen for development under the banner of Cli-Fi, a new genre focused on dealing with issues associated with both climate change and global warming.
The eight projects will cover a variety of themes including mysteries, dramas, thrillers and comedies, with leading NSW writers discovering new and inventive narratives in order to tell engaging climate based stories.
Acting Executive Director of Create NSW Grainne Brunsdon commented on the news, stating “The call for Half Hour Drama pitches received a phenomenal level of interest and it was extremely difficult in selecting our masterclass teams. However, combined with our strong and creative final Cli-Fi projects, we are very excited about the fantastic mix of diverse stories we are taking forward for further development.
Sally Riley, Head of Scripted (Drama, Comedy and Indigenous) at the ABC also commented “Distinctive Australian stories are core business for the ABC and these two partnerships with Create NSW present an exciting opportunity to unearth new talent and authentic voices. We are looking forward to working with the selected creators.”
Chloe Rickard, Jungle COO added “Investigating the topic of climate science from a position of fictional drama has been an extremely revealing way to get people thinking laterally about such a critical issue. Jungle Entertainment are extremely excited by the breadth of talented writers and range or genres we’ve been able to unite under our Cli-Fi theme.”
The list of Half Hour Drama Masterclass attendee projects/teams are as follows:
Amy is a liar
Writer: Monica Zanetti
Producer: Nicole Coventry
Director: Natalie van den Dungen
Attempts
Writer/Director: Brooke Nora Goldfinch
Writer/Director: Corrie Chen
The Disappearance
Writer: Paula Abood
Writer: Randa Abdel-Fattah
Producer: Alissar Gazal
Double Identity
Writer: Charlotte McConaghy
Writer: Cyrus Bezyan
Producer: Kris Wyld
Producer: Antony Ginnane
Immortal
Producer: Lucy Rennick
Producer: Joel Hagen
Director/Writer: David Burrowes
Maelstrom
Writer: Stuart Page
Writer/Producer: Jane Allen
Director: Catriona McKenzie
Perfect
Co-Creator/Co-Producer/Writer: Alice Bell
Co-Creator/Co-Producer: Imogen Banks
Positive
Writer: Romina Accurso
The S-word
Writer: Brooke Wilson
Writer: Hamilton Budd
You Fucking People
Writer: Rebekah Holt
Producer: Linda Micsko
Director: Jonathan Brough
The Cli-Fi projects are as follows:
Captain Barry – Space Explorer
Writers: Bjorn Stewart and Kodie Bedford
Anthology series (seven projects):
- Equilibrium
Writer: Matthew Dabner
- Exit the Dragon
Writer: Damien Power
- Lepers
Writer: Dr Anita Campbell
- Look for the Helpers
Writers: Anya Beyersdorf and Natasha Pincus
- Offset
Writer: Alana Valentine
- The Doomsday Machine or Haley’s Choice
Writers: Bryan Cockerill and Robert Adams
- The World Without Us
Writers: Blake Ayshford and Mireille Juchau
For more information on the Half Hour development initiative, click here.
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