It’s been announced today that both ABC and Screen Australia will be joining forces to bring back the initiative Fresh Blood. First introduced in 2013, the initial Fresh Blood call-out resulted in 72 new comedy sketches created by 24 teams. From those teams, five were selected to make their own TV Pilots for the ABC network.
Of these, two 6 x half-hour series will be premiering this month, including Melbourne’s Fancy Boy and gender-bending Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am. Both shows will be making their premieres tonight at 9:30pm on channel ABC 2.
With the successful results Fresh Blood has produced, ABC and Screen Australia are now on the lookout for more fresh comedic talent nationwide in a second run of the initiative. Twenty teams will have the opportunity to win $15,000 in order to produce three sketches. In 2018, four of those teams will be selected to produce a TV comedy pilot as well.
Mike Cowap, Investment Manager at Screen Australia said. “For new comedy writers, performers and directors with big ideas and razor-sharp wit, Fresh Blood is a launchpad like no other, providing opportunities and exposure that can set up ambitious creators for successful futures.”
Jon Casimir, ABC Head of Entertainment, said, “The first wave of Fresh Blood has delivered two brilliant and exciting sketch series to the ABC. It’s a project that offers genuine opportunities for new talent, who can go from short form video content to a full series commission in only a couple of years. We couldn’t be more excited that Screen Australia has agreed to start the ball rolling all over again.”
For further information about the Fresh Blood initiative or to apply click on the link below:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/progr
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