Funding Approvals
In the Archive
2018–2019 production funding

TV Drama | Children's TV Drama

FEBRUARY 2019

THE COMMONS
8 x 50mins
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Executive Producers Shelley Birse, Nick Forward, David Maher, David Taylor
Producers Diane Haddon, David Maher, David Taylor 
Director Jeffrey Walker
Creator Shelley Birse
Writers Shelley Birse, Matt Ford, Matt Cameron, Michael Miller
Broadcaster Stan 
Synopsis The Commons is a character-driven drama set at the crossroads of climate change and the cutting edge of biotechnology. Set just a wince into the future, it puts a very human face on what’s coming down the road and the heroism that lies inside us all when our backs are against the wall.

STATELESS  
6 x 55mins
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd and Dirty Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producers Sheila Jayadev, Paul Ranford 
Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Cate Blanchett, Elise McCredie, Liz Watts
Directors Emma Freeman, Jocelyn Moorhouse
Writers  Elise McCredie, Belinda Chayko
Broadcaster ABC

SEACHANGE PARADISE RECLAIMED (working title)
Every Cloud Productions & ITV Studios Australia
Genre Drama, Comedy
Producer Lois Randall
Executive Producers Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox, David Mott, Sigrid Thornton
Director Wayne Blair (set up director)
Writers Deb Cox, Elizabeth Coleman, Jo Martino, Michael Millar, Jaime Marc Browne, Ian Meadows, Joshua Mapleston
Broadcaster Nine Network
International Sales ITV Global Entertainment Ltd
Synopsis Twenty years on – when Laura Gibson returns to the beachside paradise of Pearl Bay to attend the birth of her estranged daughter’s baby – rising seas levels, community cover-ups and some very stormy weather conspire to convince her this town now needs her as much as she needs it.

JUNE 2019

THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
4 x 60 mins
Aquarius Films Pty Ltd
Producers Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
Executive Producer Sue Masters
Writers Jessica Redenbach, Roger Monk, Vonne Patiag

WAKEFIELD
8 x 55 mins
Jungle Entertainment Pty Ltd
Executive Producers Jason Burrows, Chloe Rickard, Kristen Dunphy
Co-Executive Producer Sam Meikle
Producers Shay Spencer, Ally Henville
Writers Kristen Dunphy, Sam Meikle, Joan Sauers, Cathy Strickland
Directors Jocelyn Moorhouse, Kim Mordaunt

MIRROR TOUCH
8 x 44 mins
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Dan Macpherson
Executive Producers David Maher, David Taylor
Writer Alexa Wyatt
Production funding for this project was revoked in October 2019

HOW TO STAY MARRIED Season 2
8 x 24 mins
Hell and High Waters Holdings Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Producer Jenni Tosi, Pennie Brown
Executive Producers Emma Fitzsimons, Andrea Denholm, Peter Helliar, Paul Leadon
Directors Amanda Brotchie, Mat King, Peter Helliar
Story Producer Liz Packett
Writers Peter Helliar, Sarah Lang, Lou Sanz, Vanessa Burt, Nick Musgrove, Trent Roberts
Broadcaster Network 10
International Sales Dynamic Television
Synopsis How To Stay Married follows Greg and Em Butler’s valiant but often misguided efforts to keep their marriage afloat in a sea of teenage dramas, money troubles, career wobbles, prickly in-laws and Turbomax malfunctions.

THE HEIGHTS Season 2
30 x 26 mins
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Serial drama
Producers Warren Clarke, Peta Astbury-Bulsara
Executive Producer Debbie Lee, Que Minh Luu
Directors Karl Zwicky, Renee Webster, Tenika Smith
Script Producer Romina Accurso
Script Editors Hannah Carroll Chapman, Megan Palinkas
Writers Warren Clarke, Romina Accurso, Hannah Carroll Chapman, Megan Palinkas, Peter Mattessi, Dot West, Katie Beckett Magda Wozniak, Jane Allen, Alex Cullen, Faith McKinnon, Libby Butler, Jessica Paine, Sarah Bassiuoni, Aaron McCann, Tim Williams, Nora Niasari, Nayuka Gorrie and Cassandra Nguyen
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales NBCUniversal
Synopsis The Heights is a ‘slice of life’ serialised drama that explores the relationships, work lives and everyday challenges faced by six families living in an inner-city social housing tower and the leafy surrounding streets of Arcadia Heights.

AUGUST 2018

THE GLOAMING
8 x 50 mins
Sweet Potato Films, The Two Jons Pty Ltd
Genre Crime, Mystery, Drama
Producer John Molloy, Fiona McConaghy, Victoria Madden
Show Runner Victoria Madden
Director Michael Rymer, Greg McClean, Sian Davies
Writer Victoria Madden
Broadcaster Stan
International Sales ABCSI
Synopsis Two detectives, bound by the past and personal grief, are driven to solve a horrific murder bridging past and present in a world of superstition and supernatural forces.

LES NORTON
10 x 60 mins
Roadshow Rough Diamond
Genre Crime, Comedy
Producers Dan Edwards, John Edwards
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse, David Caesar, Fadia Abboud, Morgan O’Neill
Writers Morgan O’Neill, Christopher Lee, Shanti Gudgeon, Jessica Tuckwell
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales SONAR
Synopsis A comedy-drama series based on the best-selling novels by Robert G. Barrett, Les Norton follows the exploits of a bloke from outback Queensland who comes to Sydney in 1985 and lands a job in an illegal casino in Kings Cross. A classic fish out of water, he soon finds himself seduced by the city’s illicit charms and dragged deeper into the web of underground criminality. Chaos and capers naturally ensue.

MR. BLACK
8 x 30 mins
CJZ
Genre Comedy, Family
Executive Producers Damian Davis, Adam Zwar, Nick Murray
Series Producer Tim Powell
Directors Amanda Brotchie, Clayton Jacobson
Writers Adam Zwar, Amanda Brotchie
Broadcaster Network Ten
International Sales TBC
Synopsis Mr. Black is an old-school sports journalist who unexpectedly has to move in with his daughter, Angela. What he finds out is that her boyfriend, the sensitive Fin, has also recently moved in. It’s game on. Created by Adam Zwar.

THE LETDOWN SEASON 2
6 x 30 mins
TLD2 Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Producer Linda Micsko
Executive Producer Julian Morrow
Directors Trent O’Donnell, Amanda Brotchie, Sarah Scheller and Alison Bell.
Writers Sarah Scheller, Alison Bell
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales Netflix
Synopsis  Over six new episodes, we continue to follow the story of Audrey (co-creator Alison Bell, in her AACTA Award-nominated role) and the local Mothers’ Group she thought she didn’t need. The new season starts with all the babies turning one, where life with child has become the new norm and Audrey finally feels she’s mastering motherhood and life…but is she?

SEPTEMBER 2018

NO ACTIVITY: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
1 x 44 mins
Jungle Entertainment Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy
Producer Chloe Rickard
Executive Producer Jason Burrows
Directors Trent O’Donnell
Writer Trent O’Donnell
Created by Trent O’Donnell & Patrick Brammall
Broadcaster Stan
International Sales BBCW
Synopsis Two cops, Hendy and Stokes, examine the minutiae of life as they are tasked with a Christmas Eve stakeout.

NOVEMBER 2018

FALLOUT
6 x 56 mins
Porchlight Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Executive Producers Liz Watts, Anita Sheehan, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross
Producers Vincent Sheehan, Tanya Phegan 
Writer/Director Peter Duncan
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales About Premium Content
Synopsis Set in 1956 amid the backdrop of the British nuclear tests in the remote Australian desert, this is a story about our infinite capacity for betrayal. Not just betrayal on an intelligence of geo-political level, but betrayal on an elemental level. And no-one is immune. Not even the betrayers themselves.

HUNGRY GHOSTS
4 x 51 mins
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Horror, Thriller
Producer Stephen Corvini, Timothy Hobart
Executive Producer Debbie Lee
Director TBC
Writers Timothy Hobart, Michelle Lee, Alan Nguyen, Jeremy Nguyen, John Ridley
Broadcaster SBS
International Sales NBCUniversal Distribution
Synopsis When a powerful amulet is broken on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Melbourne, a vengeful spirit is unleashed, bringing the dead with him. As they wreak havoc across the Vietnamese Australian community, reclaiming lost loves and repaying old grudges, a young woman who’s never taken responsibility for who she could be, must finally step up and accept her destiny.

HALIFAX RETRIBUTION
8 x 48 mins
Beyond Lonehand Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller
Producers Roger Simpson, Louisa Kors 
Executive Producer Mikael Borglund, Rebecca Gibney, Roger Simpson
Director TBC
Writers Mac Gudgeon, Jan Sardi, Roger Simpson 
Broadcaster Nine Network
International Sales TBC
Synopsis When Jane Halifax receives a letter threatening a terrible retribution against her family, she finds herself back in a world she thought she had left behind - profiling a diabolical killer.

THE SECRET SHE KEEPS
6 x 42 mins
Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller
Producers Helen Bowden, Paul Watters 
Executive Producers Rick Maier, Jason Stephens
Director Catherine Millar,  Jennifer Leacey
Writers Sarah Walker, Jonathan Gavin
Broadcaster Network Ten 
International Sales DCD Rights 
Synopsis The Secret She Keeps is a six-part domestic noir series based on Michael Robotham’s acclaimed novel of the same name. Everyone has an idea of what their ‘perfect’ life is. For Agatha, it’s Meghan Shaughnessy’s. These two women from vastly different walks of life hold one thing in common – explosive secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear. Both will risk everything to conceal the truth, but their worlds are about to collide in one shocking act that cannot be undone.

CHILDREN'S TV DRAMA

FEBRUARY 2019

KANGAROO BEACH
26 x 11 mins
Cheeky Little Media Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Action adventure, Family, Drama
Producers Celine Goetz, Isla Curtis
Executive Producer Patrick Egerton
Creator Tim Bain
Writers Tim Bain, Charlotte Rose Hamlyn, Samantha Carroll, Simon Dodd
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis Welcome to sun-soaked Kangaroo Beach, summer home to best friends Pounce, Frizzy, Neville and Gemma, four super-keen cadets training to be junior lifeguards.

BLUEY SEASON 2
52 x 7mins
Ludo Studio Pty Ltd
Genre Animation, Kids, Family, Comedy
Executive Producers Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson
Director Joe Brumm
Broadcaster ABC Kids
Synopsis Bluey is an inexhaustible six year-old blue heeler dog, who loves to play and turn everyday family life into extraordinary adventures.

APRIL 2019

FIRST DAY
4 x 24 mins
Epic Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Kirsty Stark, Kate Croser
Writer/Director Julie Kalceff 
Broadcaster ABC ME
International Sales Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Synopsis It’s Hannah Bradford’s first year of high school. As a 12-year-old 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.

JUNE 2019

THALU 
5 x 30 mins
Weerianna Street Media Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Comedy, Family
Producers Tyson Mowarin, Robyn Marais
Executive Producer Bernadette O’Mahony
Directors Dena Curtis, Tyson Mowarin, Curtis Taylor, Hunter Page-Lochard, Amie Batalibasi
Writers Beck Cole, Sam Nuggin-Paynter, Tyson Mowarin, David Woodhead, Donald Imberlong
Broadcaster NITV, ABC
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis With their country under threat from a huge dust cloud and the mysterious Takers that lurk within, a small group of Indigenous kids have to make their way to the Thalu, a place of great power, in order to stop the cloud before it destroys everything in its path. Along the way they encounter friends and foe alike as they search for eight sacred stones and a special key that will unlock the power of the Thalu and, they hope, stop the Takers in their tracks.

SEPTEMBER 2018

ITCH  
10 x 24 mins
Komixx Entertainment Pty Ltd
Genre Children’s Drama, Action Adventure
Producers Amanda Morrison, Tania Chambers
Writer Ron Elliott, Heather Wilson, Roger Monk, Jessica Brookman, Craig Irvin 
Broadcaster TBA
International Sales ABC Commercial
Synopsis What happens when a source of unimaginable power falls into the hands of a teenage boy?

ALICE MIRANDA SHINES BRIGHT
1 x 80 mins
SLR Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Family, Drama, Comedy, Mystery
Producers Suzanne Ryan, Yasmin Jones 
Executive Producer Suzanne Ryan
Director Jo Boag
Writers Melanie Alexander, Alexa Moses, Tamara Asmar, Justine Gilmer  
Broadcaster Nine Network
International Sales ZDF Enterprises 
Synopsis Alice Miranda is Australia’s newest heroine. An extraordinary young girl, who at the age of nine and three quarters has organised her own early entry into boarding school along with her cheeky pony, Bonaparte. Based on the award-winning books by bestselling Australian author Jacqueline Harvey.

NOVEMBER 2018

SPACE NOVA
26 x 24 mins
SLR Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Sci Fi
Producer / Executive Producer Suzanne Ryan
Creative Director Jo Boag
Series Director Pablo De La Torre
Writers Thomas Duncan-Watt, Melanie Alexander, Charlotte Rose Hamlyn, John Armstrong, Joel Slack-Smith
Broadcaster ABC, Nine Network, Super RTL
International Sales ZDF Enterprises
Australia and New Zealand Sales ACTF
Synopsis The Novas: An Aussie family of Astronauts on the brink of discovering an advanced Alien civilisation and a powerful life changing substance called Star Dust.