in the archive
​Production investment approvals TV Drama 2008-2009

Adult Drama
 

SPIRITED
Northside Productions 
Producers John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Jacquelin Perske
Writers Jacquelin Perske, Ian Meadows
Directors Jessica Hobbs, Stuart McDonald
Sales and Distribution Foxtel, Southern Star International
Synopsis An eight x 1-hour ghost/love story from the makers of Love My Way and starring Claudia Karvan.

THE KILLING OF CAROLINE BYRNE (working title)
Screentime for the TEN Network
Executive Producers Greg Haddrick, Des Monaghan
Writer Peter Gawler
Director Tony Tilse
Sales and Distribution Screentime
Synopsis In 1995 model Caroline Byrne’s body was recovered from the Gap in Sydney: did she jump or was she pushed? A true-crime story from the makers of Underbelly.

WILFRED 2
Renegade Films
Producer Jenny Livingston
Executive Producers Joe and Ken Connor
Writers Jason Gann, Adam Zwar
Director Tony Rogers
Sales and Distribution SBS Content Sales, SBS TV
Synopsis A boy, a girl and a bong smoking dog that thinks he is human … continue their dysfunctional love triangle.

RESCUE
Southern Star Entertainment
Producers Sarah Smith and Julie McGauran
Directors TBC
Sales and Distribution Nine Network and Southern Star International
Synopsis Dean Gallagher, 29, and Chase, 26, are brothers. Competitive alpha males, they argue over everything, agree on nothing, but defend each other from outsiders no matter what. They’re also members of the Special Operations Rescue Unit. Together they go about their everyday jobs of saving lives.

UNDERBELLY 2
Screentime Pty Ltd
Executive Producers Jo Hosburgh, Des Monaghan
Writer/Producer Greg Haddrick
Producer Brenda Pam
Writers Peter Gawler, Felicity Packard, Kris Mrksa
Directors Ken Cameron, Shawn Seet, Tony Tilse, Grant Brown
Sales and Distribution Portman
Synopsis The action takes place between Melbourne and Sydney. Once again, it is based on true events; in this case events that happened in both cities between 1977 and 1987. In essence, the action and events of this series are all connected to the rise and fall of the murderous drug syndicate headed by Terry (Mr Asia) Clark and Robert (Aussie Bob) Trimbole.

BED OF ROSES – SERIES 2
Southern Star and Ruby Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Mark Ruse, Stephen Luby
Writers Jutta Goetze, Elizabeth Coleman
Sales and Distribution Southern Star International
Synopsis Series 2 of Bed of Roses is the story of a woman’s search – and a community’s search – for a workable identity in the 21st Century. It is also a love story. Because whether you’re 80, 50 or 17, none of us is immune to that totally infuriating, confusing, heating, frighteningly vulnerable sensation that renders us smiling, crying, despairing, and hopeful, all in the same breath. Particularly when you’re not sure which man you’re in love with.

Children's Television
 

DEAD GORGEOUS
Burberry Productions; a co-production with Coolabi (UK)
Producer Margot McDonald
Executive Producers Ewan Burnett, Julian Scott
Writers Barbara Slade, Sam Carroll, Richard Preddy, Neil Mossey, Clive Endersby
Director Stephen Johnson
Sales and Distribution ABC TV, BBC, Nickelodeon / MTV Networks Germany, Cake Entertainment
Synopsis This 13-part children’s series features the comic adventures of three strong-willed and sassy teenage sisters who just happen to be ghosts.

CHATROOM CHICKS
Southern Star Entertainment
Supervising Producer Dennis Keily
Producer/ Noel Price
Writers Shelley Birse, John Armstrong, Sue Hore, Kym Goldsworthy, Noel Price
Director Ralph Strasser
Sales and Distribution Nine Network and Southern Star International
Synopsis Chatroom Chicks is about three young teenage girls – one German, one Singaporean and one Australian – who become friends while studying together at an international school in Singapore. The girls are united by their bright, lively personalities and by their common interests in contemporary dance – an activity in which they all excel.

DANCE ACADEMY
Werner Film Productions
Executive Producer Bernadette O'Mahony
Producer Joanna Werner  
Writers Samantha Strauss and Liz Doran
Sales and Distribution ZDF Enterprises and ACTF
Broadcasters ABC and ZDF
Synopsis When Tara Webster leaves her home in the country to be a student at the National Academy of Dance, she is sure all her dreams are about to come true. But does Tara have what it takes to make it in this high-pressured world when sometimes being an ordinary teenager can be difficult enough?

DOGSTAR – SERIES 2
Media World Pictures
Producers Colin South, Ross Hutchens
Writers Doug MacLeod, Phillip Dalkin
Sales and Distribution Nine Network, Disney Australia, DARO
Synopsis The Clark kids have located the missing Dogstar, been reunited with their pet dog Hobart, returned all the dogs back to their owners on a rejuvenated earth, and defeated the evil robotics tycoon Bob Santino – or so they think.

H2O JUST ADD WATER – SERIES 3
Jonathan M Shiff Productions
Executive Producers Jonathan M Shiff, Julia Adams
Producer Jonathan M Shiff
Associate Producer Stuart Wood
Writers Anthony Morris, Max Dann, Simon Butters, Joss King, Chris Roache, Phillip Dalkin, Sam Carroll, Sam Strauss
Directors Colin Budds, Jeffery Walker
Sales and Distribution Network Ten, Disney Channel, ZDF, ZDF Enterprises
Synopsis Cleo and Lewis think they know everything there is to know about Mako Island, but when water attacks them in a full moon, they realise a new, potentially dangerous force is developing on the mysterious island. Thankfully they find an ally in Bella, a new girl in town who reveals an equally surprising twist; she too is a mermaid with extraordinary super powers.

LOCKIE LEONARD – SERIES 2
Goalpost Pictures
Executive Producers Rosemary Blight (Goalpost), Jo Horsburgh (Nine Network), Bernadette O’Mahony (ACTF)
Producer Kylie du Fresne
Writers Keith Thompson, Shelley Birse, Michael Miller, Drew Proffitt, LeeAnne Innes, David Ogilvy, Peter Templeman, Josh Wakely, Wayne Blair, Rhys Muldoon, Matt Ford
Sales and Distribution Nine Network, Nickelodeon, BBC, IDM, Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Synopsis Lockie Leonard is back, with the same familiar endearing characters and humour that made the award-winning series 1 such a success and enjoyed by kids, adults and critics alike.

MY PLACE
Chapman Pictures
Producer Penny Chapman
Co-producer Helen Panckhurst
On-line Producer David Gurney
Script Producer Simon Hopkinson
Writers Alice Addison, Beth Armstrong, Blake Ayshford, Leah Purcell, Nicholas Parsons, Jacquelin Perske, Tim Pye, Greg Waters
Director Jessica Hobbs
Based on the Nadia Wheatley/Donna Rawlins children’s book My Place.
Sales and Distribution ABC, Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Synopsis My Place is the story of one spot in Australia told by the children who live there over 260 years.