in the archive
​Production investment approvals TV Drama 2011-2012

Adult drama

BEACONSFIELD
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producer John Edwards
Writer Judi McCrossin
Director Glendyn Ivin
Broadcaster Nine Network
International Sales Endemol Worldwide
Synopsis The true story of the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine collapse and the rescue of Todd Russell and Brant Webb.

RESISTANCE
That’s-A-Wrap Pty Ltd
Producer Andrew Dillon
Writers Naomi Janzen, Sarah Lambert
Directors Andrew Dillon, Geoff Bennett
Executive Producers Catherine Nebauer, Gary Kurtz
Broadcasters ABC TV, YTV
International Sales Shaftesbury Sales Company
Synopsis The fate of humankind is in the hands of a small group of teenage resistance fighters. Armed with technology beyond the cutting edge and trained by a mysterious billionaire, they’re our last line of defence against alien invasion.

THE PHRYNE FISHER MURDER MYSTERY SERIES
Every Cloud Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox
Writer Various
Director Tony Tilse
Broadcaster ABC TV
Sales and Distribution All3Media, ABC Commercial
Synopsis The Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery Series is a 13 x one-hour murder mystery series based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood. Our lady sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of late 1920s Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit. Leaving a trail of admirers in her wake, our thoroughly modern heroine makes sure she enjoys every moment of her lucky life.

TOP OF THE LAKE
See-Saw Films Pty Ltd
Producers Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Philippa Campbell
Executive Producers Jane Campion, Sharon Menzies
Writers Jane Campion, Gerard Lee
Director Jane Campion
Broadcaster BBC, ABC, TV3
Sales and Distribution BBC Worldwide, ABC Commercial
Synopsis A 12-year-old girl is found chest deep in the freezing waters of a South Island lake. She’s five months pregnant and when asked who the father is she insists: “No one”. Then she disappears. Detective Robin Griffin’s obsessive search for Tui unravels both Robin and the compromised town of Laketop.

WILD BOYS
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Sarah Smith, Julie McGauran
Writers John Ridley, Jeff Truman, James Walker, Dave Warner, Michelle Offen, Margaret Wilson
Directors Jeff Walker, Ken Cameron, Arnie Custo, Chris Martin Jones, Ian Watson
Broadcaster Seven Network
Sales and Distribution Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Synopsis Australia 1850s. Wild Boys follows a gang of bushrangers as they stage hold-ups determined to keep ahead of the troopers or wind up at the end of a noose.

BLOOD BROTHER
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers David Taylor, David Maher
Writer John Misto
Sales & Broadcaster ITV Studios Global Entertainment, Nine Network
Synopsis A dramatic account of the Gilham family murders which occurred in Sydney in 1993.

CLEO
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers John Edwards, Imogen Banks
Writer Christopher Lee
Director Emma Freeman
Sales & Broadcaster Endemol Worldwide Distribution, ABC TV
Synopsis The Whitlam era as seen through the eyes of Cleo magazine and its young editor, Ita Buttrose.

THE SLAP
Matchbox Pictures Pty Ltd
Executive Producer Penny Chapman
Associate Producer Christos Tsiolkas
Producers Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Tony Ayres
Writers Alice Bell, Kris Mrksa, Emily Ballou, Brendan Cowell, Cate Shortland (adaptation from novel)
Directors Jessica Hobbs, Robert Connolly, Cate Shortland, Tony Ayres
Sales & Broadcaster DCD Rights, Hopscotch, ABC TV
Synopsis The Slap is a bold, provocative television drama series that forensically examines the mores and morality of contemporary middle-class life. Based on Christos Tsiolkas’ best-selling novel, The Slap traces the shattering repercussions of a single event upon a group of family and friends.

SPIRITED 2
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers John Edwards, Jacquelin Perske and Claudia Karvan
Writer Jacquelin Perske             
Director Jessica Hobbs
Sales & Broadcaster Endemol Worldwide Distribution, Foxtel Australia
Synopsis Spirited 2 is the second series about a fantastical, eternal love story between a rock star ghost and a dentist who will fight the living, the dead and anything in between to stay together.

Low-budget Television

GOD SQUAD
ZAC Toons Australia Pty Ltd
Producers Troy Zafer, Jemma Cook
Writers Brendan Luno, Chad Fifer
Director Nick Kempt
Co-director Emma Camden
Broadcaster SBS
Distribution Mercury Mobile (Australia)
Synopsis God Squad is an animated send-up of gritty police dramas in which the gods of various past and present religions play the principal roles as cops and criminals. 

DANGER 5
Dinosaur Pty Ltd
Producers Kate Croser, Dario Russo
Writers Dario Russo, David Ashby
Director Dario Russo
Broadcaster SBS TV
Sales and Distribution SBS Content, SBS TV
Synopsis Follows the adventures of five specialist secret agents assigned with the task of eliminating Hitler in a pulp-novel inspired, 1960s–70s interpretation of the Second World War.

TWENTYSOMETHING
High Wire Films and Electric Living Productions
Producer Nicole Minchin
Writer Jess Harris
Creators Jess Harris, Josh Schmidt
Director Paul Currie
Broadcaster ABC TV
Sales and Distribution ABC Commercial
Synopsis When best friends Jess and Josh left high school they never went to uni, never had a clear talent and never had a drive to grow up – until the pressure to conform sends them on a search for their big break.

Children's Television

THE ADVENTURES OF FIGARO PHO
The Chocolate Liberation Front Pty Ltd
Producer Dan Fill, Frank Verheggen
Executive Producer Michael Boughen
Writers Matthew Phipps and Sam Carroll
Director Luke Jurevicius
Director (Animation) David Webster
Story Editor Mark Sherrifs
Broadcaster ABC TV
Sales and Distribution ABC Commercial, ABC TV
Synopsis Figaro Pho is a warm-hearted, adorable, quirky and mischievous character… who just happens to be afflicted with a multitude of weird and wonderful phobias. Based on the award-winning series of shorts by Luke Jurevicius, this long-form series provides an even more intimate experience with the loveable character tragic character Figaro Pho.

DANCE ACADEMY SERIES 2
Werner Film Productions
Producer Joanna Werner
Executive Producers Bernadette O’Mahony, Joanna Werner
Writers include Samantha Strauss, Liz Doran, Greg Waters
Sales & Broadcaster ZDFE, ZDF, ACTF, ABC TV
Synopsis Tara returns to the National Academy of Dance with the goal of representing Australia in the world’s most prestigious ballet competition. But perhaps she should be more focused on just surviving Second Year, where having climbed to the top in her first year at the Academy – in dance, in life, in love – she now has a very long way to fall.

LIGHTNING POINT
Jonathan M Shiff Productions Pty Ltd
Executive Producers Jonathan M Shiff, Julia Adams
Producer Jonathan M Shiff
Co-producer Stuart Wood
Story Producer/Script Editor Chris Roache
Associate Story Producer David Hannam
Writers Simon Butters, Sam Carroll, Carine Chai, Max Dann, David Hannam, Anthony Morris, Chris Roache
Directors include Director Block 1 Colin Budds, Director Block 2 TBA
Sales & Broadcasters ZDF, ZDF Enterprises, Network Ten, Nickelodeon Australia
Synopsis Zoey and Kiki are two irrepressible girls from another galaxy who become castaways in a small Australian surf town. But even with the help of local girl Amber, how long can these alien surf girls keep their identity secret?