Enterprise recipients announced
Blackfella Films, Electric Pictures, Great Wight Productions, Playmaker Media and Wild Fury are the latest recipients of Screen Australia’s Enterprise program. These production companies will receive $3m in support over three years. Blackfella Films (Rachel Perkins, Darren Dale), Electric Pictures (Andrew Ogilvie), Great Wight Productions (Andrew Wight, Peter Robinson, Monica Wight), Playmaker Media (David Maher, David Taylor) and Wild Fury (Tina Dalton, Veronica Fury, Hugh Marks) were chosen because their business plans showed “a strong vision for how they can build capacity and achieve ongoing business viability”, according to Screen Australia CEO Ruth Harley.
The companies’ plans incorporate strategies for growth including diversification, new partnerships and alliances, marketing and innovative distribution, and expansion across state borders and into international markets.
This funding will enable Blackfella Films to recruit Miranda Dear, previously head of drama at the ABC, as creative producer to oversee development of a varied slate of documentary, television drama and features. Funds will also support increased activity in developing domestic and international financing and marketing relationships.
For Electric Pictures, this support will expand the company’s capacity to access new opportunities in the factual market. It will also allow the company to pursue international co-productions and build new financial and production collaborations within Australia and internationally by establishing offices in Sydney and Toronto, Canada.
Great Wight Productions will use the funds to establish a dedicated 3D production and post base in Melbourne drawing on the expert team that worked with producer Andrew Wight on Australia’s first live-action 3D feature Sanctum. The company’s objective over the next three years is to produce 3D projects in collaboration with James Cameron and build recognition for Australia as a leader in 3D production.
Playmaker will launch its Scribe Initiative – an Australian showrunner-driven drama development program under the mentorship of industry leaders including NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles executive producer Shane Brennan. The company will also expand its operation to support the development of the next generation of prime-time network drama.
Wild Fury is a new diversified factual production business combining the complementary skills of producers Tina Dalton, Veronica Fury and executive Hugh Marks (ex-CEO Southern Star). Enterprise will enable Wild Fury to rapidly expand its capacity by engaging additional creative, production and business personnel, and accelerating the digitisation and marketing of the company’s extensive footage library. Hugh Marks’ involvement creates an opportunity to attract and match private and distribution finance with production opportunities.
