2013 – Production companies of the year
1. Essential Media
Essential tops the production company list for 2013 on account of the Oscar buzz that’s growing around feature film Saving Mr Banks. While Aussie audiences won’t get to see the Disney pic until 2014, talk suggests the film will be a serious contender for the upcoming international awards season. Next year will also see the US remake of Rake premiere and another series of the Aussie version air on the ABC. Essential has had a big year with the next 12 months looking even bigger.
2. Matchbox Pictures
Matchbox has its fingers in so many different pies from the upcoming Real Housewives of Melbourne scheduled for 2014 on Foxtel to the much hyped and superbly cast Devil’s Playground and the teen adventure series Nowhere Boys which had its premiere at the Melbourne international Film Festival before a run on ABC3. With some of the countries best creative talent working across scripted and non-scripted genres, Matchbox are one of Australia’s leading production houses.
3. Jungleboys
The Jungleboys team are kicking goals here and abroad with The Moodys wrapping production locally and the format being remade in the US. The company’s stable of directors keeps growing and some of the best advertising for 2013 has come from the team.
4. FremantleMedia Australia
This year Fremantle pulled off the major production feat of consecutively producing Australia’s Got Talent and The X Factor for two separate networks. But it was also a big year for the company on account of forming a partnership with BBC Worldwide and the standout Foxtel hit Wentworth being recommissioned for a second series.
5. Hoodlum
The upcoming whodunnit Secrets and Lies from Hoodlum is scheduled to air on Ten in 2014 but the format has already been optioned for a US remake with networks and production houses watching the Brisbane production house closely. Multiplatform is Hoodlum’s forte and the soon to be seen use of companion app Zeebox is expected to be a game changer for the local and international TV industry.
6. Shine
Shine continues its run of major light entertainment and reality ‘shiny floor’ formats including The Voice, MasterChef and The Biggest Loser. The next major project to come from the team is the Seven mini-series INXS: Never Tear Us Apart which looks likely to be a breakout hit in 2014.
7. Southern Star
Big Brother had a second great year for Southern Star and Nine and the company’s scripted productions Puberty Blues and Offspring continue to deliver for Ten.
This post comes from the Encore & mUmBRELLA Annual available on iPad and iPhone.
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