Screen Australia announces ten new documentary projects
Screen Australia has announced it will invest $3.2m into ten new documentary projects. David Peters will produce ‘The Flying Miners’, a three-part series about fly-in-fly-out Australian miners and their everyday travels. Journalist Howard Jacobson will create a two-part documentary ‘Wizards of Oz’ which follows cultural icons such as Germaine Greer and Clive James.
The announcement:
Screen Australia today announced over $3.2 million investment in 10 documentaries, generating almost $10 million in production.
From the National Documentary Program (NDP), 88, directed by Adrian Russell Wills, tells a story from 1988 that would change the nation, when 30,000 Aboriginal people marched in Sydney. The documentary is written by both Adrian Russell Wills and Michaela Perske, and is produced for the ABC by Michaela Perske.
Also from the NDP, is the two-part ABC documentary Life at 9, in which writer/directorJennifer Peedom continues the stories of 10 Australian children against the backdrop of the largest-ever longitudinal scientific study done on child development. Life at 9 is produced byNaomi Just and executive produced by Jennifer Cummins.
Taking on the Chocolate Frog is a three-part documentary series produced for SBS Subscription Channel and STUDIO, which follows an unlikely bunch of Shakespearean wannabes. The series comes from writer/director Debbie Cuell and producers Bob Campbell, Simon Steel and Debbie Cuell.
The Waler: Australia’s Great War Horse is the story of the 135,000 Australian horses that went to the First World War. It is written by Barry Strickland, directed by Russell Vines and produced by Marian Bartsch for ABC TV.
From the General Documentary Program (GDP), Crash Test Mummies and Daddies is a six-part ABC2 documentary series that provides a snapshot of contemporary Australian parenting, from producer/writers Judith John-Story and Claire Haywood. The third season of the ABC’s six-part documentary series Family Confidential will also be supported through the GDP, and will be directed by Kay Pavlou along with producers and directors Heather Nash and Laurie Critchley. The series will also be produced by Robyn Smith.
Outback Choir is a one-off documentary from writer/director Lisa Nicol, which provides an intimate portrait of growing up in regional Australia and the difference belonging to a choir can make. It’s produced for ABC1 by Jennifer Cummins and Seema Khanna.
Who We Are 3 is a one-off documentary told through the eyes of six young Australians, exploring and celebrating the diversity of contemporary Indigenous Australia. It’s written byLarissa Behrendt and Suzi Taylor, and is produced for Foxtel by Alice Taylor and Nicolas Lee.
From the International Documentary Program (IDP), The Flying Miners is a three-part ABC series about everyday Australians who travel far and wide to make it in the mining industry. It is produced by David Peters.
The two-part documentary Wizards of Oz follows Man Booker Prize-winner Howard Jacobson, who sets out to understand why Barry Humphries, Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer and Clive James left Australia in the 1960s and how they became cultural icons. Wizards of Oz is written by Howard Jacobson, directed by Paul Clarke and produced for ABC1 and BBC4 by Margie Bryant, Dan Goldberg and Adam Kay.
NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
88
58 mins
Puksekey Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Michaela Perske
Director Adrian Russell Wills
Writers Adrian Russell Wills, Michaela Perske
Sales Agent Flame Distribution
Broadcaster ABC TV
Synopsis In 1988, over 30,000 Aboriginal people converged in Sydney for a march that would change the nation.LIFE AT 9
2 x 57 mins
Life at 9 Pty Ltd
Executive Producer Jennifer Cummins
Producers Naomi Just
Writer/Director Jennifer Peedom
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis Life at 9 continues the stories of 10 Australian children against the backdrop of the largest-ever longitudinal scientific study done on child development, this time looking at identity and creativity.TAKING ON THE CHOCOLATE FROG
3 x 54 mins
Screentime Pty Ltd
Producers Bob Campbell, Simon Steel, Debbie Cuell
Writer/Director Debbie Cuell
Sales Agent Banijay International
Broadcaster SBS Subscription Channel, STUDIO
Synopsis Taking on the Chocolate Frog is a remarkable documentary series that follows an unlikely bunch of Shakespearean wannabes.THE WALER: AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WAR HORSE
57 mins
Paalma Pty Ltd trading as Mago Films
Producer Marian Bartsch
Writer Barry Strickland
Director Russell Vines
Sales Agent ABC Commercial
Broadcaster ABC TV
Synopsis Over 135,000 Australian horses went to the Great War. Only one came home. This is their story.GENERAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
CRASH TEST MUMMIES AND DADDIES
6 x 30 mins
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers/Writers Judith John-Story, Claire Haywood
Sales Agent Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Broadcaster ABC2
Synopsis A snapshot of contemporary Australian parenting as four very different parents face the challenges, pressures, tears and laughter that accompany the biggest life-changing event in their lives – the birth of their first child.FAMILY CONFIDENTIAL SEASON THREE
6 x 30 mins
Kalmedia Pty Ltd & Southern Pictures
Producers Laurie Critchley, Heather Nash, Robyn Smith
Directors Kay Pavlou, Heather Nash, Laurie Critchley
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis Six highly crafted half-hour films reveal the secret stories behind some of Australia’s most famous families.OUTBACK CHOIR
57 mins
Heiress Films Pty Ltd
Producers Jennifer Cummins, Seema Khanna
Writer/Director Lisa Nicol
Broadcaster ABC1
Synopsis An intimate portrait of growing up in regional Australia, and the huge difference one small choir can make.WHO WE ARE 3
60 mins
CAAMA Productions Pty Ltd
Producers Alice Taylor, Nicolas Lee
Writers Larissa Behrendt, Suzi Taylor
Sales Agent Ronin Films
Broadcaster Foxtel
Synopsis Through the eyes of six young Australians we explore and celebrate the diversity of contemporary Indigenous Australia.INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
THE FLYING MINERS
3 x 57 mins
Screentime Pty Ltd
Series Producer David Peters
Sales Agent Banijay International
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis A high-stakes contemporary story about everyday Australians who travel far and wide to make it in the mining industry.WIZARDS OF OZ
2 x 57 mins
Mint Pictures Pty Ltd, Serendipity Productions Pty Ltd
Producers Margie Bryant, Dan Goldberg, Adam Kay
Writer Howard Jacobson
Director Paul Clarke
Sales Agent TCB Media
Broadcaster ABC1, BBC4
Synopsis Man Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson sets off on a journey of discovery to understand why Barry Humphries, Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer and Clive James left Australia in the 1960s and how they became cultural icons – and iconoclasts – in London and New York.
Source: Screen Australia press release
