‘Fresh Blood’ comedy coming to iview

ABC will commission 25 projects from its Fresh Blood initiative, to find the next generation of comedy performers and producers.

25 projects will each receive a budget of $10,000 to produce three, 2-5 minute short form comedy sketches will will premiere on iview later this year.

“Fresh Blood is one of the most exciting projects for us, “says Richard Finlayson, ABC Director of Television. “Not only does it continue ABC TV’s commitment to nurturing and supporting fantastic Australian comedic talent, it gives 25 aspiring comedians and comedy groups the amazing opportunity to see their ideas turned into content that will premiere on iview later this year.

“It’s the kind of leg up any young, up and coming comedy hopeful would kill for, and I can’t wait to see the results.”

ABC TV and Screen Australia received 492 applications, since the call-out for 24 projects last October.

“It was a difficult task to select just 24 from an amazingly talented field, so in the end we had to choose 25 because it was just too hard,” says Sophia Zachariou, Acting Head Entertainment, ABC TV.

“The 25 projects range from puppetry and animation to absurdist sketch and I have no doubt that the clever, funny people in and behind these Fresh Blood projects are going to be big names in Australian comedy in the future.”

ABC2 also premieres This is Littleton with new comic faces this Thursday.