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Molly miniseries, ABC sci-fi, new kids projects in latest drama funding

Screen Australia funds Seven's Molly miniseries, a NZ-Aus sci-fi for ABC, plus a telemovie for Nine and a new ABC kid's drama.

ian_molly_meldrum_hostThe Molly miniseries for Seven, new dramas for Foxtel, SBS & ABC plus new children’s projects for Nine and ABC are amongst funding announcements today by Screen Australia.

Two-part miniseries Molly looks at the life of guru Ian “Molly” Meldrum backed by M4 Entertainment (Michael Gudinski, agent Mark Morrissey) from writers Matt Cameron and Liz Doran, producer John Molloy and director Kevin Carlin. While no cast has been confirmed, Sam Johnson has previously been rumoured to don the trademark hat.

ABC has a six-part sci-fi series, Project CM (working title), following two estranged Indigenous brothers at a crossroads and a community struggling to co-exist with non-human creatures living among them. The NZ-Australian co-production, comes from Goalpost Pictures & Pukeko Pictures.

SBS returns to drama with a murder set at a boys school in The Principal (read more on that here) and Foxtel announces new 6 part miniseries Secret City, which follows a political journalist who uncovers a conspiracy which leads her into the underground world of political deception with deadly consequences (read more on that one here).

There are also two new children’s projects funded, animated telemovie Dogstar: Christmas in Space for the Nine Network and a 14 part ABC drama, My Life in 50 Words or Less from produced by Joanna Werner and Miranda Dear.

TELEVISION: ADULT DRAMA
Molly
M4 Entertainment
Producer John Molloy
Executive Producers Michael Gudinski, Mark Morrissey
Director Kevin Carlin
Writers Matt Cameron, Liz Doran
Broadcaster Seven Network
Domestic/International Sales Mushroom Pictures
Synopsis: At a time when Australia was finding her voice, Molly Meldrum helped us find the music.

The Principal
Essential Media & Entertainment
Producer Ian Collie
Director Kriv Stenders
Writers Kristen Dunphy, Alice Addison
Broadcaster SBS
Domestic/International Sales SBS Distribution, DCD Rights
Synopsis: A gritty adult drama that revolves around a high school in Sydney’s tough south-west where life’s lessons are more often handed down on the streets than in the classroom.

Project CM (working title)
Goalpost Pictures Australia Pty Ltd & Pukeko Pictures
Producers Rosemary Blight, Ryan Griffen, Angela Littlejohn & Lauren Edwards
Executive Producers Sally Riley, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Martin Baynton, Adam Fratto
Writers Jon Bell, Jonathan Gavin, Michael Miller
Broadcaster ABC Television
Domestic Sales eOne Entertainment
International Sales Red Arrow International GmbH
Synopsis: As a community struggles to co-exist with non-human creatures living amongst them, two estranged brothers find themselves at a crossroads.

Secret City
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Joanna Werner
Executive Producer Penny Chapman
Writers Belinda Chayko, Matt Cameron, Marieke Hardy, Alice Addison, Tommy Murphy, Kris Mrksa, Greg Waters
Broadcaster FOXTEL
Domestic/International Sales Universal Media Studios International Ltd
Synopsis: Amidst rising tension between China and America, senior political journalist, Harriet Dunkley, pursues a long-buried and exposing secret, leading to assassination attempts, suicide and murder. Beneath the placid façade of Canberra, she uncovers a ‘secret city’ of high-level Australians corrupted by the competing super-powers.

TELEVISION: CHILDREN’S DRAMA
Dogstar Christmas in Space
Media World Pictures Pty Ltd
Producer Colin South
Director Scott Vanden Bosch
Writers Philip Dalkin, Doug MacLeod
Broadcaster Nine Network
Domestic/International Sales DARO Film Distribution
Synopsis: In space, no one can hear you open your presents.

My Life in 50 Words or Less
Big Chance Films Pty Ltd
Producers Joanna Werner, Miranda Dear
Executive Producers Darren Dale, Joanna Werner
Director Rachel Perkins
Writers Liz Doran, Jon Bell, Nakkiah Lui, Josh Mapleston, Kristen Dunphy
Broadcaster ABC Television
Domestic/International Sales Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Synopsis: A long way from home, five Indigenous kids come to the city to explore their dreams. For some it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, for others it’s a last chance. For all of them, family is the last thing they expect to find.

3 Responses

  1. ABC2 have also announced Back Seat Drivers which starts next week which I’ve heard nothing about before today. Even the trailer doesn’t contain footage.

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