South Australian projects set for iview

ABC has announced three comedies and two documentaries from South Australia to be produced as 6×5 minute episodes for iview.

A joint investment with the South Australian Film Corporation, they will explore topics including an autistic Uber driver’s search for love; an immigrant adjusting to Australian life; and pop stars overcoming their disability barrier.

There were 44 submissions to the SAFC/ ABC TV LABS which saw ABC funding five instead of the initial four projects.

The ABC’s funding panel decided the field was so strong that it increased its funding commitment to allow for five projects rather than the four proposed at the initiative’s launch.

ABC Director of Television, Richard Finlayson said: “ABC TV is committed to supporting the creation of distinctive and quality content that tells a diverse range of stories from right across Australia.

“Uncovering and developing these original ideas from South Australian creative talent, and being able to share them with a national audience on ABC iview, is very exciting.”

The full list of SAFC/ABC TV LABS iview originals initiative grant recipients are:

Goober
Producer: Kirsty Stark
Writer: Ben Crisp
Directors: Simon Williams and Brendon Skinner
Harry is an Uber driver for three reasons: he really wants to make friends; he really needs the money; and he really can’t hold down any other job. Harry also lurks somewhere on the autism spectrum. That’s why he tries really, really hard to act normally. It’s also why he tries so hard to be helpful, but for some reason, it never seems to work. Nevertheless, Harry is eternally optimistic – especially about his love for Wendy, the girl from his favourite drive-thru restaurant. Harry spends his life trying to turn passengers into friends, and Wendy into his girlfriend.

Pop Ability
Writer/Director/Producer: Katrina Lucas
Writer: Lauren Drewery
Executive Producers: Susan McKinnon and Lauren Drewery
The Sisters of Invention – the world’s first pop girl group with disabilities – are challenging society’s pre-conceived ideas about what a pop star looks like, what they can say and what they can do. After a successful first album and music video, they want to push their creative limits and establish themselves as professional singer/songwriters in their own right. But can they break free of the tough reality of living with a disability?

Prisoners and Pups
Writer/Director/Producer: Shalom Almond
Executive Producer: Lauren Drewery
Prisoners sign up to rehabilitate retired greyhound racing dogs to prepare them for life on the outside. The inmates have just a few weeks to learn how to train, socialise and transform the dogs into loving, family-friendly pets – and then face giving them up for adoption in the outside world. In turn, can the dogs help the inmates rebuild their lives? Can man and animal work together to create a better life for each other?

Lost In Pronunciation
Producer: Julia de Roeper
Writer: Ivan Aristeguieta & Chris McDonald
As Venezuelan comedian Ivan discovers what it means to be a real ‘Aussie’, his quest to becoming a permanent resident isn’t so much about ticking a box on a form, but learning about the strange and unique customs that we take for granted, and that make us Australian. With the help of two Aussie roommates, a lesbian tradie and hipster vegan, he gets a firsthand insight into modern Australia and in the current climate of being an immigrant, what it takes to being one of the ‘good ones’ and how lucky we really are.

Almost Midnight
Producers: Alex Keay and Peta Astbury
Writers: Stephen Banham and Aaron Casey
Director: Stephen Banham
Almost Midnight is a coming-of-age romantic black comedy about a socially-inept young man named Dave. The tale is told in five minute real-time slices of Dave’s life just before the New Year’s countdown over six subsequent years. Through this fragmented technique, the audience is able to witness Dave’s growth from the bumbling wall-flower to a fully-matured man, comfortable in his own skin. Dave’s alcohol fueled misadventures provide many tragicomic cringe moments until he finally learns that you can’t hurry love.