New ABC funding initiatives with Create NSW

Create NSW this week announced three initiatives, nearing half million-dollar investment, to produce narrative comedy shorts, half hour drama and VR projects in partnership with the ABC.

Michael Carrington, ABC Acting Director Entertainment & Specialist, said: “As the nation’s largest creative employer the ABC, in collaboration with Create NSW, is proud to support Australian creatives in bringing their bold content to life. The richness and diversity of these projects across comedy, drama and VR technologies will showcase homegrown talent and stories for our audiences across the country.”

Western Sydney creative hub Information+Cultural Exchange Executive Director, John Kirkman added, “I.C.E. is pleased to be partnering with Create NSW and the ABC on the Digital First Comedy Initiative. Stories from Western Sydney-based creatives are universal, unique, funny and well able to resonate with local and global audiences and communities.”

Across three initiatives, investment of $445,000 from Create NSW and the ABC will enable over 530 NSW-based screen production jobs through funding for Western Sydney-based teams to produce narrative comedy shorts for youth audiences and the development of half hour drama and VR projects.

“From vampire slayers in Parramatta, destigmatising mental illness in regional towns and a VR haunting experience, this funding is enabling local employment through the creation and development of a series of intriguing and important stories for NSW and beyond,” said Create NSW Acting Director Screen Investment, Engagement and Attraction Sally Regan.

“We’re extremely proud to be able to encourage such diversity and excited about seeing these stories reach a broad range of Australian audiences through our collaboration with the ABC,” she said.

Through investment of $225,000 Create NSW, the ABC and the Western Sydney creative hub Information+Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.)’s Digital First Comedy Initiative will fund three shorts with $75,000 each across teams that include a Western Sydney-based key creative (writer, director, producer), with each premiering on ABC iview in 2019.

$100,000 in Half Hour Drama Development initiative funding will deliver $20,000 each to four NSW-based teams to develop distinctive character driven, 30-minute drama series with heart and humour, and fund a Masterclass workshop for all teams.

Finally, $120,000 in 360 Vision Virtual Reality Development investment will allow four teams $30,000 each to develop content across VR & AR technologies spanning ghost tales, parkour experiences, regional loneliness and mental illness.