Screen Australia has announced the 11 online productions which will share in $2.2 million of production funding.
The national screen body has now supplied more than $22 million of funding to online creators for projects across a variety of platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Lee Naimo, Screen Australia’s head of online, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the volume and standard of applications to the Online Production fund hasn’t slowed down, with online creators yet again proving that they can tell clever and complex stories for a variety of platforms.
“From impactful documentaries to rom-coms, the range of genres covered in these projects shows that Australian creators are constantly exploring new and exciting ways of engaging their audiences. It’s great to see so many newer voices and talents represented in these teams, demonstrating the opportunities for emerging Australian talent that Screen Australia is providing.”
Part of the new funding has been allocated to “Facing the Numbers”, a nine-episode series which explores the deeply personal testimonies of First Nations peoples’ encounters with violent systems of oppression.
“Love Me Lex”, meanwhile, is a seven-episode romantic comedy which explores what it’s like being a lesbian on the ‘other side’ of 45 looking for love.
“Plausible Deniability” will run on Facebook for seven episodes. It is a comedy which follows 11-year-old social warriors Abeda, Harriet and Tron who are making a homeless documentary at school.
“Behind the Seams” will also screen on Facebook. The dramedy centres around India Scott who discovers she has an extraordinary talent for reading the past in pre-loved items following the death of her father.
In addition, Screen Australia has funded “Compulsory Entertainment”, a dark sketch comedy series for YouTube which takes a look at the inherent strangeness underpinning show business, corporate arrangements, interactions with technology, and the unique apathy Australians use to deal with it.
“Miss Ink The Documentary Series” will also run on YouTube. The six-part docuseries celebrates tattooed women from across the country as they participate in Miss Ink Australia, the only beauty pageant in the world where age, size, shape, sexuality, scars, culture, colour, creed and cellulite don’t matter.
Also in the mix is “Rules to Being a F*ckgirl”, a six-part 11-minute comedy revolving around hopeless romantic Nilu and her ‘f*ckgirl’ mentor Zarina as they navigate whether they should stick to their rules or break them over love, lust and foolery.
“Shippers” is another rom-com about two enthusiastic fangirls who become the face of an opinion piece hating on “shippers” – the term given to people who support romance in fan fiction.
“Uncancelled” follows on from the success of “Cancelled”and “Recancelled”, which have collectively garnered over 10 million views. It is a drama and rom-com feature film which continues the story of parents Luke and Maria who had to cancel their wedding in Spain two days before the strict COVID-19 lockdown.
“Videoland”, another rom-com, is set in 1998, and follows 17-year-old Hayley who works at a video store and has “sort of” just come out.
And finally, “Wispy” will run for 22 two-minute episodes, telling the story of a hopeless witch whose ultimate goal is to master magic, but becomes distracted by falling in love.
More information about each of the funded productions is available here.
