Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have announced four new projects that will share $480,000 as part of Skip After Initiative’s 10th installment.
This year’s funding recipients are comedians Declan and Connor Evanson. creators Mel Singh, Sky Henwood and Tom Murray of Animation Hub Minbit. documentary maker Bryce Cronin and Matthew Finn of Buildy Bryce. Family creators include Luke Eskom, Alvaro del Campo, Nick Laurentzen, Tania Lacy, Creon Princes and Stephen Wernik.
In addition to receiving funding, creatives will attend three-day workshops designed to develop projects, and are mentored by industry experts and graduates of the Skip Awery program.
Among the mentors are writer/producer Luke Clark and editor Elizabeth Price, media company Elizabeth Price has become too small. Director Michael Shanks and producer short film Mike Kowap have rebooted. Photography of the fantasy comedy web series Deer Storker, viral comedian, singer Jordan Las Copuuros, and online creators Goldie Sortian and Elliot Ryan, digital video strategist at Changer Studios.
First launched in 2014, Skip Away is a joint initiative between Screen Australia and YouTube Australia, designed to develop the creative skills and production values of local YouTube creators. The initiative has supported 43 content creation teams since its inception and boasts alumni such as Aunt Donna, Superwieg, Jennytian, Lakkaraka and Rainbow Bop.
The funded projects include:
Guern: Series: Comedy Duo Declan and Connor Evanson have a 3 x 8 minute series about Murph and Dubbo, two small town traders who receive a record-breaking Keno victory but realize their efforts with the ATO when the documentary crew arrives. Written and directed by Declan Evanson and produced by Brenton Pinsent, the series will be released on Garn. YouTube channel.
Bug (Working Title): From Australian animation, there is a story of misguided garden alinymph fighting for survival in an apocalyptic world. Directed and written by Mel Singh and Sky Henwood, and produced by Tom Murray. The pilot will be released on the Minbitt YouTube channel.
Re: Plastic: What if solving the plastic crisis means that it will become a part of it first? This short, three-part documentary series blends expert insights and mixed DIY experiments to explore the complex relationships with Australian plastics. To discover how deep the problem can turn out, engineer Bryce Cronin is tackling challenges such as recycling all the plastic he touches and makes from scratch in his kitchen. Cronin wrote and directed Matthew Fon as executive producer. The series will be released on the Buildy Bryce YouTube channel.
Vegetable Plot: The family-friendly YouTube channel The Vegetable Plot, a new preschool 6×2 minute series, features Pep, Egg, Hayes, Mama Collie and Dad Gus enjoying a creative adventure in Eartha, a beat-powered double-decker bus inspired by the music of an Australian children’s band. From Luke Escombe (author and producer), Alvaro del Campo (producer), Nick Lorentzen (producer), Tania Lacy (author), Cleon Princeas (author), and Stefan Wernik (director). This series will be released on the Vegetable Plot YouTube channel.
