The new studio, backed by global content studio Endeavor Content, will be Australia’s first full-service production and distribution TV studio based in Sydney, Australia.
Former Nine Entertainment CEO Hugh Marks and Endemol Shine Australia co-founder Carl Fennessy have today announced the launch of Dreamchaser, Australia’s first full-service production and distribution studio based in Sydney, Australia.
Marks and Fennessy will serve as joint CEOs.
The new studio will provide a unique home for Dreamchaser to partner with established and emerging creators to develop exceptional programming slates, cultivate distinctive creative identities and bring the next generation of Australia’s most ambitious and imaginative stories to the world.
Backed by global content studio Endeavor Content, Dreamchaser will establish a collection of creative partnerships across the scripted, factual and entertainment genres under one portfolio, with a focus on driving global projects out of the Australian market.
Marks and Fennessy said:
“We’re seeing an explosion of global demand for premium content from new and traditional television platforms that shows no sign of slowing. At the same time Australian creatives are at the forefront of many of the biggest shows in the world. There has never been a greater opportunity for global content to be developed and sold from this market.
“With Endeavor Content’s strategic partnership, Dreamchaser will be a unique home for our creative partners to realise all of their ambitions and for content commissioners to have confidence that Dreamchaser will be the Australian studio where those ambitions can be delivered.”
Endeavor Content’s Co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor, said:
“We are excited for Hugh and Carl to bring their combined industry expertise to launch Dreamchaser, harnessing Australia’s flourishing creative and production communities.
“With Dreamchaser, Australia solidifies its standing as a major global destination for best-in-class content, bringing next-level storytelling from new and established voices from the continent to export there and to the world beyond.”
Founders Marks and Fennessy bring an unrivalled mix of experience to the company, from Marks’ five-year tenure as CEO of Nine Entertainment – most recently completing the transformation of Nine Entertainment Co. business to a future facing $5 billion market powerhouse – to Fennessy’s recent position as joint-CEO at Endemol Shine Australia – the largest content production company in the southern hemisphere, which he co-founded with his brother Mark.
Since 2010, programs produced under Fennessy’s leadership have collectively been awarded with 12 Logies, 34 AACTA Awards and an International Emmy Award.
Joining Marks and Fennessy are an experienced management team with a proven record of world-class, full-service execution including Sara Horn as Chief Operating Officer, Megan Rees-Williams as Chief Financial Officer and Monique Keller as the Head of Development.
Prior to joining Dreamchaser, Horn was the managing Director of Production & Operations at Endemol Shine Australia, managing a large team across a diverse production slate including MasterChef, Gogglebox, Survivor, LEGO Masters, Married At First Sight, Ninja Warrior, Big Brother and more.
Preceding this, Horn held the position of Director of Production first at Crackerjack Productions and then for four years at Fremantle Australia.
Rees-Williams is a chartered accountant with over 20 years media experience who previously worked at Endemol Shine Australia. Prior to that she spent nine years holding various senior finance positions at ITV in Sydney, London and Los Angeles. She brings extensive acquisition and integration expertise having supported ITV’s global M&A strategy in Europe and North America.
Keller comes to Dreamchaser from Fremantle Australia, where she worked as a development executive across factual and scripted projects and with Audible ANZ to oversee a slate of original podcasts, and previously worked in Los Angeles as an Original Movies executive for Amazon Studios on over 30 award winning narrative and documentary titles.
Marks and Fennessy said:
“We’re grateful to the amazing and highly experienced team that have agreed to go on this journey with us.
“Their expertise and proven track record will help achieve Dreamchaser’s ambition of taking Australian creatives and their stories to the world.”
In the coming months, Dreamchaser will announce a number of new projects, as well as first-look and multi-title picture deals with leading Australian creatives. For more information visit www.dreamchaser.com.au.
