In a progressive move to champion diversity, Screen Australia, SBS, and National Indigenous Television (NITV) have initiated the next phase for ten distinct projects as part of this year’s Digital Originals program.
This strategic initiative targets the enhancement of short-form drama by cultivating creative talent that has traditionally found itself on the periphery of the industry.
The Digital Originals program is instrumental in identifying and nurturing emerging talent, providing a platform for stories that resonate with cultural richness and audacity. Lee Naimo, the head of online and games at Screen Australia, lauded the initiative as “a genuine talent escalator.”
Naimo emphasized the unique nature of this opportunity, which allows participants to craft premium online series while gaining invaluable insights from industry leaders within a supportive environment.
“This initiative offers participants a truly unique opportunity to not only create a premium online series but to also learn from the best in the business and develop their projects in a nurturing environment,” Naimo remarked.
In alignment with the SBS Charter and its commitment to equity and inclusion, the selected teams are currently participating in a Melbourne workshop to hone their narrative writing abilities and tailor their projects for the SBS and NITV platforms. The workshop precedes their pivotal pitch to Screen Australia, SBS, and NITV, after which a select few will advance to further development and potential production funding.
Loani Arman, SBS scripted commissioning editor, expressed eagerness in collaborating with the incoming cohort of creatives.
“The Digital Originals initiative is an unbeatable career pathway for creative talent from excluded or under-represented backgrounds who are burning to tell stories that are rich in culture, courageous in their points of view, and delivered with a level of excellence that sees their stories connect with audiences here in Australia and around the world,” Arman asserted.
Marissa McDowell, head of commissions at NITV, underscored the importance of Digital Originals in creating pathways for First Nations creatives, offering
“meaningful support for emerging talent, and a platform to share contemporary stories from fresh perspectives”.
Among the standout entries is Blak Coffee, which charts the struggles of Aunty Laureen and her niece Alysha as they navigate the competitive mobile coffee industry, disrupted by an extraterrestrial encounter. The team behind this project includes Edoardo Crismani, Colleen Raven Strangways, and Josh Trevorrow.
Boundary’s End presents the tale of two Blak Queens, portrayed by Kisha Broome and Miriam Dynevor, who grapple with the accidental spellcasting of their landlord, thrusting them into a fantastical reality fraught with challenges.
The narrative of Jennifer Eric is Cancelled revolves around the whirlwind life of viral trans comedian Jennifer Eric, crafted by Chloe Black, Olivia Bilic, and Claudia Holmes. The story delves into her sudden fame and the ensuing complexities of public life.
Fish Boi introduces audiences to Kiko ‘Fish Boi’ Cablog’s exploits in Western Sydney, a project developed by Robertino Zambrano and Dulce Aguilar.
The story of Dismissable focuses on the discord between disabled Alana and her sister Nicky over a disability-exclusive beauty pageant, with contributions from Rhian Wilson Ruge, Artemis Munoz, and Alistair Baldwin.
In Influenced, Isaac Elliott and Lucy Knox explore the tribulations of Eric, a paraplegic motivational speaker whose past threatens to unravel his public persona.
Lingered sees Darcy grappling with familial and personal upheaval in their return home, a narrative brought to life by AP Pobjoy, Cyna Strachan, Kirsty Fisher, Jean Tong, and Liam Heyen.
The journey of a Korean migrant in the restaurant industry is the focus of Little Korea, spearheaded by Lark Lee, David Gim, and Katrina Irawati Graham.
Scrubbers, conceptualized by Iya Ware, Emele Ugavule, and Tommy Misa, is set in a black-owned roadhouse on the Nullabour plains, a locale teeming with eccentric characters.
Finally, Six Suspects weaves a mystery around a missing Indonesian ruby with Kauthar Abdulalim, Nazli Sevinc, and Santilla Chingaipe at the helm, focusing on the allegations faced by hijabi model Inayah Muhammad.
The diversity of these projects reflects the core mission of Digital Originals to broaden the scope of Australian storytelling, showcasing the unique perspectives and voices that comprise the nation’s cultural landscape.
