Book-to-film adaptations to receive Screen Australia funding
Two book adaptations are among the 15 projects to share $8.1 million in the latest round of production funding from Screen Australia.
Watching You is a six-part psychological thriller series for Stan based on J P Pomare’s novel The Last Guests (Hachette). Watching You is created for television by Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk and produced by Jason Stephens and Bree-Anne Sykes. Executive producers are Helen Bowden, Cailah Scobie and Alicia Brown.
The thriller has received production investment from Stan and is financed with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW Fund. Post, digital and visual effects are also supported by Screen NSW, and the series is financed in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.
Zac Power is an animated family feature film, based on the book series of the same name published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing and written by a team of authors under the pseudonym H I Larry. Said Screen Australia of the series: ‘Zac Power’s position as the top teenage spy is compromised after a brilliant new agent arrives. When his recklessness allows an ostentatious supervillain to steal a high-tech weapon, Zac is forced to confront his own flaws and team up with his rival.’
The film is directed by Alexs Stadermann and David Webster and written by Fin Edquist, John Armstrong, Lawrence Leung and Erica Harrison. A production of Flying Bark Productions and Cheeky Little Media, the film is financed in association with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
This funding round follows a recent announcement from Screen Australia about production funding for four new children’s titles to be screened on the ABC, including Do Not Watch This Show. Also supported with funding by VicScreen, the children’s series will be screened on ABC Family and ABC iView in 2025.
Do Not Watch This Show is an animated adaptation of the children’s book series Do Not Open This Book (Lake Press), created by comedian and author Andy Lee and illustrated by Heath McKenzie.
The director is Leo Baker; the series producer is Patrick Crawley; and Lee is listed as a producer, alongside Greg Sitch, and a writer, alongside Jason Marion, Katie Westcott, Melanie Bracewell and Ray Matsen; while Heath McKenzie is art director.
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said of the series: ‘Andy Lee’s new animation series Do Not Watch This Show leads a terrific lineup of new children’s TV shows supported by the Victorian Government that showcase our creativity and screen industry talent. We are proud to continue to back quality children’s entertainment and support the Victorian screen industry to bring these wonderful new stories to our screens.’
Category: Local news
