by FilmInk Staff
A short timeframe from concept to release and strong production values without a huge crew or budget, Tasmanian filmmaker Alison Stanton-Cook is embracing vertical storytelling with her independently produced comedy series, Just Jump.
Just Jump follows Sophie, a 45-year-old on her first date since divorce, and Clinton, an 18-year-old on his first date ever. Despite Clinton’s deception and Sophie’s disappointment, the pair stumble into something unexpected: friendship, honesty and the feeling of being seen. Unfolding in real-time with sharp dialogue and the wry observations of an ever-curious waiter, Just Jump reimagines the rom-com for the social-first era.
Originally written as a short film, Alison reworked the story into a ten-part, bite-sized series with guidance from development producer Alyce Adams (Love Songs). Shot entirely vertical on Sony a7s3 cameras by David Ortiz (Lambert Studios), the series captures the immediacy of reality dating shows and the comic voyeurism of The Office.
The production came together in under four months with a cast drawn from Alison’s screen acting classes—Hamish Chilcott, Fiona Loakman and Joseph Mione—plus a lean crew of 12. Eight episodes were filmed in a single night at Billy’s Burgers and Bar on Hobart’s waterfront, with two more shot nearby the following evening.
“Sometimes there’s magic in something undiluted,” Alison says. “Tasmania is full of multi-skilled creatives who bring unique perspectives to small-scale projects. You don’t need big budgets or long timelines to make work that connects. For example, our editor Bryce Tollard-Williams is also a highly skilled actor, so he’s cutting with an eye for performance in a way that brings extra depth to the series.”
Alison, who previously directed award-winning shorts ROE (Running on Empty) and He Was a Good Man, sees Just Jump as a response to the frustration of short films disappearing after the festival circuit. Instead, the series is designed for the platforms people already use daily—Instagram, TikTok, YouTube—where audiences are engaged, reactive, and share stories in real time.
With behind-the-scenes content driven by community manager Lola Lester and independently funded through Alison’s own investment and crowdfunding, Just Jump is both a creative experiment and a proof-of-concept for Tasmanian-made vertical series.
At its heart, the story is about flawed but hopeful people reaching across generations: a Gen Z man and a millennial woman navigating loneliness, self-worth, and connection in the digital age.
“Sometimes it feels like Tasmanians are talked down to in the screen sector; our regional location means we can’t possibly have the capabilities. But at the right scale and leaning into our strengths we can make beautiful stories that have impact globally.”
The first episode of Just Jump premiered Monday 29th September at 6pm, with two new episodes dropping each week.
