Picking Scabs, See-Saw Films’ and writer/showrunner Samantha Strauss’ joint venture, has announced that Louise Gough [pictured, photo by Mark Rogers] will join the production company as Executive Producer. Gough, who will report to Strauss and Liz Watts, See-Saw Film’s Head of Film and Television (Aus), joins Picking Scabs from Screen Australia where she was Head of Development.
This new appointment comes on the heels of a number of TV talent hires for See-Saw, with Executive Producers Moss Barclay, Ann Phillips and Julian Stevens joining the company in 2022 working out of the UK office. Drawing on their muscular dramatic backgrounds and taste, the TV team indicates the future for See-Saw’s televisual output, which incorporates big returning series and exciting, genre pieces on a larger scale.
Louise has developed projects across Australia, New Zealand, the US and Europe. Prior to Screen Australia, she held roles as Head of Development at Arenamedia, Head of New Work at Belvoir Theatre, Editorial Manager at ABC TV Drama and Narrative Comedy, Script Manager at Film Victoria, and was in the development team at Madman Production Company. She previously worked at Screen Australia as a Development Executive (Story). Louise has also worked as a script advisor with Sources 2 in Europe, and as an Advisor at the Berlinale Talent Campus Script Station. Through freelance development work Louise has worked with companies including Matchbox, Roadshow, Felix Media, Easy Tiger, Fremantle, Hoodlum and Blackfella Films.
Samantha Strauss says: “Louise Gough’s story instincts are second to none. After every script session I feel as if my head has been opened and my life changed. I’m honoured she’s joining Picking Scabs as an Executive Producer and, with the wonderful folks at See-Saw, cannot wait to bring our slate of projects into the world.”
Liz Watts says: “Louise is exceptionally talented at working with writers and shepherding scripts through development right through into production. She has had a long and distinguished career and most recently highly regarded in her role as Head of Development at Screen Australia. We are thrilled she will be joining Samantha Strauss and the See-Saw team in our Picking Scabs joint venture.”
Louise Gough says: “I have long admired Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and the stories that See-Saw Films bring to the world. It is a company with global reach, who work with the highest calibre creatives and who produce meaningful and superbly executed stories that enrich our understanding of the world.
“I am so looking forward to working with Liz Watts and the See-Saw team and with Samantha Strauss and Picking Scabs as well as our creative partners. Sam is a vivid creator who embraces rich and resonant themes in forms that hit the heart, humour and pain of life, wrapped up in joyous rides. Liz, in her sustained and stellar career, is a tremendous role model for me as I step into this position.
“I could not be more honoured and thrilled to be invited into the See-Saw Films’ family.”
See-Saw Films has also announced that Maria Nicholson [below], previously Development Coordinator, is now Development Producer. Maria was part of the development team responsible for originating Heartstopper and Slow Horses. She will be reporting to Helen Gregory and is based out of the UK office, and will now be developing her own slate focussing on intimate, warm, younger skewing drama as well working across See-Saw’s TV slate as a whole.
ABOUT SEE-SAW FILMS:
See-Saw Films is a world leading independent television and film production house, founded in 2008 by Academy Award®, BAFTA and Emmy® winning producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, with offices in London and Sydney. See-Saw’s films and television shows have been nominated for 30 Academy Awards® and won 5, nominated for 36 BAFTAs and won 11, nominated for 28 Emmys and won 12 and nominated for 89 AACTAs and won 27.
See-Saw’s recent television output includes the first two series of Slow Horses for Apple TV+, adapted from the bestselling book series by Mick Herron, with a further two seasons in production, and Heartstopper for Netflix adapted by Alice Oseman from her bestselling graphic novel series, which has been commissioned for a further two seasons.
Following Jane Campion’s multi award-winning Top Of The Lake in 2012, See-Saw went on to produce a second season of the hit series – Top Of The Lake: China Girl. See-Saw’s recent TV series include the highly acclaimed limited series The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+; The North Water for BBC Two; and Firebite for AMC+; as well as two seasons of the Emmy-winning State of the Union, written by Nick Hornby, directed by Stephen Frears.
See-Saw’s films include Jane Campion’s Academy Award® and BAFTA winning The Power Of The Dog, the six-time Academy Award® nominated and two-time BAFTA winning Lion, and The King’s Speech which won the 2011 Academy Award® for Best Motion Picture, and an additional 3 awards from 12 nominations, as well as picking up 7 BAFTAs from 14 nominations. Recent film projects include Florian Zeller’s The Son and Thomas M. Wright’s The Stranger. Upcoming film projects include Garth Davis’ Foe; David Michôd’s Wizards!; Kitty Green’s The Royal Hotel and James Hawes’ One Life.
See-Saw has an in-house sales arm Cross City Films, which handles international sales of its titles in select territories.
See-Saw has two joint venture production companies: I Am That – with creator/director Garth Davis (Lion), and Picking Scabs – with writer/showrunner Samantha Strauss (The End).
See-Saw has also invested in Tom Winchester’s TV company, Pure Fiction alongside talent agency Hamilton Hodell.
