by FilmInk Staff

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have announced five new projects that will share in up to $650,000 as part of the eleventh instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative.

First launched in 2014, Skip Ahead is the ground-breaking program from Screen Australia in partnership with YouTube Australia. Open to documentary and scripted narrative Australian YouTube creators, the program is designed to develop storytelling skills, grow creative ambitions and elevate production value for the creation of diverse and engaging content for Australian and global audiences.

In addition to receiving funding to create new content, the five teams have participated in a three-day workshop to develop their projects, mentored by alumni of the program Luke Clark and James McPherson of Never Too Small and the Macfarlane Bros duo Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane, as well as industry leaders including Daley Pearson, director and Emmy Award-winning co-founder of Ludo Studio, online creator The One Shu’s Shuang Hu, author, scriptwriter, editor and producer Clare Atkins and Australian actor, writer and producer Tsu Shan Chambers. The Skip Ahead teams also worked with Changer Studios during the workshops and will continue to participate in bespoke modules with the digital video strategists.

The funded projects are:

  • Back Then: Fresh out of graduating Year Six, best friends Dave and Nick spend their final week before high school trying to become “grown up”, convinced they’re about to go their separate ways forever as they head to different high schools. The series will be released on Granny Flat. Team: Dave Hoey, Nicholas Burton, Vanilla Tupu, Michael Angelis.
  • Dry Spell: When GG follows her boyfriend to a remote farm, an accident leaves her stuck taking his place as farmhand under the tough, emotionally closed off Michelle. Soon, forced proximity turns into unbearable tension as they try very hard not to act on what they actually want. The series will be released on the Mon & Han YouTube channel. Team: Monique Terry, Hannah-Rae Meegan, Abby Gallaway.
  • The Moon Is Shining Tonight: Seeking closure after his mother’s passing, a grieving Jin from Hong Kong tracks down his estranged father in Melbourne. When he discovers his father already has an adopted step-son his own age, Jin conceals his identity and derails his plan by sparking a slow-burn romance with him. The series will be released on Omnia Studio. Team: Alyce Adams, Pius Kung, Vimbai Nenzou, Suzanne Soo Hyun Kim.
  • Jill’s Wheels: Jackson’s grandmother, Jill, gifts him her old rollerskating rink. The series will be released on the Director Cogger YouTube channel. Team: Jackson Cogger-Clee, Clayton Jay Duncan, Mikey Hamer.
  • Tracing Odysseus: Three thousand years after the story was first told, a young Australian archaeologist retraces the Odyssey from Troy to Ithaca. She is looking for a hero, home and the answer to the question the story has been asking for millennia. The series will be released on the fig tree YouTube channel. Team: Katerina Alexander, Alex Alexander.

Since its inception, Skip Ahead has supported 52 content creation teams. For more information about Skip Ahead funding, click here.

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