by FilmInk Staff
Today it has been announced that Shay Spencer joins Picking Scabs, See-Saw Films and writer/showrunner Samantha Strauss’ joint venture, as Executive Producer. Spencer will report to See-Saw Films’ Head of Film and Television (Aus) Liz Watts, and Samantha Strauss.
Spencer is an award-winning producer who joins Picking Scabs from Jungle Entertainment where she was Head of Drama, executive producing shows including Sunny Nights for STAN Australia and Cineflix Rights; and Wakefield for ABC and Showtime. Prior to this, Spencer was Drama Executive at Fremantle Australia where she worked on some of Australian television’s most exciting and successful series including the international hits Wentworth and Picnic at Hanging Rock for Foxtel. Spencer has previously worked on Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and Jonathan Teplitzky’s feature film, Burning Man.
Samantha Strauss says: “Shay’s creative taste and her ability to think outside the box are so impressive, not to mention her tenacity, her empathy and her kindness. We’re so lucky to have her with us at Picking Scabs as we drive our beloved projects into production.”
Liz Watts says: “We are all thrilled with the appointment of Shay Spencer as Executive Producer for Sam Strauss’ Picking Scabs. Shay’s impressive story, development and producorial strengths make her a perfect fit for Sam and Picking Scabs’ brilliant slate and we couldn’t be happier having Shay join us.”
Shay Spencer says: “I have long admired Sam Strauss’ work and she is undeniably one of the most brilliant writing talents in our industry. The creative and commercial joint venture between Sam and See-Saw Films is complete genius and I know it will be a pleasure and a privilege to work on the Picking Scabs slate. I can’t wait to get started.”
Picking Scabs, a joint venture between See-Saw Films and Samantha Strauss, has several more projects upcoming including Apple Cider Vinegar starring Kaitlyn Dever, written by Strauss and directed by Jeffrey Walker, coming to Netflix this year. Picking Scabs and See-Saw are also producing Grown Ups for Netflix, an ensemble family drama series adapted by Strauss from the bestselling novel by Marian Keyes.
ABOUT SEE-SAW FILMS:
See-Saw Films is an Academy Award®, Emmy and BAFTA-winning television and film production house, founded in 2008 by Joint CEOs Emile Sherman and Iain Canning. The innovative production company is made up of an industry-leading team across offices in London and Sydney, with Helen Gregory and Simon Gillis as Joint Managing Directors, and Liz Watts as Head of Television and Film, Australia.
See-Saw Films projects have been nominated for 30 Academy Awards® and won 5, nominated for 58 BAFTAs and won 16, nominated for 40 Emmys and won 13 and nominated for 98 AACTAs and won 27.
See-Saw titles include Jane Campion’s Academy Award® winning The Power Of The Dog; BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Slow Horses for Apple TV+; BAFTA Award winning Lion; Emmy-winning Heartstopper for Netflix; and the Academy Award® Best Picture-winning The King’s Speech. Projects currently in production include further seasons of Slow Horses for Apple TV+. See-Saw are in partnership with Michael Ende Productions to develop and produce live action films adapted from Michael Ende’s novel The Neverending Story. See-Saw has also recently optioned several literary titles including the West End hit Shifters by Benedict Lombe and the upcoming Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn. Projects recently released include Slow Horses season 4, Heartstopper S3, and Sweetpea for Sky, starring Ella Purnell. See-Saw’s next project to be released is TV series Apple Cider Vinegar for Netflix.
Alongside an in-house sales agency Cross City Films, 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); an in-house label fanboy run by Heartstopper executive producer Patrick Walters; and is an investor in Tom Winchester’s TV company, Pure Fiction, alongside talent agency Hamilton Hodell.
Joint Founder and CEO Emile Sherman hosts See-Saw’s podcast, The Sandbox, which shines a light on the creative process through longform conversations with key creatives from See-Saw’s productions alongside our lead in-house producer.
photo by Lisa Tomasetti
