Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Five online creative teams Skip Ahead with Google and Screen Australia

12/12/2017

12 12 2017 - Media release Five online creative teams Skip Ahead with Google and Screen Australia

Skip Ahead recipients: (top L-R) Skit Box, Timtimfed, (bottom L-R) Wengie, Van Vuuren Bros, Study with Jess

Screen Australia and Google have announced the recipients of this year's Skip Ahead initiative.

Five creative teams Skit Box, Study with Jess, Timtimfed, Van Vuuren Bros and Wengie will share a total production funding pool of $500,000.

Skip Ahead supports Australian online content creators, who have YouTube channels with a substantial existing subscriber base and/or content which has reached significant viewership, to expand their vision and create more ambitious content to grow their audience.

The videos made from the Skip Ahead program have reached a combined global audience of more than 27 million views on YouTube. This includes 2016 Skip Ahead-funded title Superwog Series Pilot which was Australia's Top Trending Video on YouTube in 2017.

The successful applicants will participate in a workshop in early 2018 to develop their projects, which range from series pilots, to short-form episodic series, to a standalone short film.

The fact that Superwog's Skip Ahead-funded pilot was Australia's top trending video on YouTube this year is testament to what these incredibly talented, self-made online content creators can achieve with access to more funds, said Sally Caplan, Head of Production at Screen Australia.

Now in its fourth year, the bar has been set extremely high for Skip Ahead and I have no doubt that this year's recipients will knock it out of the park.

Daniel Stephenson, Content Partnerships Manager, YouTube Australia and New Zealand said: We re consistently inspired by the creativity and high quality production that comes out of Skip Ahead. We look forward to supporting this cohort of creators to experiment with longer form, narrative-based formats and reach new global audiences online."

On her YouTube Channel Study with Jess, Jessica Holsman's top study tips and tricks have helped millions of students around the globe. Jessica will deliver a narrative motivational series, Life of Jess, which sees her revisit her own childhood experiences to answer questions from her fans.

Christiaan and Connor van Vuuren, aka the Van Vuuren Bros, are well-known for their viral hits Bondi Hipsters and Fully Sick Rapper, as well as ABC comedy series Soul Mates. They will present the apocalyptic comedy series Over and Out, which follows two young parents struggling with the trials and tribulations of raising babies, whilst at the same time trying to survive the end of the world.

Michael Shanks is the creator of comedy series The Wizards of Aus, which is among the high concept content on his YouTube channel Timtimfed. Shanks will write and direct a 20-minute short film Rebooted about claymated skeleton monster Phil, an out-of-date visual-effect who just can't seem to book any gigs in 2017.

Sarah Bishop, Adele Vuko and Greta Lee Jackson are the creative team behind Skit Box, who are known for viral sensations like Activewear and I Got That Flow, as well as comedy series Wham Bam Thank You Ma am. They will deliver a 22-minute series pilot, Skit Box, a fun hyperbolized insight into the world of Skit Box, following three friends who can't get their shit together and join forces to start an all-female sketch comedy group.

Wengie is one of Australia's most popular YouTube creators with over 9.7 million subscribers worldwide. Her lifestyle videos, including the Life Hacks series, have amassed staggering combined views of over 783 million. In a change of pace for Wengie, she will create and star in a comedy series pilot for teens set in a high school for people with super powers.

Completed projects will be released on YouTube later in 2018.

Successful 2017 Skip Ahead Recipients: LIFE OF JESS

You Tube channel: Study with Jess (366,036 subscribers / 16,760,177 views*)

Format 6 x 5 mins

Genre Drama, Family, Comedy

Creators Jessica Holsman (p/w), Laura Clelland (p/d/w), Sandra Makaresz (p/w), Elle Croxford (p/w)

Synopsis YouTube creator Jess (Study with Jess) answers questions from her Jessicats - revisiting her high school experience, Jess finds their problems aren't so different from her own teenage years.

OVER AND OUT

YouTube Channel Van Vuuren Bros (71,915 subscribers / 22,608,046 views*)

Format 6 x 5mins

Genre Comedy, Sitcom, Apocalyptic

Creators Connor Van Vuuren (d), Christiaan van Vuuren (w), Adele Vuko (w)

Synopsis Two new parents struggle to survive the age old trials and tribulations of raising babies Oh yeah Whilst being smack bang in the middle of the Post-Apocalypse.

REBOOTED

You Tube channel: Timtimfed (146,080 subscribers/ 41,916,640 views*)

Format 20min

Genre Comedy, Drama

Creators Chris Hocking (p), Michael Shanks (w/d)

Synopsis In an industry obsessed with the superficial, it's not easy being an ageing movie star. It's especially challenging, however, when you're also a claymated skeleton monster. A stop motion horror from the days of Ray Harryhausen, out-of-date visual-effect Phil just can't seem to book any gigs in 2017. The short film will be produced by LateNite Films.

SKIT BOX

YouTube channel: Skit Box (1,801,653 views*)

Format 22mins

Genre Comedy

Creators Sarah Bishop (p/d/w), Adele Vuko (p/d/w), Greta Lee Jackson (p/d/w)

Synopsis A comedy narrative series pilot navigating the world of Skit Box'; an all-female sketch group that formed when three girls who couldn't get their shit together independently, joined forces to make it together as a group.

WENGIE PILOT (Working Title)

YouTube channel: Wengie (9,746,768 subscribers / 743,032,421 views*)

Format 15mins

Genre Comedy, Drama

Creators Wengie with Paul Walton (p), Mike Cowap (p), and Matthew McKenna (w)

Synopsis A
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2017/12-12-fiv...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

27/03/2024

Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program in Australia, returns for its 21st year with new guests

Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program ...

26/03/2024

Crime is relative in SBS's new Canneseries nominated crime-family dramawith a difference

Crime is relative in SBS's new Canneseries nominated crime-family drama with...

25/03/2024

SBS gears up for Season 2 of Alone Australia with the creation of Alone Cologne'

SBS gears up for Season 2 of Alone Australia with the creation of Alone Cologne...

22/03/2024

SBS Learn partners with the Islamic Museum of Australia to support classrooms in understanding Ramadan and Eid with new teacher resource

SBS Learn partners with the Islamic Museum of Australia to support classrooms in...

21/03/2024

Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry

21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry Which Way Up: Galaxy Games Screen Australia has anno...

18/03/2024

Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative

18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...

15/03/2024

The Creators 2024 Participants Announced

15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...

14/03/2024

SBS to mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr with all Australians

SBS to mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr with all Australians 14 March, 2024 Media releases Content in 22 languages*, a collection of movies to stream free on d...

14/03/2024

Notice of Nominees for Directors (Resolution planned, June 19, 2024)

March 14,2024 -- KDDI Corporation KDDI Corporation resolved at a meeting of the Board of Directors held today to change (newly appointed, retire) a director ...

13/03/2024

Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan

13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...

07/03/2024

Explore the afterlife with SBS podcast Grave Matters'

Explore the afterlife with SBS podcast Grave Matters' 6 March, 2024 Media releases Most of us are woefully unprepared for one of life's few certai...

06/03/2024

Multi-award winning electronic music duo to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malm, Sweden

Multi-award winning electronic music duo to represent Australia at this year'...

06/03/2024

GITAI and KDDI Successfully Demonstrates Robotics Construction Capabilities for Lunar Communications Towers

Developing Lunar 3GPP Mobile Network Technologies for Moon Exploration GITA...

04/03/2024

SBS announces new development fund to discover Australia's biggest and riskiest new factual hit

SBS announces new development fund to discover Australia's biggest and riski...

28/02/2024

Yumi Stynes returns for season two of SBS podcast SEEN'

Yumi Stynes returns for season two of SBS podcast SEEN' 26 February, 2024 Media releases Eight new trailblazers join feminist Australian icon Yumi Sty...

28/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects

28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects Willy Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...

27/02/2024

Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair

27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...

26/02/2024

KDDI, Sony Honda Mobility Start Collaboration to Drive Connected Businesses Globally

Supporting AFEELAs entertainment experience and global launch with a communicati...

21/02/2024

Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce Applications Open for UNTAPPED 2024

21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...

21/02/2024

Sony and KDDI Accelerate Efforts to Promote Digital Transformation in the Broadcasting and Media Industries

Aiming to deliver new video-related solutions utilizing 5G SA this year Son...

21/02/2024

KDDI Teams Up with Kyoto Sanga F.C. to Start Demonstration Test for Fan Engagement Services with Smartphone Game

Support the team with gifts while enjoying AR games in the stadium KDDI COR...

21/02/2024

U and Google's Gemini model to Provide Generative AI Services for Everyday Use

KDDI CORPORATION February 21,2024 -- Tokyo, February 21, 2024 From February 2...

20/02/2024

The Approval of SORACOM's Listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market

KDDI CORPORATION February 20,2024 -- KDDI announces that its consolidated subsidiary, SORACOM, INC. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Ken Tamagawa, herei...

15/02/2024

Alone Australia Season 2 Returns 27 March | Meet the Cast

Alone Australia Season 2 Returns 27 March | Meet the Cast 15 February, 2024 Media releases Smash hit series Alone Australia returns Wednesday 27 March on S...

15/02/2024

NITV's flagship footy show Over the Black Dot returns Tuesday 5 March, live and in high definition

NITV's flagship footy show Over the Black Dot returns Tuesday 5 March, live ...

15/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs

15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...

13/02/2024

2024 is a landmark year for SBS's award-winning current affairs line-up, covering the most impactful local and global stories

2024 is a landmark year for SBS's award-winning current affairs line-up, cov...

13/02/2024

Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Six Australian screen projec...

12/02/2024

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9

12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9 Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...

08/02/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two

08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires ABC, Screen Austr...

07/02/2024

4 in 10 Australians battling sleep issues as nation's sleep crisis grows

4 in 10 Australians battling sleep issues as nation's sleep crisis grows 7 February, 2024 Media releases Dr Michael Mosley and the sleep scientists fro...

06/02/2024

Six screen creatives selected for the 2024 SBS Emerging Writers' Incubator initiative

Six screen creatives selected for the 2024 SBS Emerging Writers' Incubator i...

02/02/2024

SBS Scripted TV Lunch sessions return for another year of connecting with creatives

SBS Scripted TV Lunch sessions return for another year of connecting with creati...

02/02/2024

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2024

February 2,2024 -- KDDI Corporation KDDI announced the financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2024. Summary In the third q...

31/01/2024

Filming Begins on SBS' Romantic Original Drama Four Years Later' in India

Filming Begins on SBS' Romantic Original Drama Four Years Later' in Ind...

30/01/2024

A stellar 2024 for SBS podcasts kicks off with The SBS Book Club' and Humans of the Australian Deaf Community'

A stellar 2024 for SBS podcasts kicks off with The SBS Book Club' and Huma...

29/01/2024

The host with the most, Adam Liaw, is back with an all new inviting season of The Cook Up

The host with the most, Adam Liaw, is back with an all new inviting season of Th...

22/01/2024

Eddie's Lil' Homies premieres on NITV and Netflix on Friday 16 February

Eddie's Lil' Homies premieres on NITV and Netflix on Friday 16 February 22 January, 2024 Media releases Animated comedy series inspired by AFL grea...

22/01/2024

Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Five Australian screen proj...

18/01/2024

Sounds of Solidarity and WugulOra added to NITV and SBS's Always Was, Always Will Be programming slate for January 26

Sounds of Solidarity and WugulOra added to NITV and SBS's Always Was, Always...

18/01/2024

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with SBS Learn this Lunar New Year

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with SBS Learn this Lunar New Year 18 January, 2024 Media releases SBS Learn is giving teachers the opportunity to share t...

17/01/2024

This Valentine's Day SBS's The Matchmakers dives into the unique and private world of traditional matchmaking

This Valentine's Day SBS's The Matchmakers dives into the unique and pri...

17/01/2024

Celebrate Lunar New Year with a feast of content on SBS and SBS On Demand

Celebrate Lunar New Year with a feast of content on SBS and SBS On Demand 17 January, 2024 Media releases SBS is sharing the festivity and culture of Lunar...

17/01/2024

Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Australia and ABC's new drama series Plum

17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...

16/01/2024

Nominations open for Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition

Nominations open for Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition 16 January, 2024 Media releases 16 January 2024 Nominations are now open for the third Les M...

15/01/2024

SBS welcomes Nakul Legha as new Scripted Commissioning Editor

SBS welcomes Nakul Legha as new Scripted Commissioning Editor 15 January, 2024 Media releases SBS has announced that Nakul Legha has joined the network as ...

15/01/2024

Participation in the Development of the Philippines' First Subway

Construction of Telecommunication Infrastructure and Fare Collection System in the Manila Metropolitan Subway Project KDDI Corporation KDDI Philippines Co...

11/01/2024

ABS Full Year Results Update and Recent Developments

ABS Full Year Results Update and Recent Developments...

04/01/2024

First SpaceX Satellites Launch for Direct to Cell Service with KDDI

KDDI CORPORATION January 4,2024 -- Tokyo, January 4, 2024 KDDI is pleased to announce that on January 3, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched and deployed into...