Back to Back Pictures launch animated series First Responders on ABC
28/02/2022
First Responders (Photo credit: Rhian Hinkley)
Back to Back Pictures in association with Back to Back Theatre has announced its 20-part animation series First Responders, is now screening on ABC ME and ABC iview. The series has received funding from Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
First Responders features a group of unlikely experts who are on a mission to help answer any questions about the future. From love, to landscaping, to... parallel universes they've got the answers. Produced by the internationally acclaimed Back to Back Theatre, a company with an ensemble of actors with disabilities at its core, this project will bring unique perspectives and underrepresented voices to our screens.
View or download the trailer here
View Episode 1 here
Created in collaboration with thirteen 17-year olds who identify as being neuro diverse, First Responders utilises a unique writing process that involves interviewing and capturing the young artists verbal response to the themes of a world in transition, with their audio forming most of the dialogue and soliloquy of the animation. In the series, our neuro diverse co-authors are represented as avatars of themselves, as knowledge assets and heroes of a community. Each episode is characterised by a new emergency that the First Responders must respond to, as well as manage their own internal differences, short fallings, egos and conflicts of opinion; their idiosyncratic understanding of everything from physics to philosophy may be all the human race has to liberate it from fear and misinformation.
All First Responders scripts have been developed in conjunction with the participants from the Geelong based Nelson Park School together with the artistic team. The process includes recording interviews and using excerpts to form the content of the short animation. The structure is question and response, with questions formed through the interviews which are then asked back to the First Responders by members of the community (played by Back to Back Theatre's ensemble of artists who identify as having an intellectual disability/neurodiversity).
Participant Rupert Stone said, There's been nothing so epic to appear on these screens since Sonic The Hedgehog!
Director Ahmarnya Price said, What has remained important throughout is that each episode not only represents an aspect of the world we all live in but a young person who has control over the narrative of their own world.
Screen Australia's Head of Online Lee Naimo said, Back to Back Theatre Company have been making an impressive transition into the screen space, with recent feature Shadow being selected for South by Southwest Film Festival. We're thrilled to support them bringing this new quirky and charming series to a wide audience on ABC Me, and continuing to provide vital representation for people with disabilities.
First Responders is directed by Ahmarnya Price with animation by Rhian Hinkley, music by Kelly Ryall and illustrations by ARTGUSTO. The series is produced by Alice Fleming, Nikki Watson, with executive producers Bruce Gladwin and Tim Stitz.
The series is co-written and stars Breanna Deleo, Cam LeCouter, Jai Storey, Harry Schaller, Parsa Shabestanimonfared, Priscilla Ragesh, Sarah Gray, Kerry Cook, Grace Funston, Vivian Salter, Chloe Weiler, Ayden Horrocks, Sarah Alwood, Jonathan Slater, Nathan Mead, Lucas Kenyon, Rupert Stone and Charlotte Fitzgerald.
First Responders began as a series of workshops run by director Ahmarnya Price with the students of Nelson Park in early 2020 with the intended outcome of a live theatre piece but evolved by necessity into the remarkable series.
About Back to Back Over the last thirty years, Back to Back Theatre has made a body of work that questions the assumptions of what is possible in theatre, but also the assumptions we hold about ourselves and others. As an ongoing dialogue with our audience, each new project is an investigation seeking answers to questions raised in previous works. Our attention lies with design, light, and sound. The stories we pursue weave the personal, the political and the cosmic. We work to curiosity and interest in the live moment, to what sits within and between. Seeking to make a body of work that exists in repertoire across time, the company tours extensively locally, nationally and internationally to the world's leading festivals and cultural institutions. Over the last decade, Back to Back Theatre has presented 48 national and 74 international seasons of its theatre works, receiving 18 national and international awards. Back to Back Pictures debut feature film SHADOW has been selected for South By Southwest Film Festival where it will premiere on March. Back to Back is based in Geelong, Australia.
First Responders is produced with the assistance of Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES Miranda Brown
0491 743 610 | [email protected]
Media enquiries Lidia Williams | Acting Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
Georgia Hing | Acting Publicist
61 2 8113 1033 | 61 400 025 940 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
LINK: | https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2022/02-28-ani... |
See more stories from screenaustralia |
More from Screen Aus
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
14/12/2023
Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of production funding for 11 projects
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...
12/12/2023
Applications open for The Creators program
12 12 2023 - Media release Applications open for The Creators program The Creators program Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...
11/12/2023
Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023
11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023 Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman Screen Austr...
30/11/2023
Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2
30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2 Image courtesy: Screen Warriors Screen Australia has annou...
29/11/2023
Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries
29 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries Deeper Screen Australia has announced three documentaries fun...
23/11/2023
Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects
23 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects Wishes Screen Australia has announced 18 feature f...
10/11/2023
Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin
09 11 2023 - Media release Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin Austin - Ben Miller, Michael Theo, Sally Phillips Screen Australia, ABC, ITV Stu...
10/11/2023
Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023
10 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023 Screen Australia Digital Originals Workshop. Image by ...
09/11/2023
Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series
09 11 2023 - Media release Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series Kangaroo Beach Series 3 Screen Australia and ABC are thrilled to announce that a third...
09/11/2023
Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales From Outer Suburbia
09 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Sh...
08/11/2023
Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program
08 11 2023 - Media release Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program Behind the scenes of Total Control 3 - Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc ...
02/11/2023
Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions
02 11 2023 - Media release Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions NCIS: Sydney, The New Boy, Ginger and the Vegesaurs. S...
01/11/2023
Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new film We Bury the Dead in Western Australia
01 11 2023 - Media release Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new fi...
31/10/2023
Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO
31 10 2023 - Media release Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO Screen Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre Brennan a...
31/10/2023
Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program Access Coordinator Training Program workshop in Sydn...
31/10/2023
Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil Writer/director/producers Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, a...
30/10/2023
South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced
30 10 2023 - Media release South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced With or Without You stars Melina Vidler, Marta Dusseldorp and Albe...
30/10/2023
Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years L-R: Mithila Gupta (creator/writer), Nicole Reddy (writer), S...
17/10/2023
Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative
17 10 2023 - Media release Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative Screen Australia and the Australian International Documentary Confere...
09/10/2023
Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of 2023 First Nations Creator Program
09 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of...
06/10/2023
Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollywood luminaries to SXSW Sydney
06 10 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollyw...
05/10/2023
Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open
05 10 2023 - Media release Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are delighted to anno...
03/10/2023
Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond
03 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond Neyyah: Defy Reality Entertainment Screen Australia is pleased to ...
25/09/2023
Screen Australia announces over $10 million of production funding for nine projects
25 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $10 million of produc...
14/09/2023
Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake
14 09 2023 - Media release Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake Fake stars Asher Keddie and David Wenham Screen Australia and P...
13/09/2023
Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced
13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced 2023 Untapped Participants Screen Australia and Australians in Film today an...
07/09/2023
Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs
07 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs Screen Australia is pleased to announce two progra...
30/08/2023
Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series
29 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series L-R: Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), Bonnie Moir (Exposure), Nicholas...
28/08/2023
New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced
28 08 2023 - Media release New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced Mix Tape director Lucy Gaffy and writer Jo Spain BINGE, Screen Australia and Screen Ireland ...
28/08/2023
Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission
28 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission Maggie Beer s Big Mission Screen Australia, ABC and Screenwest hav...
24/08/2023
Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding
24 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding Enterprise Business funding recipients Kauthar Abdulalim (Blac...
24/08/2023
Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever
24 08 2023 - Media release Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever White Fever creator and actor Ra Chapman and actor Chris Pang. Ima...
18/08/2023
Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023
18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023 Shayda Five Australian projects have been selected ...
16/08/2023
Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story development funding for 47 projects
16 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story...
09/08/2023
Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams
09 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams Fresh Blood 3 teams in Sydney for the workshop on 8 August 2023 The ABC and ...
02/08/2023
Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries
02 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries Mozart's Sister Screen Australia has announced three docum...
01/08/2023
Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt during Stuff The British Stole Season 2
01 08 2023 - Media release Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt durin...
27/07/2023
Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for Industry Development
27 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for Industry Development Courtesy Veterans Film Festival Screen Australia has announ...