25 03 2020 - Media release Screen Australia and Google Australia announce Skip Ahead 6
Skit Box, Parked, 1999
Screen Australia and Google Australia today announced applications are open for the sixth instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative. Since 2014, Skip Ahead has helped develop a generation of Australian YouTube storytellers to expand the vision and scale of their content. Skip Ahead alumni include comedians Aunty Donna and Superwog, science educator Vanessa Hill, documentarians Mighty Car Mods, fantasy creator Pi ra Forde and influencer Wengie.
The initiative is targeted at creators who have a track record of reaching an audience on YouTube and are ready to skip ahead' their careers in terms of creative ambition and production values. Up to $150,000 in production funding will be available per project, with up to five projects to be funded. Screen Australia and Google Australia are jointly funding the initiative.
Both scripted narrative (i.e. fiction) and documentary projects are eligible, and the program guidelines detail how existing YouTube creators can submit applications together and/or work with an external production house.
Senior Online Investment Manager Lee Naimo said, Skip Ahead not only provides Australian creatives with funding to make new content with higher production values, but it allows them to push their storytelling boundaries. We are open to applications for any kind of fiction or documentary content, whether it be short film, episodic or anything in-between creators can dream up.
Aside from receiving production funding for their project, successful applicants will also participate in two workshops to be held in Sydney (July/August 2020 TBC). Travel and accommodation support will be provided for up to four team members per project.
Michael Cooley, Public Policy Manager, Google Australia and New Zealand said, Skip Ahead aims to provide the next generation of Australian storytellers on YouTube with the support and tools they need to make amazing content and build new audiences, both locally and internationally. We've seen so many talented locals come through the program over the last five rounds, and we know Skip Ahead is an important step in the careers of many successful Australian content creators, in an ever-changing screen content environment. We're looking forward to seeing who is next!
Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday, 7 May 2020. Apply here
If Skip Ahead isn't right for you, visit the Funding and Support section of the Screen Australia website to explore development and production funding opportunities for online creators.
If you are just starting out, read Screen Australia for Beginners
SKIP AHEAD ALUMNI Skip Ahead has contributed over $3 million in funding to 24 productions. The projects released to date have amassed nearly 50 million views on YouTube and garnered critical acclaim including:
Over and Out created by Adele Vuko and Christiaan Van Vuuren, was awarded Best Short Form Series at Canneseries 2019.
Superwog's pilot funded through Skip Ahead was so popular it propelled the comedy duo to land a full ABC TV series. Superwog also have the distinction of having created the top trending YouTube video in Australia in both 2017 and 2019.
Vanessa Hill's Braincraft content now appears on PBS in the USA.
Michael Shanks' project Rebooted was released this week on YouTube having been featured at Austin Film Festival, Flickerfest (Best Australian Animated Short Film) and nominated for a Best Short Film AACTA Award 2019.
The full Skip Ahead alumni are included below.
Channel
Title
Class of
Axis of Awesome
Axis All Areas
2014
Mighty Car Mods
Lend Us A Ride: Australia
2014
Sexual Lobster
Fernando s Legitimate Business Enterprise
2014
Veritasium
This Will Revolutionise Education
2014
Neighbours
Neighbours vs Zombies
2014
The Roundabout Crew and
Frenchy SungaAttack
The Australiana Hostel
2015
Aunty Donna
1999
2015
SketchShe
Traffic Jam - The Musical
2015
Draw with Jazza
The Tale Teller
2015
How to Cook That
The Sweetest Thing
2015
Superwog
The Superwog Show
2016
Charli s Crafty Kitchen
Crafty Kingdom
2016
Racka Racka
Stunt Gone Wrong (Live)
2016
BrainCraft
Mutant Menu
2016
Van Vuuren Bros
Over and Out
2017
Study with Jess
Life of Jess
2017
Timtimfed
Rebooted
2017
Wengie
Parked
2017
Skit Box
Skit Box
2017
Neel Kolhatkar
Crossing The Line
2018
Fury Fingers
Love, Guns and Level Ups (to be released)
2018
Pi ra Forde
Nevernight
2018
Chloe Ting
The Not So Social Networks (to be released)
2018
Chloe Morello
YouTube Famous (to be released)
2018
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Media enquiries Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist
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Lidia Williams | Publicist and Events Officer
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