Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Skip Ahead recipients

21/02/2023

21 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Skip Ahead recipients

Skip Ahead recipients in Sydney for the workshop this week

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have announced the six YouTube projects funded through the latest instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative who will share in $900,000 of production funding: Lyanna Kea, Ella Watkins, Julian O'Shea, Lachlan and Jaxon Fairbairn (Fairbairn Films), Rita Artmann and Joe Bauer (Artspear Entertainment) and Jade Schmutter, Rob Aspinall and Ryan Telfer (Project One).

The Skip Ahead recipients are attending a workshop this week and learning from industry experts including producer Julie Kalceff, Jasmine Yang from Glitch Productions, writer Melissa Lee Speyer, digital video strategists Changer Studios and past Skip Ahead recipients Danny and Michael Philippou of RackaRacka, the team from Never Too Small and comedian Jordan Raskopoulos.

First established in 2014, the Skip Ahead initiative aims to help online storytellers with an existing audience on YouTube expand their creative ambitions and production values, and skip ahead' their careers. Since its inception, it has supported 33 teams with over $4.2 million to develop their skills and build their careers, with alumni including Superwog, Aunty Donna, Skitbox, Wengie, Michael Shanks, Chloe Morello and more.

Screen Australia's Head of Online Lee Naimo said, As the online landscape continues to evolve, the importance of Skip Ahead only increases to help support talented and exciting creators connecting with significant audiences on YouTube. It's exciting to see how different these projects are, with these six teams representing a range of genres from musical to comedy, crime to documentary. Past Skip Ahead projects continue to accumulate millions of views and lead to some alumni such as Adele Vuko, Christiaan van Vuuren and Danny and Michael Philippou directing feature films. I'm sure there's many exciting opportunities ahead for this latest cohort.

Alex West, Screen Australia's Head of Documentary said, It's fantastic to see two documentary series' as part of the latest line-up of Skip Ahead recipients solidifying how online platforms such as YouTube are such an effective space for documentaries to reach widespread audiences. I am confident these unique and powerful stories like Design Revolution and Uncovering Street Dance: Australia, along with the other Skip Ahead projects, will delight and inspire viewers around the world.

Ed Miles, Director, YouTube Australia & New Zealand, said, YouTube is home to incredible Australian storytellers, and over the last seven years, we've seen the impact Skip Ahead can have on their careers and the global recognition these projects can achieve. We have six formidable creative teams for Skip Ahead 8 - and this week we are thrilled to begin working with them and to see their concepts start to become a reality!

The funded projects are:

Life of Kea: From writer/director/producer Lyanna Kea comes Life of Kea, a 5 x 6-minute comedy series about Aunty Kea - the quintessential Chinese-Malaysian middle-aged woman. While supporting her friend through family drama, Aunty Kea battles with the internal conflict that perhaps she misses having a partner of her own. Brought on by this rare feeling of vulnerability, Aunty Kea, like a force of nature, bravely puts herself back into the dating game. Taysha McFarland and Tristan Braines behind A Song For You are also writing and producing, with Sasha Leong (Eating the Other) attached as producer. The series will release on Lyanna Kea's YouTube channel.

You May Think I'm Joking: A 5 x 5-minute comedy/musical series about Ella, an autistic influencer who is trying to find her voice in an online world that enshrines curated perfect' personalities with perfect bodies. While Ella struggles to suppress who she really is to fit the mould of who she thinks she should be, her true self begins bursting through in blunt, honest and unfiltered musical numbers that take place through a series of video calls with her manager, all from the isolation of her bedroom. The series is from writer/director Ella Watkins, whose series Bad Locals was supported through the Every Voice initiative. Gabrielle McLeod is also attached as producer. You May Think I'm Joking explores Ella s personal experiences of autism, queerness and body image struggles relating to being a woman, and will release on Watkins' YouTube channel.

Fairbairn in the City: This 6 x 5-minute comedy is about simple farm boys Lachlan and Jaxon who make the move to the big city from their rural home realising they know nearly nothing about the modern world. When it comes to understanding dating, managing relationships and living with a female roommate, Lachlan and Jaxon must figure out how to conquer the big city and everything that comes with it, before it conquers them. From creators of the popular YouTube channel Fairbairn Films and brothers in real life, Fairbairn in the City is written and directed by Lachlan Fairbairn and stars Lachlan and Jaxon Fairbairn. Also attached is Georgia Mappin (Aunty Donna's Coffee Caf ) as executive producer and Monique Mulcahy as producer. The series will be produced by Haven t You Done Well Productions and will release on the Fairbairn Films YouTube channel.

UnTrue Crime: A 6 x 8-minute true crime parody which follows woefully incompetent Detectives Spoink and Hoggman who re-tread their stumbling footsteps through their recent investigation into a classic murder scenario. With no shortage of twists and a primary suspect that changes every episode, it becomes a question of how many times they can get it wrong... before they accidentally get it right. The series is from writer/director Joe Bauer and writer/producer Rita Artmann wh
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2023/02-21-ski...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

09/07/2025

Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast about love, intimacy and disability

Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast ...

08/07/2025

SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines

SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines 8 July, 2025 Media releases SBS has launched new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelin...

08/07/2025

Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bombing of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior

Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bomb...

07/07/2025

SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM

SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM 7 July, 2025 Media releases Born of Greek Cypriot parents, Mr Savvides joined the SBS Board as Deputy Chair in Febru...

30/06/2025

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel 30 June, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offeri...

27/06/2025

Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong

27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...

26/06/2025

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On Demand

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...

20/06/2025

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Australia

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...

13/06/2025

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic sporting event

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...

12/06/2025

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celebration

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...

06/06/2025

Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwright and Soo Hugh Headline Future Vision 2025

06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...

03/06/2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...

28/05/2025

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia 28 May, 2025 Media releases Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...

28/05/2025

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transformation through Salesforce Communications Cloud

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...

22/05/2025

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with Digital Originals

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...

22/05/2025

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast 22 May, 2025 Media releases Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...

19/05/2025

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 million Australians tuning in

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...

16/05/2025

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced 16 May, 2025 Media releases Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...

15/05/2025

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There'

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...

15/05/2025

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS 15 May, 2025 Media releases The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...

14/05/2025

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe, Middle East & Africa

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...

13/05/2025

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion 13 May, 2025 Media releases As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...

13/05/2025

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...

12/05/2025

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS, Australia's Home of Cycling

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...

12/05/2025

Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directing Debut with Dark Comedy Fangs

10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...

07/05/2025

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recognising the strength and resilience of First Nations peoples

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...

07/05/2025

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location 7 May, 2025 Media releases SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...

02/05/2025

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Handmaid's Tale

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...

01/05/2025

Screen Australia empowers 100+ distinctive Australian narratives

01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...

30/04/2025

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award 30 April, 2025 Media releases Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...

30/04/2025

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives 30 April, 2025 Media releases SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...

23/04/2025

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it goodit's almost time for the Eurovision Song Contest!

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...

22/04/2025

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...

16/04/2025

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Sustainability Challenge

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...

15/04/2025

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lifetime Who Do You Think You Are?

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...

15/04/2025

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...

14/04/2025

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the SBTi

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...

11/04/2025

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo topics in podcast return

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...

09/04/2025

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering 9 April, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...

09/04/2025

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as Eurovision Song Contest commentary team

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...

09/04/2025

Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase

09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...

07/04/2025

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS commentary team for Spring Classics Races

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...

07/04/2025

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election year

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...

07/04/2025

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key issues of the Federal Election campaign

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...

04/04/2025

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and information about the 2025 Federal Election

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...

01/04/2025

Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June

01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...

31/03/2025

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new political podcast

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...

28/03/2025

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and family

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...

28/03/2025

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages 28 March, 2025 Media releases As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...