Screen Australia media release – Tuesday 22 October 2013

Screen Australia today announced $2.4 million in support to production companies and producers under the fifth round of its Enterprise Program.

The four successful Enterprise Program companies are (in alphabetical order):

 Carbon Media Pty Ltd (Wayne Denning)

 Eye Spy Productions Pty Ltd T/A Northern Pictures (David Haslingden, Sue

Clothier, Sandy Cameron)

 Porchlight Films Pty Ltd (Anita Sheehan, Liz Watts, Vincent Sheehan)

 The Feds Australia Pty Ltd (Elizabeth Nash, Michael Cook)

“These companies are all looking to expand their presence in international markets in Asia, Europe and the US and represent a cross section of our industry, developing and producing film, television and original multi-platform content,” said Ruth Harley, Screen Australia’s Chief Executive.

The four successful Enterprise Program companies include those working in television, with two companies focusing on youth and children’s television content, documentary, sales and multi-platform digital content. Their business plans incorporate strategies for growth including slate, talent and company development, marketing and expansion into international markets, new partnerships and alliances, as well as strategies for mentoring.

Carbon Media is a strong, full service media production company with a track record of producing children’s content for television and across media platforms, including Indigenous children’s content. Enterprise funding will enable Carbon Media to focus on developing high quality, aspirational and entertaining content for children and will further its international alliances.

Eye Spy Productions has extensive experience in large-scale factual television producing, mainly wildlife and social documentaries for the domestic and international marketplace. Eye Spy plans to establish an international sales company and create production capability in Beijing, where it will launch its brand in Asia. It will also scope the viability of a Pan-Asia Television Academy to facilitate the increased development of quality Australian talent and projects on the global stage.

The Feds develops and produces a range of content across all media platforms. The company will use Enterprise funding to increase development of content and build on the scope and scale of projects to pitch to networks. It will build on its internal resources and international presence to enable this.

Porchlight Films is an award-winning film and television company with over 15 years’ experience. Enterprise funding will enable the company to embrace a more ambitious feature film slate and increase television production output. Porchlight will also implement a writers’ room project to enable writers and writer/directors to hothouse ideas and fast-track early stage development of projects.

“Since 2009, through Screen Australia’s Enterprise Program, we have supported 29 companies, enabling them to develop and expand their screen businesses and enhance their sustainability,” said Dr Harley. “We have further supported another four companies through our Feature Enterprise program and 19 companies through our Enterprise Asia program.

The Enterprise Program selection panel included international screen business development consultants Jonathan Olsberg and Christina Willoughby as well as CEO Ruth Harley and Screen Australia’s Senior Manager, State and Industry Partnerships Chris Oliver. Further details on the 2013 Enterprise recipients are available on their website, along with details of previous years’ recipients.