Fiona Eagger & Deb Cox of Every Cloud Productions invite you to:
Developing the online series Deadlock in the Northern Rivers
a special event with Bryan Elsley, the acclaimed co-creator of UK Channel 4 hits series Skins and Dates
6:30 pm – 9pm, Thursday 17 December 2015
Byron at Byron Resort
77 – 97 Broken Head Rd, Byron Bay
Bookings essential (see below) || Light refreshments included.
Tickets: Non-members $25 (plus BF) / Screenworks Members Free
About the Deadlock Script Lab Workshop
Fiona Eagger & Deb Cox of Every Cloud Productions are honoured to announce this series is being developed in conjunction with Bryan Elsley, the acclaimed creator and co-writer of ground-breaking UK teen series, Skins. Skins is an irreverent comedy drama, which follows the messy lives, loves, delirious highs and inevitable lows of a group of raucous teenagers. The series ran for 7 seasons and launched the international careers of numerous young acting and writing talent from the UK.
The international success of Skins proved that well-written and well-produced youth drama – guided by the story-telling craft of screen professionals but authenticated by youthful voices – can travel far. With Bryan Elsley acting as Consultant, Every Cloud will emulate this robust model – with a Script Lab Workshop due to take place in Byron Bay in December 2015. Developed and funded with the support of the Screen Australia Enterprise Stories Program, Every Cloud Productions will deliver the workshop in partnership with Northern Rivers Screenworks as part of the ongoing development for Deadlock.
South Australian twins, Danny and Michael Philippou from YouTube channel The Racka Racka, will also present at the Script Lab Workshop and collaborate on the project. Racka Racka has gathered over 2 million subscribers and over 600,000 Facebook followers. Their videos have over half a BILLION views. They recently won ”Best Overall” at the Online Video Awards and “Best International” at the Streamys.
Interactive screenwriter Mike Jones will also be joining us as a mentor and consultant at the Script Lab Workshop, and through the development of the series. Mike was story editor and lead the writers room on cult post-apocalyptic series Wastelander Panda for ABC TV, and serves as head of story development for interactive media company Portal Entertainment UK where he was lead-writer on their immersive iPad thriller, The Craftsman. He also lectures in story & writing at AFTRS and has coordinated project development programs worldwide including the Immersive Writing Lab UK and PlatformX for the AWG.
Local Indigenous screenwriter Jon Bell, who grew up in the Northern Rivers region, will also be participating in the Workshop as a mentor and consultant to the project. Jon created and wrote the standout drama series The Gods of Wheat Street with Every Cloud Productions for ABC’s Indigenous unit. His other television credits include the acclaimed ABC TV drama anthology Redfern Now with Jimmy McGovern Story producing for Blackfella Films, the award winning ABC Indigenous series Black Comedy and new ABC series Cleverman for GoalPost Pictures.
Emerging screenwriter participants in the Script Lab Workshop include award-winning VCA graduate Billie Pleffer, Queensland screen and interactive writer Michelle Law, young writer/director Lucy Campbell from South Australia’s MAPS film school, Sydney-based comedy screen and theatre writer Seaton Kay-Smith, Indigenous writer and filmmaker Shane Salvador from New South Wales, and writer of ABC ivew series Noirhouse from Tasmania, Tim Logan.
By bringing together a collaborative team of emerging writers, local youth and storytellers, we hope to craft a series that engages a wide audience.
Guest Speaker Bios
Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley is a television writer who co-created the highly successful teen drama SKINS with his son Jamie Brittain and more recently created DATES, through his company Balloon Entertainment, which aired on Channel 4 in summer 2013. His other writing credits include 40, NATURE BOY and award winning THE CROW ROAD.
Balloon Entertainment was established in 2012 by Bryan and comedian Harry Enfield. The company puts a focus on nurturing emerging talent in drama and comedy. DATES, an actor led drama focusing on two people during a first date was the first production by Balloon Entertainment. They are now in development on an American version of the series with CW. In 2014 Balloon produced Harry and Paul’s Story of the Twos for the 50th anniversary of BBC2.
Mike Jones
Mike Jones is a writer of screen page and digital interactive media, a well-regarded expert in multi-platform storytelling and recipient of numerous accolades, including an Australian Writers Guild award. Most recently Mike worked with screenwriter Vicki Madden on her 8-part mystery series, The Kettering Incident for Foxtel and together they are co-writing a new crime drama series with support from Screen Tasmania. As a novelist Mike’s latest work includes the three-book series of supernatural gothic novels, The Transgressions Cycle published by Simon & Schuster in 2015.
Mike is head of story development for interactive media company Portal Entertainment UK.
Deb Cox
With more than three decades experience in the Australian production industry, Deb Cox has been responsible for creating and producing some of Australia’s most iconic screen content, as a highly talented creator, writer, and creative producer. She possesses a rare talent for creating intelligent stories grounded in great writing, rich characters and high production values.
With an aim to create and produce thought-provoking, entertaining content for both domestic and international audiences, Deb joined forces with producer Fiona Eagger to form Every Cloud Productions in 2009. She has since gone on to co-create, co-produce and head the writing team on hit series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and executive produce Indigenous drama The Gods of Wheat Street.
About Every Cloud Productions
Every Cloud Productions is an independent, Australian production company producing distinctive, high-quality television drama for domestic and international markets. Founded in 2009 by leading television industry creatives, Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox, the company balances strong storytelling and high production values with astute producing expertise.
Independently, Fiona and Deb have produced and created close to 100 hours of prime time drama, including seminal drama series SeaChange, telemovie The Society Murders, family drama East of Everything, acclaimed Indigenous drama The Gods of Wheat Street and hit series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
Every Cloud Productions is focused on fostering Australian talent, supporting co-operative alliances with creative producers across various media formats, and engaging with development opportunities within the industry. Possessing established relationships with international sales agents and distributors, the company continues to focus on making exceptional drama productions for domestic and international audiences.
