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Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have announced the four projects that will share in $580,000 of production funding for the ninth instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative. The recipients include brothers Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane (The Macfarlane Bros), comedian Jenny Tian (nomnomjenny), children’s YouTube creators Amy Parry and Sara Taghaode (Rainbow Bop), and the team behind Esports content channel PWR.

The Skip Ahead recipients are attending a workshop this week, where they will develop their projects and hear from industry leaders and experts including acclaimed director Dr George Miller, comedian Jordan Raskopoulos, and scriptwriter Clare Atkins. Last year’s recipient Lyanna Kea, behind , will attend the workshop and share learnings from the program, and digital video strategists Changer Studios will also present a session on optimisation and building a YouTube presence.

First established in 2014, the Skip Ahead initiative aims to help storytellers with an existing audience on YouTube expand their creative ambitions. Since launching, Skip Ahead has supported 37 teams with over $4.7 million to develop their skills and build their careers, with alumni including RackaRacka, Superwog, Wengie, Aunty Donna, Chloe Morello and Michael Shanks.

Head of Online and Games at Screen Australia, Lee Naimo said, “I’m so excited to support four very unique and distinctive projects this year across a diversity of genres, especially given Skip Ahead is pivotal in building the careers of so many prolific Australian creators.”

“This is evident in the careers of its alumni with the RackaRacka filming their second feature off the back of their hugely successful debut feature Talk To Me, Michael Shanks working on a debut feature with Allison Brie and Dave Franco, and Aunty Donna continuing to build their production empire. This program doesn’t just give teams the creative tools to make narrative content, it develops business acumen and sets them up to further expand their audience and impact on YouTube. It is wonderful to once again be partnering with YouTube to support exciting Australian talent.”

Ed Miles, Director, YouTube Australia and New Zealand said, “YouTube is proud to continue our decade-long partnership with Screen Australia through the Skip Ahead initiative, which continues to empower the next generation of Australian creators. This year’s four teams are a testament to the diversity and creativity thriving on YouTube, from hilarious comedies to heart-warming children’s content. We’re excited to see how these unique voices will captivate viewers across the world on YouTube, and further strengthen Australia’s place as a hub for exceptional digital content.”

The funded projects are:

• PWR House – Making of Champion: A 3 x 20-minute documentary profiling the explosive world of competitive gaming and content creation culture from the perspectives of some of Australia’s biggest names in YouTube including Lachlan Power, Fortnite player Alex Richmond and influential figures like Kathleen Belsten ‘Loserfruit’ and other PWR creators. It is directed by Oliver Marshall, co-directed by Victoria Bush and produced by Clint Gough, Bryce Holloway and Kathleen Belsten, with Victoria Bush and YouTube creator Lachlan Power executive producing. The series will be released on the YouTube channel.
• Supermarket: From comedians Jenny Tian and Patrick Golamco comes Supermarket, a 6 x 5-minute comedy series about an upper management supermarket employee acting as an undercover spy for their competitor, secretly rising through the ranks. When she is found out, she must escape the rage of both equally corrupt companies. The series is co-created by Tian and Golamco with Paige Wharehinga attached as producer. The series will be released on Jenny Tian’s YouTube channel .
• The Rainbow Bop Show: A 6 x 5-minute live action series based on the YouTube channel Rainbow Bop. The all-puppet band members Stella, Sunny, Luna and Cloudia slide down their rainbow to earth to help kids having a “stormy day” and change their mood with music. Created by writer/director Amy Parry and produced by Sara Taghaode the series will feature songs and storytelling. Emma Dean is attached as music director and song writer, and it will be released on the YouTube channel.
• The Worst That Could Happen: A 6 x 5-minute anthology series where an ensemble of ordinary Gen-Zers are trapped in extraordinary supernatural situations which exploit their deepest anxieties. Written and directed by Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane, this set of cautionary tales, escapist adventures and thrilling mysteries humorously mix relatable issues with science fiction and horror. Skip Ahead alumni Rita Artmann () is attached as producer. The series will be produced by Haven’t You Done Well Productions and will be released on the YouTube channel.

SKIP AHEAD ALUMNI