ABC TV & Screen Australia Invest in New Comedic Talent

SYDNEY: ABC TV and Screen Australia are planning to commission 25 projects for a new initiative, called Fresh Blood, which seeks to find the next generation of comedy performers and producers.

The selected 25 projects will receive a budget of AUS$10,000 to produce three 2 to 5 minute short-form comedy sketches. The shorts will premiere on ABC iview this year. This marks the first digital commission for iview.

"Fresh Blood is one of the most exciting projects for us," said Richard Finlayson, ABC's director of television. “Not only does it continue ABC TV’s commitment to nurturing and supporting fantastic Australian comedic talent, it gives 25 aspiring comedians and comedy groups the amazing opportunity to see their ideas turned into content that will premiere on iview later this year.

“It’s the kind of leg up any young, up and coming comedy hopeful would kill for, and I can’t wait to see the results.”
 
“There’s a rich pool of Australian comic talent working outside the system making quality content for digital distribution,” added Graeme Mason, the CEO of Screen Australia. “Through the Fresh Blood initiative, we’re thrilled to offer some the opportunity to take their careers to the next level with this injection of funds, and the relationship with a major broadcaster and Federal screen agency. Fresh Blood is a dynamic addition to Screen Australia’s suite of support for practitioners using newer technologies and platforms to reach their audience.”
 
“It was a difficult task to select just 24 from an amazingly talented field, so in the end we had to choose 25 because it was just too hard,” commented Sophia Zachariou, acting head entertainment at ABC TV. “The 25 projects range from puppetry and animation to absurdist sketch and I have no doubt that the clever, funny people in and behind these Fresh Blood projects are going to be big names in Australian comedy in the future.”